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Heating water to create steam, only to allow it to condense back to water again, is a waste of energy. It could also mean the steam output of the system is reduced, resulting in it not being able to meet the required demands of the building


efficient transfer of the steam from the boiling cylinder to the airstream. Long runs of steam pipe, with associated bends, will increase condensation in the pipework. Heating water to create steam, only to allow it to condense back to water again, is a waste of energy. It could also mean the steam output of the system is reduced, resulting in it not being able to meet the required demands of the building. The steam pipe should be a maximum of 4m, with each bend reducing this length by 1m. The humidifier will require connections for power,


water supply and drain. It is important the humidifier is not located directly above the drain. With drain water released at up to 100°C, steam can rise and condense on and inside the humidifier’s cabinet, potentially causing corrosion. When positioning the steam lance inside the duct, the main objective is to ensure the steam released is


fully and uniformly absorbed by the airflow, without any wetting inside the duct or onto any elements downstream. To achieve this, a single lance is typically placed around 1/3 of the duct height from the floor and should protrude at least 75% across the duct width. This gives optimum conditions for the steam to be released without touching the walls


Tony Tullett, service director at Condair


Humidification


or ceiling. It is important to maintain a minimum distance from the floor of 85mm and 165mm from the ceiling. This is to avoid creating turbulence that could direct the steam onto the ductwork, resulting in condensation. The minimum duct height a steam lance can be used in is therefore 250mm. The steam lance will need at least 300mm


clearance before it, without any corners, transitions or t-branches in the duct. This is again to avoid turbulent and non-laminar airflow directing the steam onto the walls or ceiling. The required clearance distance after the steam


lance will depend on the absorption distance of the steam. To avoid condensation, nothing should be located in this absorption area, with no duct bends or transitions. This absorption distance is calculated factoring in the temperature, humidity and velocity of the airstream, and the length, number and type of steam lance. To give an example, at 2.5m/s, 20°C and 50%RH, the absorption distance will be around 1m with standard steam lances. However, this can be shortened by up to 70% with the use of advanced short evaporation steam lance manifolds. The humidifier supplier ought to be able to provide an exact absorption distance, given the project’s specification. If submicron filters are used after the humidifier, the clearance should be 2.5 times the absorption distance to avoid moisture being removed by the filter. If sensors or high-limit humidistats are placed in the duct, the clearance should be five times the absorption distance, to ensure proper mixing prior to the stat. Ideally sensors should be placed in the return air duct, to provide accurate control feedback on the room condition. Another thing that an installer ought to consider is the installation of a drip tray under the steam lance in the duct to protect against corrosion. Also, all humidifiers need to be serviced, so clear access to the humidifier is essential. Finally, it is always recommended that the humidifier manufacturer ought to carry out the commissioning of the unit, to ensure the equipment is installed correctly, with optimum controls set-up and operational performance.


Condair is a specialist manufacturer of commercial and industrial humidity control equipment and evaporative cooling systems, setting standards with regard to energy efficiency and hygienic solutions. The Condair Group consists of sales and service organisations in 22 countries, production sites in Europe, North America and China, and international sales partners in more than 50 locations.


Condair is represented in the UK by Condair Ltd, which offers humidifier system advice, design, manufacture, supply, installation, commissioning, maintenance and spares from its base in Littlehampton, West Sussex. The company provides nationwide coverage with an extensive team of sales and service engineers, strategically located across the UK and Ireland.


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