Dehumidification

Justin Dunnahoo
 Uses
 Humid air can lead to mold and mildew
 Humid air is preferred by many insects
 Moths, fleas, cockroaches, etc
 Ice Arenas
 More comfortable environment
 Reduce load on ice making equipment
 Humidity control in industrial climatic
chambers
 Processes
 Mechanical/Refrigerative
 Desiccative
 Electronic
QuickTime™ and a

 Air Conditioners
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.

 Makeshift
 Mechanical/Refrigerative
Dehumidification
 Most Common
 Draws moist air over refrigerated coil using a small fan
 Saturation Vapor Pressure decreases with the decreasing
temperature
 Moisture in air condenses and drips into collection bucket
 Air is then reheated by warmer part of refrigeration coil
 Most effective in high ambient and RH>45%

QuickTime™ and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
 Desiccative Dehumidification
 Employs a desiccant material to produce a
dehumidification effect
QuickTime™ and a

 Desiccant- a substance with the ability to

decompressor
are needed to see this picture.

attract moisture from the environment to

induce dryness
 Ex: Silica Gel
 More effective in low temps with low
humidity
 Process
QuickTime™ and a
 Expose desiccant to high humidity air decompressor
are needed to see this picture.

stream and allow it to absorb moisture

 Then expose to low humidity (reactivation)
air stream to draw out retained moisture
 Heat the reactivation air stream to remove
moisture or have it exit the system
 Other Dehumidification
Processes
 Electronic
 Use a heat pump to create a
cool surface for condensation
 Very quiet (no compressor)
 Mainly small dehumidifiers
 Air Conditioners
 Automatically accumulate water
when they cool the air QuickTime™ and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.

 Moisture removed through

drain to outside
 Makeshift
 Window AC units can be
reversed to send exhaust back
into room, warmer and less
humid
Questions?

QuickTime™ and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.