Jordan was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii. He is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Upon graduation, Jordan plans to work on the Big Island of Hawaii, preferably in Hilo. He is particularly interested in the fields of renewable energy, energy storage, and structural engineering. In his free time, Jordan enjoys coaching high school wrestling and being able to give back to the sport.
Home Island: Big Island of Hawaii
Institute when accepted: University of Hawaii at Manoa
Sizing a Variable-Frequency Drive Pump for Gemini North’s New Glycol Cooling
Project Site: Gemini Observatory
Mentors: Chas Cavedoni, Steven Hardash
Gemini North is in the process of designing and implementing a new glycol cooling system in the Gemini North Observatory. This new system is intended to reduce operating costs up to an estimated 30% by upgrading the existing cooling system. Upgrades to the system will require significant plumbing rearrangement, as well as installations of a new liquid-to- air Fluid Cooler and Variable-Frequency Drive (VFD) pumps. One of these VFDs in particular is designed to drive ethylene glycol through the Coating Plant of Gemini North, and is projected to operate at 40 gallons per minute (gpm). In an effort to save more energy, Gemini engineers want to resize this particular VFD from 40 gpm down to 32 gpm. To determine if this can be done, the hydraulic performance of the proposed upgraded cooling system was modeled and simulated using the application software PIPE-FLO Professional. To gain confidence that PIPE-FLO can effectively simulate the proposed system, the hydraulic performance of the existing cooling was first modeled and simulated. Results from the simulation were then validated with on-site measurements. The proposed system was modeled and simulated with confidence. Results and final recommendations on the appropriate VFD size will be presented.