Large Industrial Dehumidifier Systems

Industrial environments that frequently deal with water and water-based substances—such as waste & fresh water management facilities, indoor grow rooms, and commercial food processing factories, to name a few — are prone to having high moisture levels. If left unchecked, the moisture from the air can corrode equipment, shorten the lifespan of raw materials, and increase the possibility of mold and mildew formation. Industrial dehumidifiers allow facility owners and managers to control the relative humidity, dew point and room temperature.

At Dehumidifier Corporation of America (DCA), we provide a wide range of industrial dehumidification systems for today’s industrial applications. When compared to commercial air conditioning systems, our industrial commercial dehumidifiers are designed primarily to remove humidity and control the moisture levels in the air to meet rigorous standards needed for various facility manufacturing specifications. You have a much higher level of humidity control with a dehumidifier for industrial use vs a smaller home dehumidifier. Additionally, industrial and commercial dehumidifier systems are designed to be much more energy efficient than standard HVAC systems in removing moisture and as a bonus they help to control room air temperature by either adding room heating or cooling with the optional outdoor remote condenser.

Overview of Industrial Refrigerated Dehumidifiers

Industrial refrigerated dehumidifiers operate by using accepted refrigeration practices to lower the dew point of the facility’s incoming air. The basic dehumidification process proceeds as follows:

• Filtered air enters the dehumidifier and is passed over the cold evaporator coil.
• The moisture from the air condenses on cold evaporator coil fins into droplets as the water in the air reaches its dew point.
• The water droplets collect in the drain pan and are carried away, and the dry cool air proceeds then over the adjacent condenser (reheat) coil.
• This now warm air can be used to raise the room air temperature, if needed, or with the optional remote condenser, cool the air to maintain the desired room temperature taking a load off of the room’s primary HVAC system.

Dew Points in Industrial Room Dehumidifiers

Generally, industrial refrigerated dehumidifiers are most effective in achieving desired dew point temperatures—i.e., the point at which moisture in the air starts to condense, with entering air temperatures at 50 degrees Fahrenheit and above. Surfaces within the treated air zone can then operate at temperatures above this point helping to minimize collecting moisture or sweating.  However, some applications require lower dew point temperatures and are best served with desiccant dehumidifiers not provided by DCA.

Differences between Industrial, Commercial, and Residential Dehumidifiers

Normally residential dehumidifiers, other than ones used in indoor swimming pool & hot tub applications, are standalone portable units operating on 115 volts normally found in residential basements with options such as a remote control and sold in big box stores. Commercial and industrial refrigerated dehumidifiers are usually permanently installed with ductwork and can operate on any voltage & phase power needed other than single phase. They are constructed in heavy gauge, powdered coated, galvannealed steel cabinets designed to operate continually if needed. They can come with a plethora of options to suit specific demands.

Industries Using Industrial Refrigerated Dehumidifiers

Due to their wide based utility, dehumidifiers find use across a wide range of applications shown below but not limited to:

• Outdoor make up air
• Electrical switch rooms
• Indoor hotel and motel pools and spas
• Large commercial pools such as YMCA and boy’s & girl’s clubs
• Men’s and women’s locker rooms
• Manufacturing plants
• Office buildings
• Restaurants and bars
• Hygroscopic material packaging facilities
• Commercial gyms and fitness centers
• Controlled environment for public storage areas
• Warehouses
• Grinding facilities using water based lubricants
• Fresh and waste water treatment facilities
• Any application where the control of relative humidity is critical

As they draw excess moisture out of the air by the pint to achieve and maintain proper humidity levels, they are ideal for any environment that houses products susceptible to water damage, such as facilities with raw goods, electronics, or sensitive machinery to name a few. They are particularly useful for water damage restoration projects such as:

• Excess water removal from flooding
• High-speed drying
• Humidity maintenance where the control of dew point is critical

Some of the industries that commonly use our industrial commercial dehumidifiers include:

Printing

Paper and cardboard are highly hygroscopic, making them vulnerable to extreme moisture changes. Printing facilities need to maintain moisture levels within a specific tolerance to maintain paper or cardboard at a constant moisture content so that close printing registry is guaranteed and printing inks and bonding materials dry as required. If printing facilities don’t control the ambient moisture, the paper may curl, deform, jam, and not hold ink properly. Dehumidifiers can help regulate changes in moisture levels due to seasonal changes and weather. Both outdoor make up air and recirculating indoor air dehumidifiers can be used in tandem to accomplish the desired result

Dehumidifiers in Grinding and Machining

Grinding and machining processes use water-based lubricants during the cutting and machining process. The heat generated during these operations allows the water to evaporate into the air, which raises the humidity level of the room. Dehumidifiers can counteract the moisture buildup and stop the air from becoming saturated. They also prevent moisture from condensing and pooling on cold surfaces such as walls, floors, raw material, electrical components such as electrical power panels, electric motors and help control mold and mildew build-up. With the addition of a remote condenser the dehumidifier can also add room heating or cooling to the space supplementing the primary HVAC system.

