Feature but rather for evaporative cooling and the benefit is free . We regularly find the saying ‘ you get what you pay for ’ to be true , and ‘ the humidification problem is as big as the price you have to pay to control it .’”
Humidification equipment efficiency is often productquality , or water-quality dependant . Wasting hot water as a result of unsuitable water quality or bad equipment design affects both electricity and water efficiency use . Evaporative humidifiers can be big water wasters depending on the design and required flushing and draining requirements to prevent bacterial growth such as legionnaires disease ( condensing type ).
STRUCTURED MEDIA TECHNOLOGY HAS SEEN GREAT DEVELOPMENT IN RECENT YEARS While basic principles remain constant , efficiencies have improved . For instance , reheating can be provided via heat recovery from a four-pipe chiller or a VRF unit , or a heat pipe , avoiding the high running cost of resistance heating techniques . Newer technologies are often more energy efficient and designed to reduce their carbon footprint through improved system optimisation .
Their value lies in the fact that the air will only absorb what it can absorb and cannot be over humidified — as occurs with steam methods . Adoption of better engineering practices such as the elimination of resource intensive methods are also seen as technology advances as some countries have banned the use of electrical re-heating in favour of other methodologies .
“ Today there are tremendous benefits and innovations that older systems were not designed to offer . Modernisation of RH control solutions has been driven by electronic devices such as integrated controllers built into units . The controller allows for easy parameter adjustment , onscreen trouble shooting and extensive error reporting . The addition of communication with building management systems via BACnet , IP , MSTP , Modbus or Lon Works enables greater facility control and reporting ,” Schalekamp concludes . them under 5m lagged copper or 3m flexible steam hose . Take 1m off for every elbow . Also avoid sags or deadlegs where condensate can build-up without running to drain .
Consideration should be given to drain piping too . Steam humidifiers can release water between 60-100 ° C so low-grade plastic piping can melt and bend . An air gap is always required but don ’ t position a humidifier over an open drain . Steam rising from the drain can re-enter the unit and cause corrosion or electrical faults in the circuit boards .
Locate the steam lance centrally in the duct , with the holes pointing upwards and at a right angle to the airflow . Common problems occur when steam lances are positioned too close to bends causing steam to condense on the duct prior to absorption . To maintain efficiency , the lance must always be angled to direct condensate into the lance ’ s drain .
SOME PHILOSOPHIES SURROUNDING ADDING MOISTURE Factors to take into account when designing a system for a specific space , taking into account energy efficiency .
There are various different methods to remove moisture or to add moisture to a building for specific conditions . The
GETTING IT RIGHT FIRST TIME The last thing any contractor needs is to have to return to site to correct an issue with a humidifier installation that has arisen at the commissioning stage . To help avoid this , here are some of the most frequent installation issues encountered , with advice from Comair on how to get it right first time .
Location , location , location ! The most convenient place to put a steam humidifier is not always the best . Consider access for servicing and put the unit as close to the point of steam delivery as possible so that the steam pipes can be kept short . If steam piping is too long steam will condense prior to being released in the duct , reducing system efficiency . Ideally keep
www . refrigerationandaircon . co . za RACA Journal I March 2023 29