High Efficiency Dehumidification System
EW-201344
Objective
Undesirable biological growth is often made worse by common HVAC systems, which are incapable of proper relative humidity control. There are currently no dehumidification/reheat systems that can reduce chiller plant, boiler plant, and base energy consumption without a considerable increase in maintenance and energy costs. The objective of this project is to demonstrate the High Efficiency Dehumidification System (HEDS) in Department of Defense (DoD) buildings at Fort Bragg, North Carolina; West Point, New York; and Tinker AFB, Oklahoma. This technology can cut peak day cooling loads by approximately 30% and eliminate completely the reheat energy required for proper relative humidity control on peak load days. HEDS accomplishes this by using the low quality waste heat generated during the cooling process instead of requiring new energy to be used for reheat.
Technology Description
HEDS uses very large cooling coils to increase the chilled water return (CHWR) temperature leaving the cooling coils to 70°F or higher while drying the air out to 55°F dewpoint or lower. It then uses that warm water to heat the air back up to 65°F, which lowers the relative humidity of the air to 55% and reduces the potential for condensation in the spaces. The result is reduced cooling plant loads of approximately 30% and elimination of the need for new reheat energy on peak load days. This project will measure the loads that are reduced on the chiller plant and reheat energy systems as well as the level of increased chilled water system temperature differential.
Benefits
HEDS uses the low quality heat generated during cooling and dehumidification processes to provide required reheat energy, which lowers the relative humidity of the air being supplied to the occupied spaces. This process reduces the potential for biological growth to occur, and it reduces the cooling load on the chiller plant, thus eliminating the need for supplemental reheat and substantially reducing heating plant energy consumption. Assuming that HEDS-based efficiency projects can be applied to approximately 13% of the DoD portfolio, the reduction in energy costs, capital expenditures, biological remediation costs, and facilities disruptions can be expected to save more than $2 billion over 20 years. (Anticipated Project Completion - 2016)
Points of Contact
Principal Investigator
Mr. Dahtzen Chu
U.S. Army ERDC-CERL
Phone: 217-373-6784
Fax: 217-373-6740
Document Types
- Fact Sheet - Brief project summary with links to related documents and points of contact.
- Final Report - Comprehensive report for every completed SERDP and ESTCP project that contains all technical results.
- Cost & Performance Report - Overview of ESTCP demonstration activities, results, and conclusions, standardized to facilitate implementation decisions.
- Technical Report - Additional interim reports, laboratory reports, demonstration reports, and technology survey reports.
- Guidance - Instructional information on technical topics such as protocols and user’s guides.
- Workshop Report - Summary of workshop discussion and findings.
- Multimedia - On demand videos, animations, and webcasts highlighting featured initiatives or technologies.
- Model/Software - Computer programs and applications available for download.
- Database - Digitally organized collection of data available to search and access.