CAL-IN Technology Transfer, L.L.C.
Macro to Micro to Nano... Critical Environmental Experts
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Dry Cooling
CAL-IN generally uses air conditioning systems with cooling coils to control both air temperature and humidity. In most comfort-conditioning applications, this is an extremely efficient method of controlling humidity.
However, in some circumstances, there is a benefit to adding a CAL-IN desiccant dehumidifier to the cooling system to control humidity separately for air temperature. The benefits are greatest where the moisture loads are high compared to the sensible heat loads, or where they peak at different times. For example, a building may be able to use 65° F outside air for cooling, but the air will still be carrying enough moisture to require dehumidification.
Also, when energy to regenerate a desiccant dehumidifier is very inexpensive and electric power is very costly, a desiccant unit can be a useful addition to an air conditioning system. It shifts the moisture load from electricity to a lower-cost utility. For example, cogeneration systems supply excess heat which can be used by a desiccant dehumidifier to remove moisture from air.
Retroffitted HVAC systems also take advantage of desiccant moisture removal capacity. This is of interest to many clients since environmental concerns about chlorinated fluorocarbon refrigerants can lead to major changes in the latent removal capacities of existing systems.
Supermarkets
When refrigerated display cases operate they chill the air, automatically condensing large amounts of water. A CAL-IN desiccant dehumidifier removes water vapor much less expensively than the cooling system in the cases. If the air is already dry, cases do not condense moisture so they run more efficiently. The energy savings can represent the profit equivalent of hundreds of thousands of dollars in merchandise sales. In addition, since the store is dry, ice does not build up on frozen food and ice cream, which makes these high-margin products more appealing to customers.
Hotels and Motels
Transient accommodations and conference facilities have large peaks and valleys in sensible heat loads. As people come and go, loads change radically. Moisture loads, on the other hand are quite constant because fresh air is brought into the building constantly, bringing along water vapor. Conventional cooling systems drop the room temperature so quickly that they shut off, leaving the moisture to build up, causing moldy odors and damaging the building structure and furnishings. CAL-IN desiccant dehumidifiers are used to dry make-up air very deeply, so it can act as a “sponge” to remove excess humidity. This improves customer satisfaction and reduces maintenance cost.
Sick Buildings
When air is cooled by a vapor-compression cooling system, it leaves the cooling coil essentially saturated with moisture. In some cases, the ducts downstream and the drain pan of the coil provide breeding places for mold and fungus. This growth contributes to indoor air quality problems and creates moldy odors. Drying the air with a CAL-IN desiccant dehumidifier upstream of cooling coils eliminates the problem—a useful feature in systems for medical facilities or other buildings where indoor air quality is an issue.
Advanced HVAC Systems
For over 40 years, CAL-IN has been designing custom heating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems that use cogeneration for electrical power produce excess heat which comes from cooling the generator. This energy can be used to regenerate a desiccant dehumidifier, which removes the moisture load from the cooling system, improving overall system efficiency and saving operating costs. Also, systems which use ice storage to take advantage of low-cost electrical power can use CAL-IN desiccant dehumidifiers to produce very dry air. The combination of very dry and very cool air allows the system to reduce the total volume of air in the system, which in turn reduces the cost of ductwork installation and fan operation.
TYPICAL APPLICATIONS
CAL-IN generally uses air conditioning systems with cooling coils to control both air temperature and humidity. In most comfort-conditioning applications, this is an extremely efficient method of controlling humidity.
However, in some circumstances, there is a benefit to adding a CAL-IN desiccant dehumidifier to the cooling system to control humidity separately for air temperature. The benefits are greatest where the moisture loads are high compared to the sensible heat loads, or where they peak at different times. For example, a building may be able to use 65° F outside air for cooling, but the air will still be carrying enough moisture to require dehumidification.
Also, when energy to regenerate a desiccant dehumidifier is very inexpensive and electric power is very costly, a desiccant unit can be a useful addition to an air conditioning system. It shifts the moisture load from electricity to a lower-cost utility. For example, cogeneration systems supply excess heat which can be used by a desiccant dehumidifier to remove moisture from air.
Retroffitted HVAC systems also take advantage of desiccant moisture removal capacity. This is of interest to many clients since environmental concerns about chlorinated fluorocarbon refrigerants can lead to major changes in the latent removal capacities of existing systems.
Supermarkets
When refrigerated display cases operate they chill the air, automatically condensing large amounts of water. A CAL-IN desiccant dehumidifier removes water vapor much less expensively than the cooling system in the cases. If the air is already dry, cases do not condense moisture so they run more efficiently. The energy savings can represent the profit equivalent of hundreds of thousands of dollars in merchandise sales. In addition, since the store is dry, ice does not build up on frozen food and ice cream, which makes these high-margin products more appealing to customers.
Hotels and Motels
Transient accommodations and conference facilities have large peaks and valleys in sensible heat loads. As people come and go, loads change radically. Moisture loads, on the other hand are quite constant because fresh air is brought into the building constantly, bringing along water vapor. Conventional cooling systems drop the room temperature so quickly that they shut off, leaving the moisture to build up, causing moldy odors and damaging the building structure and furnishings. CAL-IN desiccant dehumidifiers are used to dry make-up air very deeply, so it can act as a “sponge” to remove excess humidity. This improves customer satisfaction and reduces maintenance cost.
Sick Buildings
When air is cooled by a vapor-compression cooling system, it leaves the cooling coil essentially saturated with moisture. In some cases, the ducts downstream and the drain pan of the coil provide breeding places for mold and fungus. This growth contributes to indoor air quality problems and creates moldy odors. Drying the air with a CAL-IN desiccant dehumidifier upstream of cooling coils eliminates the problem—a useful feature in systems for medical facilities or other buildings where indoor air quality is an issue.
Advanced HVAC Systems
For over 40 years, CAL-IN has been designing custom heating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems that use cogeneration for electrical power produce excess heat which comes from cooling the generator. This energy can be used to regenerate a desiccant dehumidifier, which removes the moisture load from the cooling system, improving overall system efficiency and saving operating costs. Also, systems which use ice storage to take advantage of low-cost electrical power can use CAL-IN desiccant dehumidifiers to produce very dry air. The combination of very dry and very cool air allows the system to reduce the total volume of air in the system, which in turn reduces the cost of ductwork installation and fan operation.
TYPICAL APPLICATIONS
- Public buildings & auditoriums
- Nursing homes
- Health clubs
- Retail stores
- Office building retrofits
- Supermarkets
- Medical office buildings
- Hospitals