Chemtura Corporation merged into Lanxess in 2017. The company develops, manufactures and markets chemical intermediates, additives, specialty chemicals and plastics.
To support their continued growth, they constructed a new laboratory in Guelph, Ontario, in 2014. The facility included a number of labs with multiple variable-volume fume hoods. Working with the architectural and engineering consulting firm of WalterFedy, O’Dell designed a lab exhaust solution.
The Challenge
Given the use of the lab, there were a number of key deliverables that needed to be met:
- Maintain a safe working environment for the lab technicians and surrounding environment
- Achieve 100% system redundancy
- Ensure chemical resistance of materials
- Provide energy efficiency
The O’Dell Solution
Working with Plasticair, we designed and supplied a fibreglass reinforced plastic (FRP) exhaust fan system. The complete Skyplume sytem, fans and plenum, was fabricated with FRP for optimal resistance to chemicals. A dual stack arrangement provided 100% redundancy, with fans operating in lead/lag sequence. The inlet plenum was complete with heat recovery coil for integration with the glycol run-around loop-in service within the building. Variable airflow was also achieved with a bypass damper, which varies exhaust airflow from the space while maintaining constant discharge airflow from the stacks. This arrangement ensures optimal effective stack height and dilution of chemicals within the surrounding environment.
