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Better Part Load Dehumidification PDF
Better Part Load Dehumidification PDF
Determining the proper relationship between Higher-than-necessary airflow also can result if
At full load, the system mixes outdoor
airflow and cooling capacity is key to designing a you base the design airflow on a rule-of-thumb
air with recirculated return air. The
system with adequate dehumidification capacity rather than a calculation of the space sensible
mixture then passes through a cooling at all load conditions. The flexibility of applied load. The old standbys of 400 cfm/ton, 1 cfm/ft,
coil, where its sensibly cooled and systems, such as chilled water air handlers, and 6 air changes/hr were formulated before the
dehumidified. When the supply air normally lets you select equipment based on a advent of higher ventilation rates, tighter
reaches the space, it absorbs sensible specific airflow rate (cfm) and a specific cooling building envelopes, and high-efficiency lighting.
capacity (tons). By contrast, the prematched
components of packaged DX equipment Of course, excess supply airflow and the
typically limit your selection to a finite cfm/ton increased humidity that accompanies it also
range of application. can result from the addition of safety factors
or a conservative estimate of the space
Selecting a larger unit to provide the required sensible load.
cooling capacity sometimes yields a higher-than-
necessary supply airflow. The result is warmer Selecting equipment based on accurate load
supply air and, in non-arid climates, less calculations is the best way to assure thermal
dehumidification. comfort at all load conditions.
2 Trane Engineers Newsletter volume 332 providing insights for todays HVAC system designer
Figure 5. Net dehumidification as a function of compressor run-time Figure 7. Automatic fan-speed adjustment
for chilled-water terminal units
providing insights for todays HVAC system designer Trane Engineers Newsletter volume 332 3
Figure 8. Mixed-air and return-air bypass arrangements the dehumidification burden on the
terminal units; and,
cold enough, whenever possible,
to offset part of the sensible load in the
space. Neutral conditioned air
requires not only more capacity from
the terminal units but also reheat at the
dedicated outdoor-air unit.
4 Trane Engineers Newsletter volume 332 providing insights for todays HVAC system designer
warmer supply air and less suction temperature from becoming Figure 10. Dedicated outdoor air system
dehumidification at all loads. Such too cold, and perhaps frosting the coil, with single-zone water-source heat pumps
situations demand particular design during low-airflow operation.
care to assure that the DX system will
dehumidify effectively over a wide Note: A variation of this concept is
range of conditions. the single-zone VAV system, which
modulates fan capacity (supply airflow)
to maintain the desired space
Automatic fan-speed adjustment.
temperature and cooling capacity to
In a traditional DX unit with a constant-
maintain the supply-air temperature at
speed supply fan, the fan operates
setpoint.
whenever the space is occupied. By
contrast, in a unit with a multiple-speed
fan, the fan operates at low speed Subcoolreheat. Adding a space-
whenever possible and only switches humidity sensor and a reheat coil
permits direct control of both space compressor and the condenser.
to high speed when the load is large.
temperature and space humidity. Whenever its necessary to avoid
Less supply airflow at part load results
When humidity becomes excessive, overcooling the space, the heat
in a lower supply-air temperature and
cooling capacity increases to exchanger transfers sensible heat from
improves dehumidification. (For proper
adequately dehumidify the air. The the hot refrigerant vapor to the supply
ventilation at low airflow, the unit
reheat coil then warms the supply air air downstream of the cooling coil.
controller should appropriately and
automatically adjust the position of the to avoid overcooling.
outdoor-air damper.) Dedicated treatment of outdoor air.
Reheating the supply air with As in chilled water systems, you can
Combining a multispeed supply fan recovered heat from the refrigeration improve the single-zone DX systems
with multiple compressors (or with a cycle can reduce operating costs by ability to control humidity by adding a
compressor that unloads) further avoiding the use of new energy. It also dedicated outdoor-air handler but
improves dehumidification because it allows the system to meet local energy with an important difference. Its
lengthens the compressor on cycle codes and ASHRAE Standard 90.1. usually preferable to deliver cold air to
when supply airflow (and temperature) Typically, hot gas reheat is the local units, but not when the local
are low. It also helps prevent the accomplished by adding a refrigerant- units are plenum-mounted water-
to-air heat exchanger to the source heat pumps. Most WSHPs do
refrigeration circuit, between the not include mixing boxes, so the
conditioned outdoor air must be
delivered in proximity to the inlet of
each heat pump (Figure 10). To avoid
Make use of ASHRAEs design dew-point condition unwanted condensation, especially
during unoccupied periods, dehumidify
With publication of the 1997 Fundamentals the sensible load in the space at each outdoor
handbook, ASHRAE expanded outdoor design design condition may be quite different.
the outdoor air so that its drier than the
conditions to include peak dew point. Unlike space and reheat it to assure that the
the traditionally used peak dry bulb condition, For HVAC systems that are controlled based on dry-bulb temperature is well above the
which represents hot, mostly sunny days, peak space temperature, it is the space sensible load worst-case dew point in the plenum.
dew point conditions occur when the outdoor that dictates how the system will dehumidify at
air is cooler but loaded with moisture. part load.
providing insights for todays HVAC system designer Trane Engineers Newsletter volume 332 5
Figure 11. VAV versus CV dehumidification at part load
and a VAV box for each zone. A humidity in the space. It also increases
Closing thoughts
thermostat maintains the target space the supply fans energy consumption
temperature by modulating the volume perhaps enough to negate the cooling Dehumidification performance varies
of supply air through the VAV box. energy savings. with the type of HVAC system. A basic,
Meanwhile, the central supply fan single-zone, constant-volume system
For applications that include SAT reset,
delivers only the necessary amount of may suffice for some applications in
provide one or more humidity sensors
constant-temperature air. certain climates. But more demanding
to override the reset function if space
applicationsparticularly densely
As the sensible cooling load in the humidity exceeds the desired limit.
occupied spaces and humid climates
space decreases, the basic VAV Provide a tempering heat source may require enhanced designs (or a
system delivers less supply air. at the VAV boxes. Each VAV box has a different system type) to adequately
Because the supply air is cool and dry, minimum airflow setting thats based manage or limit indoor humidity.
the relative humidity in our classroom on the performance limits of the
example only rises to 57% at the part- If properly designed, controlled, and
diffusers or terminal, or on the required
load condition, compared to 67% RH operated, the HVAC system can
ventilation in the space. Densely
with the basic constant-volume system effectively dehumidify over a wide
occupied spaces may require relatively
(Figure 11). range of conditions. The key to
high minimum airflow settings to
success is careful analysis of full-load
assure proper ventilation.
