Whether using dehumidification for industrial, commercial, residential, or swimming pool applications, customers must determine, if applicable, which of the two typical cooling system options will be the best fit for their application — air cooled or water cooled.
Air cooled dehumidifiers, for indoor pool room dehumidification and other projects, are the most common type and deliver warm dry air back to the space when operating. When room cooling is needed they are coupled with an optional outdoor remote condenser. This allows them to deliver warm dry air or cool dry air depending on what the controls call for.
Water cooled dehumidifiers can perform several functions. When applied to swimming pools, they can assist in pool water heating. For room cooling, the heat of rejection can be absorbed by an available water source such as a heat pump loop, cooling tower or other water source, eliminating the need for an outdoor remote condenser. Pool water heating assist dehumidifiers are very common with commercial applications such as hotel and motel pools.
Water Cooled Systems
Many customers opt for water cooling for room A/C because it eliminates the need for an outdoor remote condenser. Anytime this option is specified it must be determined that the water source has the capacity to absorb the heat of rejection from the dehumidification system.
Many residential and commercial pools are housed in buildings equipped with geothermal HVAC systems or cooling towers, providing an ideal setting for water cooled dehumidifiers. This design allows refrigerants to stay in the unit, reduces installation costs, and requires only one piece of equipment to install and maintain since the geothermal or cooling tower machinery is already in use for the existing HVAC system.
Air Cooled Systems
For settings without a suitable supply of water, a split dehumidification system provides the alternative to water cooled systems. Many times an air cooled system is the only way to add cooling to a dehumidifier. In pool applications, pool water heating assist is a desirable option. The first priority for the dehumidifier is to provide room space heating. When the room temperature is satisfied the next priority is pool water heating. When both of these conditions are met the heat of rejection is sent outdoors through a remote condenser. This process assures that the heat energy from the system is fully applied before it is lost to the outdoors.
While spatial limitations make it difficult to accommodate an outdoor remote condenser, or the operation of the condenser impacts quality of life for neighbors and a water source is available, the water cooled system is the answer. DCA can also supply a remote condenser with a belt driven centrifugal blower that is suitable for ducting. In this application the remote condenser can be mounted indoors, away from vandalism, with the incoming and leaving air ducted to the outdoors.
The DCA Advantage
Dehumidifier Corporation of America (DCA) leads the industry with our diverse selection of both water cooled and air cooled dehumidifier products. We offer water cooled products designed to utilize a range of water sources, including geothermal, processed water, city water, cooling towers, and chillers, with custom-designed options to fit virtually any application for residential, swimming pool, or commercial dehumidifiers.
To learn more about which dehumidifier is best suited for your application requirements, contact our team today.
