Showcase Projects
Thermal Energy Cooperative (TECO)

In December, 2002, Gowan entered into a subcontract agreement with Tellepsen Builders, L.P. to furnish and install the mechanical piping, plumbing and sheet metal portions of the work on the South Main Street Plant Expansion Project for Thermal Energy Cooperative (TECO), who supplies the hot and chilled water to many of the hospitals in the Houston Medical Center.

This project includes mechanical piping sizes ranging from 1/2" to 42" in diameter, suspended on an intricate hanger system, engineered by Mark Wood in our estimating department and detailed by Othon Guillen in our drafting department. Some of these hangers, with no pipe hanging in them, weigh over 600 pounds each and consist of 2" or 2 1/2" eyebolts, rods, turnbuckles and suspended I-beams. In addition, we are furnishing and installing over $250,000 of pneumatically controlled instruments that will be supplied by complex compress air piping system and new Ingersoll-Rand compress. Our new HVAC piping system will connect the existing plant to six York 2000-ton chillers. The 700 HP pumps associated with them and a new four-cell 60,000 gallons per minute capacity Marley Cooling Tower, all of which are directly purchased by the owner who will coordinate their field installation with Gowan.

The plumbing portion of work includes a new 10,000-gallon process water tank, an elaborate chemical water treatment tank yard, the plant storm and sanitary systems and the demolition and relocation of existing water, air and fuel oil systems. The sheet metal portion of the work is minimal, but includes a small Trane Air-Handling Unit and associated ductwork and dozen large 18,000 CFM LorenCook exhaust fans.

The manpower on the project is ably supervised by Robert Carter, Gowan pipefitting foreman and Mike Hannah, Gowan plumbing foreman. The sheet metal efforts will be set up by Wayne Glass.

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