Desiccant-Based Dehumidification for Army Facilities
Abstract
The U.S. Army maintains over 1 billion square feet of conditioned space worldwide. Due to increased loads from electronic equipment, higher occupancy levels, and increased requirements for outdoor ventilation make-up air, many facilities are not able to maintain the desired occupant comfort level for temperature and humidity. Army building managers need to be able to better control conditioned space in the most cost-effective manner. Desiccant-based dehumidification is one option that can help achieve cost-effective space conditioning. This report describes the operating characteristics of desiccant- based systems and explains the different types of equipment and operating cycles. The report includes the results of computer simulation case studies and describes the advantages of desiccant-based equipment for humidity control. A desiccant-based system can be a very cost effective method of dehumidifying building ventilation air streams. The simulation conducted for this research compared using a small chiller or a desiccant system for the dehumidification process. Annual savings of the desiccant system over the chiller system ranged from $3200 to $6200; the payback periods ranged from 6 13 months. Army building managers should consider desiccant systems both for new construction and when additional cooling.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1992
- Accession Number
- ADA263305
Entities
People
- Gerald L. Cler
Organizations
- Construction Engineering Research Laboratory