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HUMIDIFICATION Presentation

WELCOME │ BIENVENIDO │ BIENVENUE

Agenda

1. Introduction to Humidification2. Why Humidity is so Important3. Why Should We Humidify4. Typical Applications5. Calculation Parameters6. Existing Local Variables7. Hardness of Water8. Types of humidifiers

•Isothermal / Adiabatic

9. Isothermal• Electric Humidifier

• Resistive

• Electrode• Gas-Fired Humidifier• Steam to Steam Humidifier • Direct Steam Injection Humidifier

• Multi-Steam Distribution• Jacketed Tube Distribution

10. Adiabatic• Atomizing Humidifier

• Air/Water Fogger• High pressure Water

• Ultrasonic Humidifier• Evaporative Humidifier

Humidity: Water that is in gaseous form, vapour.

Relative humidity (% RH): The amount of vapour in air at a specific temperature with respect to the maximum quantity of steam that can absorb without condensation.

Humidification: This process occurs when the water has absorbed enough heat to evaporate. It requires about 1,000 Btu to evaporate one pound of water (2.326 kJ / kg).

Introduction to Humidification

70% of the planet is covered by water.

The human body is composed of roughly 60% water by volume.The gaseous form of water is vapor and the measure of water vapor in the air we breathe is relative humidity.

The amount of vapor the air can hold is dependent upon the temperature of the air. The warmer the air the more vapor it can hold. The reverse is true for cooler air.

Why Humidity is so Important?

We function best at temperatures between 70 and 80 degrees and relative humidity of 40% to 60%.

If the air is dry and hot we lose body water by evaporation very quickly and thus our skin and sinuses are dry and we are always in need of replenishing the lost water.

Indoor environments in the winter are generally very dry in northern countries and so there is a need to add vapor so that we feel and function better.

Why Humidity is so Important?

All land based animals have similar problems with the relative humidity around them.

In fact just about all material both living and inanimate is affected by the amount of vapor in the air.

Paint, plastics, silicone, paper, textiles etc.; Many manufacturing processes require close humidity and temperature control in order to maintain product quality.

Why Humidity is so Important?

Indoor air quality (Health, Comfort and Productivity)- schools, health care facilities, offices, living space

Material protection and storage- museums, archives, libraries, wood/paper, textiles, food processing

Environments for specific processes- Printing, clean rooms, pharmaceuticals, laboratories, semiconductors- Animal rooms/research, Zoological facilities

Static electricity- computer rooms, data processing areas, hazardous environments, munitions, aerospace,

paint spray booths

Why Should We Humidify?

Optimal Humidity Level

2008 ASHRAE, HVAC Systems & Equipment, Chapter 21By E.M. Sterling, A. Arundel, and T.D. Sterling, Ph.D.

Typical ApplicationMuseums / Libraries

35-50%RHOffices / Hotels / Schools

35-40% RHClean rooms / Data Centers

35-60% RHPharmaceuticals / Labs

40-50% RH

Hospitals / Health Care35-50% RH

Printing Industry40-50% RH

Tobacco Industry60-70% RH

Design Conditions- Outside temperature/RH(%) and desired indoor conditions

Load calculation (lbs/hr) for ventilation system- Natural: Space/Room Size/Number of air changes - Mechanical: Total Air Flow and % of outside air- Economizer: Total Air Flow and Mixed Air Temperature

Distribution- Airflow direction, AHU/Duct size and Absorption Distance - Self contained

Calculations Parameters

• Supply water quality– City or well, softened, reverse osmosis or de-ionized

• Energy source– Electricity, natural or LP gas, boiler steam or chemical-free boiler steam, High temperature hot

water, Evaporative/atomizing

OTHER PARAMETERS TO CONSIDER– Initial investment– Energy cost comparison – Space available– Steam distribution configurations– Maintenance requirements– Vapor barriers

Existing Local Variables

Description: Water is considered a universal solvent. In drinking water there are several minerals that are dissolved.

