GREEN MATTERS


process, or in warmer climates. However, if the building or process requires heating, then this cooling eff ect is not welcome and requires additional heat energy to be added to the air. This heat energy equates to the amount of energy diff erence between a similarly sized adiabatic system versus a steam humidifi er, so no system energy saving. Retrofi t systems or new designs may require a larger heating coil, larger burners, or bigger heat pumps to provide this extra heat, all of which come at a capital and running cost. The calculation also considers the energy source and the cost per kW. Whatever the technology, it takes the same amount of energy to convert water to steam. However, the system can save energy by preventing condensation, which, when produced, essentially throws energy down the drain. Therefore, we can also make the steam humidifi ers as


effi cient as possible – the normal steam humidifi er has a drain cycle to remove dissolved solids from the steam cylinder to extend the maintenance period. However, by adding a reverse osmosis plant, we can remove the minerals before entering the boiling process – the drain cycle is no longer needed, so it can be turned off , which stops hot, heated water from going to the drain and making this system 20% more energy effi cient than a standard set up. For example, Humidity Solutions’ solution is Neptronic


X-stream Technology, a high-effi ciency insulated steam distribution multi-lance with patented steam ejector eyelets to distribute the hottest steam into the airfl ow. The double- walled 304 stainless steel tubes are fi lled with Armacell to provide insulation to greatly reduce heat loss and limit condensate generation. Specially engineered silicone eyelets prevent condensate ejection on start-up and allow the condensate to fl ow back into the X-stream to be reevaporated, again reducing the condensate loss and increasing effi ciency.


Dehumidifi cation There are two types of dehumidifi ers – refrigerant and desiccant. The refrigerant dehumidifi ers have a cold coil that drops the passing air to below its dew point, causing the moisture in the air to condense, with the water going to drain. This type of dehumidifi er is ideal for warm environments above 10°C and where the humidity needs to be kept at 40% RH and above. This is ideal for swimming pools, laboratories, and temperature-controlled storage facilities. Keeping the humidity at the desired level of around 50% RH can result in energy effi ciency, as the air heat levels can be reduced without the humidity creating ceiling condensation. In the case of swimming pools, this results in less water evaporation from the pool and reduced pool heating costs. Desiccant dehumidifi ers use a silica rotor to remove


moisture from the air and vent it as humid air to the outside. They are best suited for unheated stores or where low humidity is required. For example, in the case of lithium-ion battery production, the humidity is at 0% RH (-120°C dewpoint). With ultradry battery production, Cotes dehumidifi ers are constructed with three rotors to allow the dehumidifi er to run at lower


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Cotes Desiccant Dehumidifi er in a car storage facility


Induct low-energy high-pressure spray humidifi er


temperatures and a two-rota system that facilitates the use of alternative sources of energy such as heat pumps, process waste heat, and solar. This dramatically reduces the running costs of the dehumidifi er and the whole manufacturing process. More standard applications, such as unheated car storage, use a built-in heat recovery unit to harvest the waste heat, ensuring maximum effi ciency and the lowest possible energy consumption. Energy-effi cient humidity control is not only possible, but


achievable. The choice of humidifi er or dehumidifi er, specifi c application and use of additional accessories all require scrutiny and assessment to create the best possible energy- effi cient humidity control for the application or process. Many contractors and consultants do not deal with humidity


control on a daily basis, so it is key to seek advice from experts who can off er a range of solutions from a selection of manufacturers.


www.acr-news.com • June 2025 27 Data


centres and manufacturing process control


frequently favour


evaporative systems.


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