Desiccant Dehumidification and Humidity

Control Challenges

Zeidan Al Jamal, ASHRAE Seminar, January 2017

1
 General Humidity Theory

Absolute Humidity
● The amount of water vapour in the air varies over the year and is different in
different places on the earth.
● The amount of water vapour is measured in g or kg of water vapour per kg of
(dry) air (g/kg) and is called Humidity Ratio or Absolute Humidity.
● In this part of the world the maximum Absolute Humidity is about 26 g/kg

=
1 m3 Air
1,2 kg
 General Humidity Theory
● Relative Humidity
– The ratio (in %) between the actual quantity of
water vapour in the air and the maximum quantity of
water vapour that the air can contain at a certain
temperature

Actual 10 g/kg
Max 20 g/kg
10/20 = 0,5 = 50%RH

Actual 10 Max. 20
g/kg g/kg
 General Humidity Theory
● Dew point temperature
– At each temperature there is a maximum amount of water vapour the air
can contain (saturation). The higher the temperature is the more water
vapour the air can contain.
– When the air is cold down the %RH will increase and if the air is cold down
to saturation the Dew Point Temperature is reached.
General Humidity Problems

Condensation Mould
100%RH >70%RH

Corrosion Hygroscopic
>50%RH material
 The Need To Control Humidity

120
To prevent corrosion we
need to maintain 50% RH
or less. 100

80
Increase
in Weight
mg/dm 2 60

40

20

0
0 20 40 60 80 100
% Relative Humidity

6
 The Need To Control Humidity

To prevent mold growth we Growth

rate mm
need to maintain below per day
70% RH.

3
Temperature
25
°C
2

0.1

0
0 50 70 100
% Relative Humidity

7
 The Need To Control Humidity

To keep quality of
products; hygroscopic
materials quality affected
by moisture content, Moisture
which can be affected by content Leather
surrounding %RH level %
Wood
25

20 Cotton

15 Paper

10

5
Inge-95

8
 What is Desiccant Dehumidification

9
 When to use desiccant rather than cooling?

• Cooling down the air removes moisture by condensation

• Limitations are the off coil conditions of conventional cooling system
• We can cool down to 13-14ᵒC, which means we can reach down to 9.4 g/kg (Absolute Humidity)
• To get dryer conditions below 9.4 g/kg conventional cooling can’t do the job

• Here comes the need for desiccant dehumidifiers, where it able to dry the air down to 1 g/kg or less.

10
 Humidity ratio, g/kg
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
60

55
Dry bulb temperature, °C

50

45

40

35
Cooling
30

25
Desiccant Dehumidification
20

15
Over cooling and condensation

10

5 hx-diagram
100,32 kPa
11 0
 Energy Saving Options

Energy Recovery Purge

– with reduced react heat energy
compared to a standard unit. Same
capacity as a standard unit

12
 Energy Saving Options

Munters PowerPurge offers energy and

cost savings:
Reduced reactivation energy
Reduced post cooling requirements
Reduced chiller capacity needed
Reduced piping size requirements

13
 Systems out of desiccant technology

14
Humidity Problems in Cold Stores and Freezers

Above Zero areas

Loading dock Sub Zero area - the Cold Store
Lock
Distribution area
Processing area

The problem is
caused
by air exchange in
Warm air
the door:
inflow Warm air flows in
on top
Cold air Cold air flows out at
outflow
the bottom
Humidity Problems in Cold Stores and Freezers

Force changed mix condition

at the door and removal
capacity for sublimation
Humidity Problems
Main issues:
• Ice build up
• Condensation
• Fog
• Slippery floors
• High energy consumption
• Low cooling capacity
Humidity Problems in Cold Stores and Freezers
Dehumidification Solutions in Cold Stores

IceDry MLT MLT

Airlock
+2oC
Cold Store Loading Bay
-25oC + 10oC
Outdoor
+30-40oC
Airlock
-12oC
20g/kg

IceDry
DH-Installation in above 0oC area

Air-lock installation Air-lock installation

Air-lock installation Loading bay installation

Installations in below 0oC area

Air Curtain
Before and after DH-Installations
Questions?