Industrial Dehumidification

While commercial dehumidifiers play a significant role in regulating room temperature and controlling condensation in occupied spaces, industrial dehumidification systems are required for operational processes that necessitate specific humidity levels for efficient operation.

Particularly in industrial warehousing and food processing, operators often face a pressing need to control air humidity between spaces. The colder the climate, the more critical it is to control moisture. Traditional strip curtains and high-speed doors result in energy loss and create significant hurdles to transport.

However, energy consumption is a primary concern in the design of a dehumidification system. Most energy expended on dehumidification is used to remove moisture/water from the air.

Combining an industrial dehumidifier with a heat recovery unit is a perfect example of a win-win solution for solving the problems with humid air while significantly reducing energy consumption.

Some common challenges are:

• Moisture enters the cold store from outside through the open passage (natural heat transfer).
• Moisture is removed via the evaporators’ outlets. However, if the evaporators are not frequently defrosted, they lose their capacity to remove large amounts of moisture.
• Depending on the method, defrosting takes time and energy.
• Moisture entering the cold store can cause slippery floors, mold, corrosion, electrical malfunctions, and deterioration of product quality.

By implementing a heat recovery unit, such as an air-to-air heat exchanger, heat from the regeneration process is recirculated and reused for the subsequent regeneration process of the dehumidifier. The heat transfer takes place without moisture transfer. As a result, heat is retained during the regeneration process of the dehumidifier, minimizing energy consumption for the industrial dehumidification process.

Besides ensuring that as much heat as possible is transferred from the exhaust air to the supply air (>80%), the heat exchanger should provide:

• Low maintenance requirements
• Long lifespan (>15 years)
• Limited pressure drop < 500 Pa (2″ WC)
• Corrosion resistance
• Fast return on investment

Heatex’s crossflow heat exchangers feature a lightweight construction, slim frames, and an optimized plate pattern, delivering superior efficiency while maintaining a low pressure drop.

Using our product selection software, Heatex Select enables accurate calculations of our products’ performance under different conditions.