Food Packaging and Processing Industry Needs Dehumidifiers

Dry foods like cereals, candy, flour, and spices need to be packaged in low-moisture controlled environments. Elevated humidity levels can compromise their integrity, resulting in premature product degradation. High moisture levels can also ruin packaging material, packaging equipment, and the products themselves during the processing, shaping, or cooking stages.  Packaging machinery, operating in a high moisture environment, are susceptible to clumping & clogging interrupting production and causing down time leading to lost revenue.  Dehumidifiers also help to control the constant threat of mold and mildew as well.

Commercial Dehumidifiers For The Pharmaceutical Industry

In pharmaceutical production operations, industrial dehumidifiers reduce the risk of clumping, which can lead to imprecise quantities or concentrations in finished pill or powder products. The lower moisture levels also help packaged goods last longer.

Electronics

High humidity levels can damage printed circuit boards, soldered connections, electronics, and electrical machinery. Facility managers can extend the life of their equipment by controlling the humidity level in their facility to prevent oxidation and uncontrolled electrostatic discharge.

Industrial Commercial Dehumidifier Options

DCA industrial dehumidifiers are available with a wide range of design options to suit varying industrial environments and applications, such as:

• Horizontal or vertical configuration. Vertical dehumidifiers are usually positioned on the floor and have a smaller footprint. Horizontal dehumidifiers can be mounted on the floor or suspended from the ceiling and offer more drainage discharge options.
• Indoor or outdoor installations. Our horizontal dehumidifiers can be installed indoors or outdoors, such as on rooftops or ground installations.
• Water-cooled models. Water-cooled dehumidifiers operating in environments accessible to a water source can funnel condenser heat into water sources such as heat pump loops, cooling towers, processed or municipal water. When these are available, an outdoor remote condenser is not needed allowing the system to deliver either warm or cool dry air back to the space.  Hotels and motels can take advantage of these systems by controlling humidity in indoor pool and spa rooms, and add warm or cool dry air back to the pool room taking a load off of the present room HVAC system.
• Dedicated or BMS control compatibility. Our industrial dehumidifiers use a wide array of dedicated state of the art controls or building management systems (BMS) as control points.
• Heating systemsOur dehumidifiers are available with external gas, external electric, or internal hot water heating coils to provide room heating and cooling in one package.
• Other. Facility managers can also incorporate add-ons for more fine-tuned capabilities, such as dust particle control filters, odor removal systems, and cooling and heating controls for both air and water.

Benefits of Industrial Refrigerated Dehumidifiers

The benefits of using industrial dehumidifiers over conventional units include:

• High moisture removal rates with low energy costs – they are quite energy efficient
• Constant duty cycle operation
• Rugged construction, resulting in greater durability
• More consistent performance, even in extreme environmental conditions

Additionally, by partnering with us for their dehumidification equipment needs, customers benefit from our:

• Superior product quality. Our dehumidifiers feature state-of-the-art manufacturing to provide trouble-free automatic operation and higher productivity rates. Additionally, they have lower maintenance requirements than other equipment in the market.
  • Comprehensive warranty. To demonstrate our trust in our products, we offer a three-year warranty for all of our industrial dehumidifiers and remote condensers. Longer warranties available at extra cost.
• Superior customer service. Our expert’s help customers select the appropriate dehumidifier size based on their facilities’ square footage, ceiling height, and environmental conditions. They also help compare the specifications of different models against those factors.

• • Custom dehumidification: Many applications require a custom dehumidification system selection to meet a specific demand. DCA’s staff of degreed engineers have decades of years applying unique dehumidification systems to unusual demanding applications. No matter how many cubic feet of moisture you need removed – call us, we will be your one stop source for industrial or commercial dehumidification.

Contact Us Today for Your Industrial Dehumidifier Needs

At Dehumidifier Corporation of America, we are proud to provide high-quality industrial dehumidifiers to a wide variety of industries. Available in air-cooled or water-cooled variations, they use sources such as chillers, cooling towers, geothermal energy, and processed and city water.

To learn more about dehumidifying manufacturing processes and how the right commercial dehumidifier can help improve your workspace, read our blog, “Solving Humidity Issues in Manufacturing Processes”. For assistance in selecting a humidifier for your application, contact us or request a quote today.