Story Chapel at Mt. Auburn
Mt Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, MA, a National Landmark, commemorates many historical figures in U.S. history such as Charles Bullfinch, first native-born American architect.
Founded in 1831 by the Department of the Interior, it is one of the most beautiful historic landscapes in America and a living narrative of our Nation. It was a forerunner in the development of garden cemeteries, that later led to the establishment of Public Parks.
Architect Willard Sears, designed Story Chapel in 1896, and today it is cooled with a modern Robur, gas-fired chiller system. Model RTCF-300, a chiller-link of 5-ton chiller modules staged to provide cooling as required up to the full-load of 25 tons for the complex.
The chillers are factory assembled, complete with interconnecting supply and return water lines. The gas line and electrical wiring operate as one integrated system with 5-stages of cooling, offering unmatched efficiency and control. Environmentally friendly, using chilled water as the coolant, the Robur system complements the beautiful “green environment” surrounding it.
The Robur gas-fired, absorption RTCF-300 system at Mt Auburn, installed in 2007, was recently upgraded with two new ACF-60’s, (5-ton chillers). A savings advantage the Robur product offers owners without having to replace an entire system.
A Robur unit will cycle during less than full load conditions and also has the ability to cycle “off and on” in light load conditions while continuing to operate electrically and circulate chilled water. This feature allows the thermal dynamics stored in the unit to continue producing a cooling effect with no gas input, unlike a conventional electric system that is either on or off.
This operating condition of the Robur chiller is described as a residual or flywheel cooling effect and offers a conservative 30% cycling rate. In addition, the burner, during light cooling load conditions, can experience an approximate 20% “Off” time that offers additional fuel savings.
With no engines or compressors and few moving parts in the sealed refrigeration cycle, Robur units are a reliable and durable source of chilled water for many years as exhibited here at Story Chapel. The RTCF-Series chiller links are available up to 25 tons. Multiple 25-ton units can be field connected together for installations requiring greater cooling capacities.
All Link packages require only 208/230 V, single phase electrical service. Gas fired air conditioning uses only natural resources and operates on the absorption of a solution consisting of water and ammonia, in a completely silent physical and chemical process. They do not use refrigerant fluids like CFC’s, HCFC’s or HFC’s which destroy the ozone layer.
A single, optional, Direct Digital Controller (DDC) manages each module and always starts the chiller that has the least amount of run time, adding to the longevity of the system. The DDC allows total unit control, enhanced management, and complete operation monitoring.
Advantages of this economical GAS chiller system include:
• Operates on single phase power
• Uses multiple air handlers or coils with a single unit
• Solid State, micro-processor control system
• 5-Stages of cooling (5 modules)