MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Gerald Spencer, P.E. is familiar with the DoD Criteria, NASA-JSC Construction Criteria, Corps of Engineers Technical Manuals, Department of State design and the construction Guidelines, and other rules and regulations governing federally funded construction.  Gerald Spencer, P.E. is the AE of record for more than 800 privately funded mechanical engineering HVAC projects plus more than 400 federally funded mechanical engineering HVAC projects.  Gerald Spencer, P.E. has extensive experience in the field of federally-funded construction, improvements and remodeling.  These projects have been located in Arctic, Desert, Coastal, Earthquake, High Altitude, Monsoon, and Hurricane Prone areas.    Federal projects normally require that we document all of our design calculations and all of our design decisions into a Formal Report or Design Analysis to justify our design.  This documentation is normally reviewed and commented by the federal agency in-house engineers during the project design.

1.   HVAC:  Gerald Spencer, P.E. is the Engineer of Record (EOR) for the design and the construction of the air conditioning, heating and ventilating systems in more than 1,200 construction projects over the past 40 years.  Gerald Spencer, P.E. designed projects include HVAC systems such as side pocket VAV, dual duct VAV, single duct VAV, bypass multizone, single zone constant volume, chilled water return for reheat, cooling coil bypass, hot gas heat reclaim, evaporative cooling, enthalpy control, chilled water, direct expansion, steam heating, direct gas-fired heating, laboratory ventilation, variable volume fume hood exhaust, variable volume OSA supply.  Gerald Spencer, P.E. has designed many nonstandard HVAC systems for special applications for temper/humidity control and energy conservation.

2.   REDUNDANCY:  If reliable HVAC is required, then we will evaluate each component such as the chilled water chillers, air handling units, pumps, cooling towers, etc.  If continuous operation is required, then two units at 100% capacity; three units at 50% capacity' four units at 33% capacity; and five units at 25%capacity will be life cycle evaluated to determine the most advantageous position for recommendation to the government for construction

3.   PLUMBING:  Gerald Spencer, P.E. is the EOR for the design and the construction of the plumbing systems in more than 1,200 construction projects over the past 40 years.  Gerald Spencer, P.E. is experienced in the design and the construction of all types of plumbing systems such as high rise domestic cold and hot water pressurization, fire standpipes, fire sprinklers, domestic hot water generation by heat of compression reclaim, medical gas distribution systems, laboratory services, sewage treatment, water wells, domestic water systems, storm sewer systems, sanitary sewer systems, natural gas distribution systems, backflow prevention systems, gray water systems and Halon fire protection systems.  Personal experience includes 38 years on the City of Houston Plumbing Review Board.

4.   SCADA & UCS SYSTEMS:  The Supervisory, Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems and Utility Control Systems (UCS) is the current nomenclature for EMCS systems that control utilities in addition to the Traditional HVAC and Lighting systems controlled by EMCS systems.

4.1.      design and the construction OF PLANT MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS (PMS) USING DIRECT DIGITAL CONTROL (DDC) FOLLOWING THE CRITERIA ESTABLISHED IN MEDCOM SPECIFICATION 1000:  Gerald Spencer, PE completed the week long Corps of Engineers Energy Management Control Systems (EMCS) design and the construction Course in Huntsville, Alabama in the spring of 1992.  Gerald Spencer, PE recently completed the Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) and Distributed Control System (DCS) training classes taught by the Instrument Society of America (ISA) Instrument Technology Training Program (ITTS). The ITTS classes were addressing systems of 2,000 points.  SEI has completed the replacement design and the construction of the NASA Man Rated Space Chambers “A” & “B” Instrumentation and Control System with a new 15,000 point system served by multiple host Central Processing Units (CPU), remote stand alone Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) control/communication modules, multiple remote I/O modules, and dual data transmission  medium data highway.  We are leaders in instrumentation design and the construction but attend these courses not to learn, but to keep our design and the construction nomenclature similar to the evolving nomenclature in the control & instrumentation industry.

4.2.      BUILDING INFORMATION SYSTEMS:  Building Information Control Systems such as life safety, intrusion detection, closed circuit TV security monitoring, door control, and fire safety can be integrated into the UCS, but the life safety fire detection/control must usually stand alone in order to meet the requirements of NFPA codes.

