Case Study: Winery Chiller Replacement & System Expansion
Landon Whinery – Lightning Damage Recovery & Cooling System Upgrade
Project Background
B.I.M.S. had been providing HVAC and refrigeration support to Landon Whinery for several years when an unexpected failure occurred. One afternoon, the facility was struck by lightning, which caused severe damage to the chiller system and resulted in the loss of the compressor.
During the investigation, it was also determined that the existing system had been operating at or beyond its capacity due to increased production demands at the winery.
System Assessment & Engineering Collaboration
Following the failure, B.I.M.S. partnered with MTA (manufacturer/design partner) to engineer a properly sized replacement chiller system capable of meeting both current and future production needs.
Project goals included:
- Restoring full cooling reliability
- Increasing total system capacity beyond original design limits
- Supporting expanded winery production demands
- Improving long-term reliability and electrical protection
Mechanical & Distribution System Expansion
Once the new design was completed, B.I.M.S. engineered and installed a fully upgraded chilled water distribution system.
Scope of Work
- Complete redesign of chilled water loop configuration
- Upsizing of piping to support increased flow requirements
- Extended distribution loop routed around the entire wine vat production area
- Balanced distribution to ensure consistent cooling across all process zones
- System expansion designed for future load growth
Controls & System Protection Enhancements
Due to the lightning event and the critical nature of production, additional electrical and control protections were integrated into the system:
- Installation of surge protection devices on critical electrical components
- Voltage and phase monitoring to protect against electrical instability
- Custom control strategy development for system reliability
Loop Safety & Pressure Control
A key engineered feature of the system was a loop bypass control strategy designed to prevent system overpressure conditions.
- Loop bypass was specifically designed to ensure the chilled water loop would not exceed 30 PSI
- System dynamically diverts flow during high pressure conditions
- Protects piping, fittings, and process equipment from over-pressurization
- Maintains stable hydraulic operation under varying load conditions
Results
The completed project delivered a fully modernized and expanded cooling system capable of supporting winery production at scale.
Key Outcomes
- Reliable and consistent temperature control for wine production
- Expanded system capacity to support operational growth
- Stable chilled water distribution across all production areas
- Strong electrical and surge protection for critical equipment
- Controlled loop pressure maintained below 30 PSI under all operating conditions
- Increased system resilience and long-term operational reliability
Conclusion
Through rapid emergency response, collaboration with MTA, and custom system engineering, B.I.M.S. successfully restored and expanded a lightning-damaged chiller system into a high-capacity, protected, and fully controlled cooling infrastructure tailored specifically for winery operations.