To improve the dehumidification of a and part-load performance.
central VAV system: Eventually, the sensible cooling load
becomes small enough that the space Note: The dehumidification
Avoid using SAT reset during the requires less supply airflow than the enhancements mentioned here are
cooling season. Its tempting to raise VAV terminal can deliver. Without discussed in greater detail in Trane
the supply-air temperature (SAT) at tempering (reheat), the system will application manual SYS-APM004-EN,
part-load conditions in an attempt to overcool the space, causing the Dehumidification in HVAC Systems. To
save cooling or reheat energy. But relative humidity to rise and the space obtain a copy, contact your local Trane
warmer supply air means less to feel cold and damp. office or visit www.trane.com/
dehumidification at the coil and higher bookstore.
If using a boiler as the heat source for
tempering, make sure that its available By John Murphy, applications engineer, and
for cooling season operation. Brenda Bradley, information designer, Trane. You
can find this and previous issues of the Engineers
Alternatively, use recovered heat from
Newsletter at http://www.trane.com/commercial/
another part of the system; this option newsletters.asp. To comment, e-mail us at
allows the boiler to be shut down and comfort@trane.com.
avoids using new energy for reheat.
Trane
A business of American Standard Companies Trane believes the facts and suggestions presented here to be accurate. However, final design and
www.trane.com application decisions are your responsibility. Trane disclaims any responsibility for actions taken on
the material presented.
For more information, contact your local Trane
office or e-mail us at comfort@trane.com
and fundamentals.
limit can only disable economizer cooling when the outdoor temperature is
olume Mixed
65F DB (18.4C Air
D B) or higher. A previous example (p. 31) demonstrated what
can happen in a constant-volume system when the shutoff setting is too high; in
that case, the indoor humidity reached 75 percent!
Understand that Standard 90.1 does not mandate an economizer if the cooling
capacity ofWhen
stipulation: each used
local in
HVAC unit is
a humid less than
climate, theeither 65,000 Btu/hr (19 kW) or
e when135,000 Btu/hrdry-bulb
the outdoor (38 kW),temperature
depending on climatewhich is typically true of
is less
esystems with
preceding dedicated
example showsoutdoor-air
what canhandlers
happen and local HVAC terminals. If you
include
conomizer an economizer
setpoint is too high.)anyway, the control
Of course, the requirements in Section 6.3.1 will
not apply.insta
or a particular There fore, you
llation can devise
will depend on a control strategy that more effectively
the
controls in
humidity.
perforation (1/4 inch from right edge of page)
Dehumidifying with
When using fixed dry-bulb temperature for economizer control in a constant-
idental Dehumidification
Dehumidification in HVAC Systems uses basic psychrometric analyses
volume system, choose a shutoff setting that is low enough to avoid bringing
Variable-Volume Mixed Air
mild-but-humid outdoor air into the building. For better dehumidification,
however, consider a more sophisticated control method that uses an indoor
nt-volume HVAC
humidity system
sensor to can be altered
disable to improve
the economizer whenever the relative humidity in
the spacewithout
performance exceedsdirectly controlling space
34)
. 32)
defined in Section 6.3.1 of ASHRAE Standard
One way52
52
to provide free
60
65
device
68
90.1 2001 and in local codes.
begins to open. This allows warm primary air to mix with and temper the
cool primary air before it is supplied to the space.
cooling in68a chilled water system is to install a plate
dehumidification, particularly at part-load conditions.
and-frame
adjustable 52 heat exchanger 58 between the
Withchilled
65
furtherwater and condenser-water
decreases in the cooling load, the space will eventually require
loops, upstream of the chillers. When the leaving-tower
heating. To offset anwater is coldheating
increasing enough, load, the VAV terminal mixes the
full circulating 52 it through the 55 heat exchanger60 will satisfy at of
least part of the air
cooling
minimum amount cool primary with ever-increasing amounts of warm
. 37)
reduced
. 39)
load and reduce or eliminate the need
52 64
to operate
primary
66
the chillers.
air. When the heating load becomes large enough, the recirculated
return air is heated before it is delivered to the VAV terminals as warm
primary air.
Chapter topics: sources and effects of indoor moisture; a
ce is based on a classroom in Jacksonville, Florida. See Analysis of
a description of the room and the constant-volume HVAC system serving it.
68 SYS-APM004-EN
Air Conditioning
states responsible for developing
strong academic standards and then
holding schools accountable for
Schools was completed and
approved in 2002. *
and from school to school, regardless
Clinic
* To obtain a copy, visit http://webstore.ansi.org/
meeting those standards. But more ANSI/ASA S12.602002 details ansidocstore/ and search for S12.60. The
Psychrometry
the evidence that it led to the recent
approval of an industry standard, which
U.S. students depends, in part, on our
ability to create learning-friendly
With the student population expected to
increase from 53 million to 54.4 million by
2003 American Standard Inc. All rights reserved Volume 32, No. 1
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