In this article we are going to learn in brief how to do dehumidifier sizing of different kind of dehumidification units. In other word we are going to do moisture load calculation and accordingly select dehumidifiers. Here i like to mention that this article will explain dehumidifier calculation of refrigerant based dehumidifier only. There will be separate article on desiccant dehumidifier calculation. We will see how to do calculation for three different types of dehumidifier and those are home dehumidifier, industrial dehumidifier and swimming pool dehumidifier. In every case humidity contributing factors are different and hence we need to consider all those factors while making moisture load calculation sheet. For example in swimming pool application pool surface is biggest moisture contributing factor while at home might be fresh air or air from outside due to opening of door and windows. Hence we will see all three calculations separately.
Home dehumidifier sizing.
At home humidity is generated due to outside air entered due to opening door or window or fresh air taken by air conditioner or due to water work in kitchen area. It mean only volume of air is main moisture contributing factor. This is reason by home dehumidification load calculation is simpler than commercial dehumidifier sizing. Widely used method is recommended by Association of Home Appliances Manufactures (AHAM) which also know as AHAM dehumidifier sizing guide. This method basically size dehumidifier on basis of two factors. First is area of room and other is humidity level in room. This method divide humidity level in four types i.e. Extremely wet area, very wet area, very damp area and moderately damp area in descending order of humidity level in room. Also it provide table which give liter per day capacity required for different size of room under those humidity level. Hence one can easily calculate size of home dehumidifier. Please refer this article for more details.
Industrial Dehumidifiers Capacity Selection.
For commercial dehumidifier other than size of room, we need to consider air temperature of room and different moisture contributing factor as per application. Also since these unit are required to use certain humidity which is need of industrial process, required humidity level or humidity level to be achieve plays important factor in sizing of industrial dehumidification unit. Moisture contribution factor can be different in different application. For example in laboratory which required 100% fresh air moisture is contributed by outside air while consider case of commercial catering kitchen where moisture load is due to water vapor during cooking. Hence for commercial dehumidifier capacity calculation we need to consider different moisture load at site and also number of people working at site. You need to have different approach for each site. There is no fix dehumidifier calculation chart for industrial dehumidifiers.
Moisture load calculation for Swimming pool Dehumidifier.
Indoor swimming pool is worst kind of load for any dehumidifier. While calculating swimming pool dehumidification calculation, we need to consider five factors and those factors are surface area of swimming pool, volume of indoor pool room, maximum water temperature of swimming pool water, room temperature and type of swimming pool. Moisture load will be higher if surface area of indoor pool and pool water temperature is higher. While type of pool decide activity factor in pool. This activity factor vary from o.5 to 1. For example for home swimming pool, use is limited hence activity factor is lowest that is 0.5 while for sport complex swimming pool used continuously by many swimmer simultaneously hence activity factor going to to height and that is 1.
I hope this article will help to understand dehumidifier calculation.
