HUMIDIFICATION & DEHUMIDIFICATION Humidity control explained I
Humidity control is a specialised area within the general air conditioning field and can often be confusing to fully understand. Simon Marshall, business development manager at Humidity Solutions, outlines a range of recent projects to help explain the niche sector of humidity control
n principle, we control the humidity within spaces to normally create a stable condition in which to manufacture, work or store products. As we know, humidity and temperature
are very closely linked, with one affecting the other with potentially undesirable consequences. These include static, condensation, mould, tests going out of spec, production KPI’s missed and human discomfort to name a few.
So, how do we use humidity control to avoid
this? To help explain, I have referred to some recent projects.
Print & packaging
Dimensional stability of paper and card is crucial during both storage and processing. One manufacturer I visited receives corrugated card from their supplier at 16% moisture content but, after being stored in the uncontrolled manufacturing space for as little as 24 hours, the product is reducing down to 6%. This makes the card difficult to slit and cut but also such a dry surface reduces the quality of the print finish and, if coated, creates surface tension and paper curl. This is a major issue for any card or paper-related business owner. In this case, the space was a 13,000m3 factory, and the solution was a high-pressure water humidifier with the heads suspended from the roof. The Airtec system supplied is ideal as it operates off 230v and has a consumption of less than a kw of energy resulting in low running costs for a relatively large humidity duty.
Laboratories & clean rooms
Laboratories are regular customers, either through universities or with pharmaceutical companies. A recent site survey undertaken by our team was at a laboratory which hires out its space to companies who may either have run out of lab rooms, don’t have rooms to the specification required or have an R&D project requirement for a set period of time.
The control needs to be consistent and
precise so allowing for 24/7 production without fluctuations. Often in this application steam is the only option as the customer requires the sterile nature of steam to comply with regulations. The Neptronic SKE4 resistive humidifier served with reverse osmosis water is the answer. Removing the minerals in the water with the RO plant means the humidifier can have its drain turned off and the water inlet valve can be set to trickle feed so that the humidifier does not go off the boil or lose output during operation. These units are often also connected to our connectivity package allowing for remote monitoring to aid planned maintenance efficiency. In this application the humidifier was positioned in the room and the humidity added via a room distribution unit.
Humidity control & classic cars
We recently exhibited at the Classic Motor Show at the NEC, which is a particular passion of mine so is always an interesting experience as we get to speak to a wide variety of potential customers, ranging from private collectors with a domestic garage to high end car storage companies. A normal, stable environment is required to
protect cars from corrosion on metal bodies and brake discs but also prevents cracking or mould on hydroscopic materials such as leather and wood veneers. Where there is no heating in the space, the Cotes desiccant dehumidifiers are the way to go as they operate down to low temperatures. Alternatively, HiDew refrigerant dehumidifiers come into their own when some level of heating is provided as they operate well at anything above 10°C. These are typical storage applications and do not differ from many of the
14 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER JANUARY 2024 Read the latest at:
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