4.3.      SCADA SYSTEM DESIGNS:  Gerald Spencer, P.E. is the MEP Engineer of Record for the design and the construction of SCADA systems for the following Projects:

HANGER 42 - CORPUS CHRISTI NAS, TX - 1996       
ASRM TRAINER - CORPUS CHRISTI NAS, TX - 1996
BUILDING 129 - WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, NM - 1995       
BUILDING 128 - WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE - 1995
MINE WARFARE CENTER - U S NAVY - INGLESIDE NS, TX - 1995       
KELLY AFB CHAPEL ADDITION - KELLY AFB, TEXAS - 1994
FM RADIO CONTROLS FOR LOAD SHEDDING - FT. HOOD, TEXAS - 1985       
NASA-JSC - BLDG 29 - REHAB HVAC SYSTEMS - 1992
NASA-JSC -BLDG 111 - EMPLOYMENT & INDUSTRIAL BUILDING - 1992       
NASA-JSC - BLDG 343 - METROLOGY BUILDING - 1993
FM RADIO CONTROLS / LOAD SHEDDING - FT. BLISS, TEXAS - 1986
FM RADIO CONTROLS / LOAD SHEDDING - FT. HOOD, TX - 1985
FM RADIO CONTROLS / LOAD SHEDDING - FT. SAM HOUSTON, TX - 1986

4.4.      EMCS SYSTEMS:  Gerald Spencer, P.E. has been designing EMCS systems for many years. Older EMCS systems designed by Gerald Spencer, P.E. are as follows:

FY-77 DENTAL CLINIC - FT. HOOD, TEXAS - 1977       
200 MAN BOQ - FT SAM HOUSTON, TEXAS - 1971
FY-76 DENTAL CLINIC - FT. HOOD, TEXAS - 1976       
FY-75 DENTAL CLINIC - FT. HOOD, TEXAS - 1975
AIR CONDITION EXISTING ENLISTED WOMEN’’S BARRACKS - FT SAM HOUSTON - 1973
AIR CONDITION 4 EXISTING BOQ’’S FT. HOOD, TEXAS - 1973
AIR CONDITION EXISTING CENTRAL PROCESSING CENTER - FT. HOOD - 1972
AIR CONDITION 14 EXISTING BARRACKS FT. HOOD, TEXAS - 1971

4.5.      DATA ACQUISITION SYSTEMS:  Gerald Spencer, P.E. has designed many Data Acquisition systems over the past 25 years, including the 16,000 Point (24,000 point capacity) Distributed Control System (DCS) for the chamber operations at Building 32, NASA Johnson Space Center.  This is the large space simulation chambers A (the largest in the world) & B.  This is a stand-alone info-highway for test data acquisition, test data logging, systems control, and systems monitoring.

5.   ENERGY MANAGEMENT:  Gerald Spencer, P.E. has performed an energy management function on most of our construction projects for the past 40 years.  Gerald Spencer, P.E. is experienced in the design and the construction of all types of energy management systems that control the cycling of energy consuming equipment according to a preset program for the optimum use of energy.  Gerald Spencer, P.E. has experience in the design and the construction of radio control of electrical loads for the purpose of load shedding to reduce electrical demand charges.  We consider small subsystems such as adding capacitors to motors for power factor improvement. Often a project requires the preparation of formal reports to justify the expenditure of funds for improvements or new construction.  These reports take into consideration all capital investment, operating costs, taxes, interest, maintenance and replacement costs on a life-cycle cost analysis basis.  Gerald Spencer, P.E. always approaches energy engineering with an open mind, and evaluate every conceivable energy savings option.  We have in-house capability and experience in preparing energy budgets and energy analysis by computer modeling.  Gerald Spencer, P.E. has completed many formal energy analysis for Government Agencies over the past 30 years.

5.1.      COMPUTER PROGRAMMED ENERGY CONSUMPTION MODELING:  Gerald Spencer, P.E. provides energy consumption calculations by computer modeling each building that is planned.  Once we have this data inputted into our computer, we can easily ask "WHAT IF” questions concerning not only the equipment selection, operation, and configuration, but also questions concerning the construction or modification of the building.  We can provide a computer programmed energy consumption simulation model for any building using our in-house computer.  Existing Projects that have records of utility consumption and costs will allow us to vary the inputs of lights, people, and other variables until the energy consumption matches the historical data from the utility billings for a very accurate projection of future energy consumption with any proposed modifications.  This will allow us to ask “WHAT IF” questions, and get finite energy savings in BTU, KWH, KVA, from any and all proposed energy related modifications to the building.  Typical proposed considerations will be in the following areas, plus others that we think of when we get into the project.

