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Desiccants and Dehumidification
| The need for
increased ventilation air (ASHRAE 62-1989) has increased latent loads in
many commercial buildings. Desiccants are one technology that provides
the means to remove more moisture than conventional HVAC systems. Enhanced
vapor-compression technologies can also provide the increased dehumidification
capacity required in many applications. We have developed evaluated various
dehumidification technologies through detailed field monitoring, hourly
building simulations, and laboratory tests. |
Selected Projects:
Field Evaluation of a Desiccant System in a Florida Hotel -
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Gas Research Institute |
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We field monitored a hotel
near Naples, FL that has desiccant units installed to precondition fresh
air that is introduced into the hallways. Monitoring also included
a nearly identical base case hotel in Bonita Springs. We Monitored
desiccant system energy use as well as space conditions in more than a
dozen areas throughout each hotel. DAS used traditional data
loggers as well as low cost battery-power loggers. The roject goals
were to assess the impact of desiccant technology on indoor air quality
(IAQ) and quantify energy impacts. |
Field Evaluation of a Desiccant System in an Elementary School -
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Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Gas Research Institute |
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We field monitored an elementary
school near Kansas City with a desiccant unit installed to dehumidify and
pre-treat ventilation air. Monitoring included energy use and indoor
conditions in a classroom area with the desiccant unit installed as well
as in an identical “base case” classroom area. DAS incuded more than
100 data points to compare system performance, quantify savings compared
to other technologies, and assess the impact of desiccant technology on
indoor air quality (IAQ). |
Assessment of Desiccant
Technologies -
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Brooklyn Union |
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We assessed the potential
of desiccant technologies by developing hourly building simulation models
with TRNSYS. We developed models of both desiccant and conventional HVAC
equipment and incorporated these components into building models. The study
evaluated several typical commercial building applications as well as supermarkets
and residential applications. Component models were developed for several
commercially available desiccant systems, as well as for competing dehumidification
technologies. Various equipment configuration options and issues were evaluated. |
Laboratory Test of a Desiccant
Unit at ETL -
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Brooklyn Union |
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We worked worked with ETL
Laboratories in Cortland, NY to test a commercially available desiccant
unit. We developed test procedures, directed testing efforts, and analyzed
and presented the test results. |
Demonstration of a Gas-Fired
Desiccant Cooling System -
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Niagara Mohawk Gas |
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We evaluated the performance
of a commercially avialable desiccant system installed to proved pretreated
makeup air on a Burger King restaurant in Upstate New York. A data acquisition
system (DAS) was installed to collect detailed performance data on the
gas-fired desiccant unit as well as the other HVAC equipment installed
at the store. Space temperature and humidity were also measured to assess
system operation. |
Field Demonstration of
an All-Electric Desiccant Unit -
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Empire State Electric Energy
Research Corporation |
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We field monitored two all-electric
desiccant systems installed in different restuarant applications in New
York State. In both applications, the hybrid desiccant/vapor-compression
system provided ventilation air to the dining area. A data acquisition
system (DAS) was installed to collect detailed data on the desiccant system
and its sub-components. |
See our section on supermarkets
for more information on other dehumidification projects.
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