Hardness is determined by the concentration of calcium and magnesium dissolved in water (ppm). Montreal city water 116ppm

Precipitate: When water evaporates, the minerals create deposits.

Water Treatment: water softeners, reverse osmosis or de-ionized systems

Hardness of Water

Isothermal• Electric Humidifier

• Resistive• Electrode

• Gas-Fired Humidifier• Steam to Steam Humidifier • Direct Steam Injection Humidifier

• Multi-Steam Distribution• Jacketed Tube Distribution

Adiabatic: • Atomizing Humidifier

• Air/Water Fogger• High pressure Water

• Ultrasonic Humidifier• Evaporative Humidifier

Types of Humidifier

Isothermal Humidifiers

Pros Clean sterile steam Compact size Low installed cost Close humidity control If electric generation is close, very efficient

Cons Cost of energy Creates a certain cooling load Limited capacity

Electric Humidifiers

Resistive typePros Permanent cleanable chamber Works in all water qualities Output can be held very close

Cons Required tank cleaning can be

difficult

Electrode typePros Bottle change out is easy and fast

Cons Replacement bottles are expensive Complicated control system wastes too much water Capacity loss as electrodes becomes coated, unit will stop Water quality affects operation and operating cost Bottles are not enviromentally friendly

Electric Humidifiers: Resistive vs Electrode

Pros Clean sterile steam Large capacity available Low energy cost Close control 80-85% efficient

Cons Large foot print Installation requirements (flue

/combustion air) Creates a cooling load Must have gas supply Not good for small loads

Gas Fired Humidifiers

Pros Clean sterile steam Large capacity Closes boiler loop

Cons Must have a central steam supply Large foot print Creates a cooling load Can be difficult to maintain

Steam to Steam Humidifiers

Pros Large capacity Low initial installation cost Close control

Cons Must have a central steam supply Home run steam / condensate Chemical carry over / dirty Open loop for boiler Must keep the steam jacket hot Creates a cooling load

Direct Steam Humidifiers

Direct Steam Injection Humidifier

ConfigurationsMulti-Steam Distribution Jacketed Tube Steam Distribution

Consists of vertical tubes connectedto a header

Short non-wetting distance

Jacket preheats the steam distributor tubes Horizontal distributor installation only Steam nozzles facing the airstream

Adiabatic Humidifiers

Adiabatic humidification

IsothermalHumidification

AdiabaticHumidification

Adding moisture to air can be accomplished with no addition of energy from external source. The air evaporates the water by itself, using a part of its sensible heat to accomplish the task, cooling the air as it absorbs moisture.

As the air absorb moisture and moves up the wet bulb line, the RH and the air temperature are both changing, but the total heat content (enthalpy) remains unchanged.

This natural phenomenon is used to save energy costs by augmenting mechanical refrigeration in warm, arid climates. Buildings are cooled and humidified simultaneously using this principle. It is also used in cold climate when humidification is needed in buildings that have surplus internal heat from equipment or electronic gear.

Pros• Evaporative cooling• Small droplet size• Very large capacity• Can be put directly in space• Long nozzle life• Low maintenance• Fully modulating

Cons• Requires high inlet temp• Long absorption distance• Wetting of duct/standing water• Potential for bacteria growth• Particulate deposits/dust• Pure water preferred• Air compressor cost/kWh cost

Air/Water Fogger Humidifiers

Pros• No air compressor

Cons• Large droplet size• Very long absorption distance• Short nozzle life• High maintenance• On/Off or staged control only

High Pressure Water Humidifiers

Pros• Compact size• Small water droplet size

Cons• High initial cost• Must have ultrapure water supply

Ultrasonic Humidifiers

Pros Very low power consumption Potable or pure water Low initial cost Cleanable, low maintenance No standing water in duct

Cons Duct pressure drop On/Off or staged control Not good for close

humidity control

Evaporative Media Humidifiers