Innovas Technologies is pleased to announce that George Mason University (GMU) has expanded its use of the Helios Tube Cleaning System®, building on the strong performance results previously documented in the university’s central plant operations. The expansion reflects GMU’s continued commitment to improving energy efficiency, increasing cooling reliability, and reducing operational maintenance within its chilled water infrastructure.
Building on Proven Success
GMU first implemented the Helios Tube Cleaning System in its central cooling plant as part of a strategy to address fouling-related inefficiencies in its chillers. Like many facilities in the Mid-Atlantic region, GMU had historically relied on periodic manual tube cleaning to maintain chiller performance. However, this approach often allowed fouling to accumulate between cleanings, reducing efficiency and increasing operating costs.
To evaluate alternatives, GMU installed a Helios system on one of its central plant chillers and closely monitored performance compared to an identical chiller operating under traditional cleaning practices. The results were immediate and measurable. The Helios-equipped chiller maintained a consistent 0.5°F condenser approach temperature throughout the cooling season, while the traditionally operated chiller experienced steadily increasing approach temperatures as fouling accumulated.
These results confirmed that continuous tube cleaning could significantly improve the efficiency and reliability of chiller operations.
Measurable Efficiency Improvements
The original installation demonstrated clear operational and sustainability benefits for the university’s central plant. Over the course of the study period, GMU observed:
- Annual energy savings: approximately 550,000 kWh
- Annual energy cost savings: about $45,000
- Estimated lifetime savings: approximately $900,000
In addition to energy and cost savings, the Helios system eliminated the need for routine manual tube cleaning and helped maintain consistently clean heat exchanger surfaces throughout the cooling season. This allowed the central plant to operate more reliably while reducing maintenance workload for facility staff.
Expansion Across Additional Chillers
Encouraged by these results, George Mason University moved forward with expanding the Helios installation across additional chillers in the central cooling plant. The expansion reflects a broader strategy to standardize high-efficiency technologies across campus infrastructure while continuing to reduce energy consumption and operating costs.
By integrating Helios systems across more equipment, the university can ensure that multiple chillers maintain optimal heat-transfer efficiency throughout the cooling season. This approach helps maximize cooling capacity during peak demand periods while minimizing the risk of performance degradation caused by fouling.
A Model for Campus Energy Optimization
With the expanded deployment of the Helios Tube Cleaning System, George Mason University continues to demonstrate how forward-thinking facility teams can leverage innovative technologies to improve infrastructure performance.
By maintaining clean heat exchanger tubes throughout the cooling season, Helios systems enable central plants to operate closer to their design efficiency while delivering measurable savings in energy, maintenance, and emissions.
As universities, hospitals, and district energy providers continue to seek reliable methods for improving plant efficiency, projects like the one at George Mason University highlight the role that automated tube cleaning technology can play in achieving long-term operational and sustainability goals.