5.2.      KVA DEMAND CHARGE REDUCTION:  Gerald Spencer, P.E. can provide automation for load shedding as required to reduce KVA demand charges by the power company.  This will require a system to monitor the KVA demand at the incoming electrical service with pulse meters that will constantly up-date a controller as to the present KVA Demand that is the basis for the electrical demand billing.  This Controller will cycle various loads off for relatively short periods of time so that the total measured demand at the point of metering is reduced.  The various loads will each receive a priority rating and the controller will selectively cycle the various loads at different times as required to reduce KVA Demand.  This will be a part of the EMCS, SCADA, or UCS system.

5.3.      INCANDESCENT LIGHTING:  We always try to minimize the use of incandescent lighting by substituting florescent (or HID) lighting to provide the same lighting levels with less wattage of energy usage everywhere possible.

5.4.      LIGHTING LEVELS:  We will review lighting levels in the site and justify any levels that are greater than the minimum requirement.

5.5.      INSULATION:  We will consider different thickness’ of Roof Insulation and Wall Insulation if economic life cycle cost analysis can justify the capitol expenditure.

5.6.      WINDOWS:  We always considers the following glass options:

5.6.1.    Different Reflective coatings

5.6.2.    Double pane insulating glass

5.7.      design and the construction THE BUILDING WITH LESS GLASS:  We do not wish to detract from the exterior or interior aesthetic appearance of any facility.  It would of course save energy to not provide any windows at all, and have only insulated walls, but the morale of the personnel would be reduced, and the personnel productivity would also be reduced.  We will provide architectural aesthetic opinions of the effect of any proposal that effects the visual appearance of the facility or that affects the habitable quality of any facility.

5.8.      REVIEW OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES:  Review temperature settings, operational hours, manpower requirements, and all other .

5.9.      REVIEW MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES:  Review expenditures, procedures, and schedules for maintenance.

5.10.    AUTOMATION:  Provide automation for resetting of space temperatures with the use of programmable thermostats.

5.11.    HEAT RECLAIM:  We will evaluate waste heat reclaim systems addition to the existing equipment.  Auxiliary condensers added to condensing units can be used to generate domestic hot water.

5.12.    TREES FOR WINDOW SHADING:  We will consider the addition of trees that are located to shade the windows during the summer, to reduce the solar load on the windows.

5.13.    OTHER UTILITY COST SAVINGS:  We will discover other areas that utility cost savings are possible when we get into this project.  These items will also be evaluated.

5.14.    ECONOMIC ANALYSIS:  Gerald Spencer, P.E. provides life cycle costs of each option for the purpose of decision making for system selection.  Additional construction costs would be sometimes serve our clients better in a savings deposit rather than invested into more efficient energy consumption systems.

5.14.1.    CAPITAL EXPENDITURES:  Each proposed change to the facility will be evaluated on a Life Cycle Cost basis to determine the economic viability of each proposed change.  Each proposed change must stand alone on it’s own economic merit.

5.14.2.    OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE CHANGES:  Operations and Maintenance changes to the facility will also be evaluated on a Life Cycle Cost basis to determine the economic viability of each proposed change.

5.14.3.    ECONOMIC EVALUATION CRITERIA EXPERIENCE:  We are familiar with the Army and NASA economic criteria and guidelines for evaluating the various proposals for the modification of existing facilities.

5.14.4.    ECONOMIC EVALUATION CRITERIA:  We will work in cooperation with the USAF accounting department and other departments as required to develop economic criteria and guidelines for evaluating the various proposals for the construction of these new facilities.

5.15.    ENERGY STUDIES:  Examples of similar energy studies performed and documentation of energy savings in similar facilities performed recently are as follows:

5.15.1.     LACKLAND AFB - NEW INTELLIGENCE FACILITY - $1,500,000.00 - 2002

5.15.2.     LACKLAND AFB - REMODEL WHITE OAK DINING HALL - $3,100,000.00 - 2002

5.15.3.     LACKLAND AFB - HVAC STUDY BUILDINGS 1250, 1350, 1354, 1355, 6329, AND 6359 - $1,500,000.00 - 2002

5.15.4.     ASRM AIR CREW TRAINING FACILITY - CORPUS CHRISTI NAS, TX - $2,200,000 - U S NAVY - 1999

5.15.5.     VEHICLE MAINTENANCE FACILITY - CORPUS CHRISTI NAS, TX - $2,200,000 - U S NAVY - 1999

5.15.6.     MINE WARFARE CENTER - INGLESIDE, TEXAS - 1995 - $5,400,000 - U S NAVY - 1998

5.15.7.     AIR OPERATIONS BLDG 1770 ADDITION - KINGSVILLE NAS, TEXAS - $1,750,000 - U S NAVY - 1998

5.15.8.     CAMP BULLIS ARMORY - U S AIR FORCE - $800,000 - 1997

5.15.9.     AMDAHL CHAPEL - KELLY AFB, TX - $1,200,000 - 1995

5.15.10.   METROLOGY BUILDING ADDITION - $850,000 - NASA-JSC - 1994

5.15.11.   EXXON PRODUCTION RESEARCH FACILITY - BUFFALO SPEEDWAY - HOUSTON - EXXON, USA - 3250 TONS TOTAL:  Gerald Spencer, P.E. was the EOR a formal energy analysis project for that resulted in the economic justification of the construction of a new 750 ton super efficient base load water chilling machine to run 24 hrs per day as justified by life cycle cost analysis.  Additional capacity was required also.  Designed 12KV electrical primary indoor distribution system and sub-station to serve the central plant addition.  Prepared Energy Consumption calculations with computer simulation of the HVAC energy consumption for the proposed systems as required for economic Life Cycle Cost evaluation and selection of the most advantageous systems for construction.

5.15.12.   Many others dating back to 1968

6.    ENERGY BUDGET PREPARATION AND LIFE CYCLE COST ANALYSIS EVALUATION REPORTS:

6.1.     Gerald Spencer, P.E. is the EOR for performing Energy Budget Preparation in accordance with U S Army criteria defined in ETL-1110-3-309.

6.2.    Gerald Spencer, P.E. is the EOR for performing Energy Analysis and Life Cycle Energy Cost studies as required to determine the types of HVAC and other energy consuming systems to be installed in the new or existing facilities for the past 25 years.  Gerald Spencer has personal experience of an additional 5 years of performing Energy Analysis and Life Cycle Energy Cost studies prior to entering private practice in 1967.

6.3.    Gerald Spencer, P.E. is very experienced in the design and the construction of Energy Efficient Systems and modifications to existing systems as required to improve energy consumption efficiency for the HVAC and other energy consuming systems to be installed in the new or existing facilities.  We have been designing energy efficient HVAC systems for the past 25 years.

6.4.    Gerald Spencer, P.E. has been performing Energy Consumption Analysis and Energy Cost studies as required to determine Energy Budgets for HVAC systems since the inception of ASHRAE Standard 90.1-1999.

7.   INDUSTRIAL PIPING:  Gerald Spencer, P.E. is has experience with the design and the construction of industrial piping systems and with steam and process distribution piping design and the construction in refineries.  Gerald Spencer, P.E. is has designed chilled water for systems as large as 12,000 tons, steam piping for pressures as high as 400 psig and condenser water systems as large as 12,000 tons.

8.   laboratory and research facilities HVAC DESIGN:  Our mechanical engineers have extensive experience in the design and the construction of medical, biological, chemical and hazardous materials research laboratories that comply with the latest OSHA and Texas State Hospital Accreditation Guidelines.  Gerald Spencer, P.E. is is the AE of record for specialized HVAC systems for Exxon, Schenectady Chemical, Dow-Badische Chemical, DuPont Chemical, Celenese, the M D Anderson Surgical Research Laboratory, NASA Lunar Receiving Laboratory, The Methodist Hematology Research Laboratory, The Methodist Hospital Immunology Research Laboratory, Fort Sam Houston Institute of Surgical Research, and The Methodist Hospital Brown Building.

9.   HEATING AND COOLING PLANT HVAC DESIGN:  Our mechanical engineers have extensive experience in the design and the construction of central heating and cooling plants.  Projects include

9.1.       nasa-jsc, Building 48, replace one 850-ton chiller, 1997.

9.2.       nasa-jsc, Building 48, convert one 800-ton chiller to R-134a, 1997.

9.3.       Lackland AFB, Area “B,” plant renovations, 750 tons, 1996.

9.4.       U. S. Postal Service MPO, Houston, TX, renovate 2200-ton chilled water plant, 1996.

9.5.       M D Anderson, Smith Research Building, 350-ton addition, 1994.

9.6.       Shell Oil Co., Deer Park, TX, 30-ton steam fired process chiller, 1992.

9.7.      NASA-JSC, PER for the addition of a 2,000-ton chiller and a 400,000-lbs/hr steam boiler to the central plant, 1991.

