Case Study Tridium Technology Enables Complex Integration at Whirlpool Data Center Project When Whirlpool had ever ControlNET can use Tridium’s Corporation integrated so many technology to create integrated, migrated its different building enterprise-wide systems that control all central data and power systems the sub-systems from a single location, center in Benton before. Although Bonzheim explains. “This is what a Harbor, Mich., equipment building enterprise system is all about. from a manufacturers had In our industry, there’s a lot of talk mainframe begun migrating to about convergence, but it’s been slow environment to a open protocol to happen—until Tridium came along. high density systems by 2003, Tridium has allowed us to move beyond server Whirlpool Corporate Headquarters, Benton Harbor, MI there were still simple temperature control systems environment, three different open and into complete building enterprise the company conducted a single point- systems, and they were largely systems.” of-failure study to address facilities incompatible. Fortunately, Brown found needs for the site. A decision was a company that could handle the job: The Implementation made in 2003 to overhaul the ControlNET. The Whirlpool project redundant backup systems for power The Kalamazoo, represented a very complex and chilled water to make sure the Mich.-based building building integration project, mission-critical facility never failed. automation firm has built says Chris Davis, the senior “The data center supports its business model on application engineer at Whirlpool operations globally. It runs the conviction that open ControlNET who led the 24/7,” explains Bill Brown, data center protocols represent the future of the Whirlpool integration. Upping the ante, engineer for Jones Lang LaSalle, which building controls industry. With a team Whirlpool was running on a fast-track runs the data center under contract. of Niagara Certified engineers plus schedule, so ControlNET had only four The $12 billion-a-year, home appliance support staff on board, the firm months to turn the project around. company conducts manufacturing specializes in developing “best in “We had done integration operations in four continents and class” open-protocol, web-based before, though not to the extent of this markets products in 170 different solutions in the building automation system. But we knew the Tridium countries. Allowing the data center to sector. Says General Manager Chris technology was capable of handling it,” go down, no matter what the Bonzheim: “From the beginning, our says General Manager Bonzheim. circumstances, simply was not an focus has been on web-based, open “Chris Davis did his homework. We option. protocol solutions. We believe the were confident it could be done.” Plans called for upgrading and future of building automation is moving Pulling off the job required modernizing the incoming power steadily towards open protocol systems coordination of the property owners, system—boxcar-sized generators, and away from proprietary control mechanical contractors, electrical transfer switches, sub-stations, UPS systems. We do not believe that contractors, and multiple systems and battery systems—as well as the property owners want to be held delivered by separate vendors. Says Ed chillers and CRAC units housed within captive by proprietary technology.” Merwin, Tridium’s director of field 12,000 square feet of data center The underlying technology that sales: “ControlNET had to orchestrate space. The project also incorporated made ControlNET’s specialty possible not only the technical aspects of the traditional building systems like HVAC is the versatile Honeywell WEBs integration but also the organizational controls in an adjacent building. Brown platform developed by Richmond, Va.,- aspects. It was not an easy feat.” wanted integrated controls to ensure based Tridium, Inc. Capable of Bonzheim, Davis and the rest of better maintenance and enable a rapid communicating with any proprietary or the ControlNET team deserve kudos for emergency response. But it was an open-protocol system, Honeywell WEBs a phenomenal job, says Merwin, who unprecedented challenge tying integrates the schematics of complex adds that he also sees the project as a together 15 types of equipment from arrays of equipment in a unified, Web- validation of Tridium’s technology. multiple manufacturers, each of which based graphical interface, and makes it “Think about it: This is one of the most used proprietary software controls, and easy to drill down into any component complex building automation projects traditionally required the use of of the system