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Desiccants: Benefits for the Second Century of Air-Conditioning
Abstract
Desiccant technology now stands where mechanical
cooling stood in the 1930's. Desiccant systems have
been used by industrial engineers to achieve
productivity and energy benefits which far outweigh
their installed cost. Now, with lower cost desiccant
components, commercial buildings are using
desiccant systems because they provide benefits
beyond those of air cooling technology alone.
In many ways, the rise of desiccant systems is parallel
to the 80-year-old transition from fan-only cooling to
mechanical cooling. Mechanical cooling did not
reduce the need for fans and blowers. Likewise,
desiccant technology may not reduce the need for
mechanical cooling. And just as mechanical cooling
adds cost to a fan-only system, desiccant equipment
can sometimes cost more than mechanical cooling.
But just as cooling coils add functionality to a
ventilation system, desiccant systems provide benefits
which are beyond the reach of mechanical cooling
systems. Specifically, desiccant systems can provide:
Total control of humidity, independent of
temperature.
Dew points below the practical limits of cooling
technology.
Humidity control in cold environments and cold
air streams.
Lower operating cost
Lower peak electrical demand.
Ability to use low-cost thermal energy to control
both humidity and temperature.
Dry duct systems in accordance with ASHRAE
Standard 62, avoiding microbial and fungal
growth associated with sick building syndrome.
Citation
McGahey, K.; Harriman, L. (1996). Desiccants: Benefits for the Second Century of Air-Conditioning. Energy Systems Laboratory (http://esl.tamu.edu); Texas A&M University (http://www.tamu.edu). Available electronically from https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /6695.