I've got a new project that I am needing some expert help with ... so here I come to the DTR fountain of knowledge again !!

I have a large fabrication shop that is currently relying on about eight - 36" exhaust fans, three - 20'x20' roll-up doors and a few large ridge vents for the ventilation of the shop.

The problem is that the daytime temps are well in the 100's so it seems like all we do is move air that is heated by the surrounding steel roof and several acres of concrete that surrounds the building.

This is the same principle that a convection oven uses and with guys covered in welding leather ... that isn't the most ideal situation.

If the price was right, I would really like to refit the building with air conditioning but need some ideas about maintaining air quality while keeping it cool. I don't want to waste the cool by sending it out with the smoke.

Any ideas ?? Smoke scrubbers ??

Cheers,
PISTOL

 

Smoke eaters would be your best option. What is the scale of the usual work? Would fume hoods over welding tables be appropriate or do you need a bunch of portable units to bring to the work?

 

REAL welders like heat and smoke! What kind of sissies are you dealing with anyway?

I don't have a solution, as if you didn't already know that. I think this has been a problem for as long as welding has been around. (the heat and smoke problem, not my absence of having a solution)

Maybe a misting fan at one end of the shop pushing the air/mist mix thru to the other end? It'd have to be one huge fan, like the ones they use to ventilate tunnels. At the very least, instead of dry cooking the workers in the convection oven, you could steam them!

chaikwa.

 

we use to use water misters on the roof tops to cool the metal roofing it would drop the temps 20* inside , but you need to deal with the run off around the building.

 

Texans...

We use a combination of Porta-Cool swamp coolers and reflective weld gear.
In some of our more extreme welding locations (inside welds on 4130) we use water chilled gloves.

 

if it is dry heat you have, look into evaporative cooling, "swamp coolers" basically a large box with pleated media that water runs/ recirculates over,, you draw air in through these coolers with your current ventilation fans blowing as exhaust. the swamp coolers go on the inlet side of the building. As the water evaporates off the media, it draws heat out of the air. work great in dry hot areas, not so great if hu7midity is high.

http://www.energysavers.gov/your_hom.../mytopic=12360

.

 

He's in Houston. Nothing dry about the heat there!!


How high are the ceilings you have?

 

Houston is fairly humid and its tough to cool without an airconditioner.

If a cool suit doesn't work for you, try moving the shift about 12 hours.

 

you might also consider getting all the air flow moving in one direction and pull air from the north side of the building or from a side with a lawn or tree cover.

 

First Of All Ya Have To Insulate The Building > Espically The Roof !
This Was Mentoned Before (are Thr Welders In A Perminate Location ? ) If So Hoods With Vent Fans >air-conditoning With A Comercial Make Up Air System > This Is What Is Used In Comercial Buildings >one Example Would Be Restrants > They Suck The Heat & Smoke Out With Systems Of Hoods And All Out Side Doors Must Be Closed Then Thay Have A Meter That Measures Air Loss >
There Are Federal Standards For This Situationa> But Smoke Can Be Kept Out And Cool Air Kept In > Seams Any Reputable Heating & Cooling Company Would Have All The Facts For You >
Hope This Help[s

 

Thanks all ....

The building was insulated a few years ago so that helps. Working with about a 40' ceiling height. They have a couple Porta-cools out there but don't use the water due to the effects that it has on the welding ... as if the humidity wasn't bad enough.

The shop produces some pretty sizable work and moves around a lot .... so I was thinking the portable ventilation deal was the best option. They already have some portable units to take care of the hazardous fumes from the stainless.


Right now we have some good air movement and the air quality is great ... it's just hottern' who-dunnit out there.

The roof is painted white so that helps also ... I think that roof mister idea is interesting ...

I think they have pretty much exhausted the "make do" options and just need to fork over the $$ to install A/C.
Anybody got an extra quarter mil just laying around that you don't need ... Chaikwa ?? Fronty ??

Cheers,
PISTOL

 

Step One....

Beg borrow or steal a large walker crane, a large truck with trailer, and a goofy friend.

Step Two...

Have goofy friend go into Walmart, attempt to purchase several gallon jars of pickles, and drop said jars on floor, effectively turning checkout area of Walmart into a smelly pool of pickly mess liberally peppered with broken glass.

Step Three... Whilst everyone in Walmart is Distracted, take Crane, help yourself to large industrial a/c units on roof of said store, put on truck and transport home.

Sorry Pistol,

Got a little bored....

Good luck with the shop though, heat has been brutal down here. I dont think anything short of a good insulation job and liberal applications of large a/c units will help.

 

watch for auctions when a busness closes and building is going under wreckes ball,bought 4 large rooftops for less than $500,3000 to hire crane to remove them,

 

Hang on a second, lemme grab my pen .... this is good stuff. Does it have to be DILL pickles or would sweet ones do ??

Cheers,
PISTOL

 

I have seen what porta cools can do to welds. nice watching a part rust faster than a grinder can take it off.

As far as having an extra quarter mil laying around, I work in the oil field... we aint got no money "laying around" right now...