to find critical data. ever undertaken. It didn’t require any additional integrators to convert the Instead of implementing software special software to make it happen. proprietary software. controls for individual pieces of ControlNET used a single tool kit and A decade ago, Brown would have equipment, each of which has to be product line to pull it all together.” been asking for the impossible. No one administered by a dedicated PC, Whirlpool Data Center demonstrates intelligent buildings on a grand scale integrating numerous diverse systems using Tridium’s technology. The Benefits building to verify that the transfers had in competing with other firms, most of After a year and a half in operation, Bill taken place. Now we can do it from a them still coming up the learning curve, Brown with Jones Lang LaSalle is more laptop at either location.” Third, the for projects that require the integration certain than ever that the move to an entire system is monitored for alarms of diverse systems. integrated control system was the right and dispatched 24/7/365 through a But Bonzheim says the greatest decision. Integrated controls make it third-party security management satisfaction comes from meeting the much easier to plan and conduct company using Tridium’s Vykon Alarm challenge presented by a highly maintenance on the multi-million dollar Server (VAS) component of the respected global manufacturer for power system, he says. package. ControlNET certainly control, automation, security, and First, the appreciates the confidence that reliability while delivering the energy control system efficiency that can tell if there identifies are problems Whirlpool as a with the good corporate equipment – citizen. pumps, air “People have conditioners, been talking whatever – that about the need tending benefits of to. Second, the intelligent system makes buildings for a great tool to years now,” says help facilities Whirlpool’s Home Page for monitoring the corporate campus Air conditioning/chiller monitoring screen for the data center Bonzheim. managers “Finally, they’re here. With Whirlpool, we’ve undertake the maintenance. “If we’re Whirlpool has placed in them. Since the doing equipment maintenance on the demonstrated technology that provides original integration project, Whirlpool a seamless integrated solution to the UPS (uninterruptible power supply) has selected ControlNET for 15 system, we have to transfer the power problems of managing multiple building additional automation projects. systems. The ControlNET team is proud supply loads,” says Brown. “Before, we Meanwhile, the firm’s experience with used to have to walk from building to to lead the way toward making open protocols has given it a big edge intelligent buildings a reality.” Major components included: — Liebert static transfer switches, integrated through Liebert Sitelink Panel (BACnet protocol) — York chillers, integrated through a Microgateway Panel — Pre-action sprinkler systems and fire detection systems, (BACnet protocol) integrated through LonMark controls — Trane chillers, integrated through a Trane BCU Panel — Russelectric ATS complete with bypass switches, (BACnet protocol) integrated through Russelectric Microprocessor (Modbus — Cooling tower systems, with backup well water to protocol) protect against the loss of city water, utilizing LonMark — Onan generators, each with its own fuel system, fuel controls tanks and parallel switchA, integrated through an Onan —Johnson Controls JC80 system converted for power and Microprocessor (ModBus protocol) miscellaneous monitoring to ControlNET LonMark — ATS for fuel system backup, integrated through an Onan Controls Microprocessor (LonWorks protocol) — Liebert air conditioning units, integrated with a Liebert — Cuttler Hammer electrical substations, integrated Sitelink Panel (BACnet protocol) through Westinghouse Modbus NetLink (Modbus protocol) — Liebert leak detection system, integrated through a — Square D electrical substation, integrated through Liebert Sitelink Panel (BACnet protocol) Square D’s ECC21 ethernet card (Modbus protocol) — Liebert uninterruptible power supply units, integrated — Westinghourse electrical substation integrated through through Liebert Sitelink Panel (BACnet protocol) Cutler Hammer Modbus Netlink (Modbus protocol) www.tridium.com North America Europe Asia Pacific 3951 Westerre Parkway 1 The Grainstore, 101 Cecil Street #10-11 Suite 350 Brooks Green Road Tong Eng Building Richmond, VA 23233-1313 Coolham, West Sussex RH13 8GR Singapore 069533 Phone: 1.804.747.4771 Phone: +44.0.1403.740290 Phone: +65.6.887.5154 Fax: 1.804.747.5204 Fax: +44.0.1403.741804 Fax: +65.6.887.5342 .