9.8.      L’Hotel Sofitel, Houston, two 325-ton chillers

9.9.      Holiday Inn Park 10, Houston, two 350-ton chillers

9.10.    Exxon Production Research, 750-ton addition to chilled water plant for 4,500 tons total

9.11.    u. s. Army, Ft. Hood, TX, 1,800-ton central cooling plant for barracks in the 10000 block Battalion Ave.

10. AIRBORNE DISEASE CONTROL:  Gerald Spencer, P.E. is believes HVAC design and the construction for public areas will soon include the need for airborne disease (such as tuberculosis) transmission control.  With this requirement in mind one of our engineers attended an ASHRAE seminar on “Tuberculosis Control in Jails and Hospitals.”

11. Mechanical systems design:  Gerald Spencer, P.E. is has extensive thermodynamic systems design, including steel heat treating furnaces primarily related to the HVAC industry.  Gerald Spencer, P.E. has designed machine parts for space simulation projects, cryogenic systems and space simulation vessel modification For NASA-JSC.  Gerald Spencer, P.E. is has designed and built concrete/sand/gravel separation machines for North Side Ready Mix Concrete in Houston.  Other experience includes the design, fabrication, driving, testing of three SCCA formula V (single seat, rear engine, open wheel) race cars.

12. AIR FLOW SPECIALIALTY:  Gerald Spencer, P.E. is has extensive experience designing new air flow systems to cool data processing and other electronic equipment.  Gerald Spencer, P.E. is has also provided trouble shooting services to identify air flow problems and remedial design and the construction solutions to cure air flow problems with data processing cooling equipment.  Gerald Spencer, P.E. is has designed systems for hospital operating suites where clean air flows into the operating rooms and subsequently away to progressively more “contaminated” areas.  Gerald Spencer, P.E. is has also designed systems for chemical and medical laboratory facilities where clean air must flow from corridors into the laboratories then into hoods at a uniform velocity to prevent exfiltration of hazardous materials from hoods.

13. DIESEL FUEL STORAGE FACILITIES:  Gerald R. Spencer, PE is the EOR for the design and the construction of 21 separate diesel fuel storage systems serving engine generator systems as follow:

NASA Building 32 - Life Safety Systems....................... 6,000 gallons
Bombay, India Consulate Building Compound.................6,000 gallons
Westland Oil Corporation.............................................72,000 gallons
SWBT Sunset Dial Building ............................................9,000 gallons
SWBT Greenspoint Dial Building ....................................2,500 gallons
FAA - DFW Control Tower & TRACON .................. 24,000 gallons
Beeville Memorial Hospital........................................... 24,000 gallons
Harris County Juvenile Detention Center .......................12,000 gallons
South Texas College of Law........................................... 4,500 gallons
SWBT Ashland Toll Building........................................ 12,000 gallons
SWBT Cleveland 592 Dial Building ................................4,500 gallons
SWBT Capitol Fairfax 222 Downtown......................... 12,000 gallons
L’Hotel Sofitel.. ..............................................................6,000 gallons
Holiday Inn Park 10........................................................4,500 gallons
SWBT 458 Dial Building ................................................4,500 gallons
Exxon EPRC Standby Fuel System ...............................24,000 gallons
SWBT Witte Road Info Center....................................... 1,200 gallons

14. COMPUTER ASSISTED DESIGN:  We have the following in-house mechanical design and the construction programs:

HVAC Load Calculations – ESD, Inc. - According to ASHRAE Chapter GRP158 Load Calculation manual
RHVAC Load Calculations – ESD, Inc. - According to ASHRAE Chapter .... residential Load Calculation criteria and the Manual J
Refrig - Elite - Low Temperature refrigeration system software.
Kypipe - Haestad Water multiple loop flow analysis.
Sansys – Civilsystems® Gravity Water Flow Analysis for sanitary sewer and stormwater flow analysis.
Life Cycle Cost Analysis - According to the Fort Worth District Corps of Engineers & DoD procedures and criteria.
EZDOE – Elite - Department of Energy building energy compliance program.
EZ-LCCID - Elite Department of Energy Life Cycle Cost Analysis
Building Energy Analysis - Elite - Building Energy Consumption Analysis

15. CONTROL WIRING DIAGRAMS:  Gerald Spencer, P.E. is has prepared interlock control wiring diagrams for complex mechanical process systems.