Cold chain dehumidification refers to the process of controlling humidity levels within environments crucial for storing or transporting temperature-sensitive goods, typically within a controlled temperature range. This ensures that humidity levels are maintained at optimal levels to prevent condensation or moisture buildup, which could otherwise compromise the quality and integrity of perishable goods like food, pharmaceuticals, or chemicals during storage or transit.
Benefits of Using a Desiccant System
- Prevention of Ice and Condensation: Desiccant dehumidifiers effectively prevent ice and frost build-up, which occurs whenever warm air enters a cold environment. This is crucial for maintaining the efficiency of refrigerated storage.
- Save Energy: By reducing the need for frequent defrost cycles, desiccant dehumidifiers help save energy, resulting in lower operational costs.
- Reduce Defrost Cycles: The reduction of ice formation means less frequent defrosting is required, saving time and reducing labor costs.
- Maintain Specified Humidity Without Reheat: Desiccant systems can maintain the desired humidity levels without the need for reheating, making them more energy-efficient.
- Dry to Below -50°C Dew Point: These systems can dry air to extremely low dew points, ensuring that even in the coldest environments, humidity is kept under control.
Why Use Desiccant Dehumidifiers in Cold Chain Applications?
Ice, frost, and fog build-up occur whenever warm air comes into contact with a cold environment, such as when doors are opened and closed in a refrigerated store. Ice and frost build-up necessitate regular defrosting of the store, costing time and money. Without dehumidification, ambient air entering the building through conveyor feed apertures will lead to ice and frost formation, eventually causing conveyor machinery and associated proximity/optical sensors to malfunction. Frost build-up on products is also undesirable.
Installing a desiccant dehumidifier can virtually eliminate icing, fogging, and frost problems. This creates a safer and more pleasant working environment, resulting in increased productivity. Downtime for defrosting and cleaning is drastically reduced, making the environment more worker-friendly. A dehumidified environment will pay for itself in many ways.
DST has a particular advantage with the Seibu Giken rotor, which is effective throughout the whole temperature range of reactivation. This allows the use of heat reclaim or hot water for unit capacity. The ice rink case video is one such example.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you dehumidify cold storage?
Dehumidifying cold storage is best achieved using a desiccant dehumidifier. These systems absorb moisture from the air even at low temperatures, preventing ice and frost build-up. Desiccant dehumidifiers introduce dry air into the storage area, maintaining low humidity levels and ensuring optimal storage conditions.
What is the most efficient method of dehumidification?
Desiccant dehumidification is the most efficient method for controlling humidity in cold storage environments. Unlike refrigeration-based dehumidifiers, desiccant systems can achieve extremely low dew points without needing additional heating. This results in lower energy consumption and more consistent humidity control.
Does a dehumidifier work in cold?
Yes, desiccant dehumidifiers are designed to work effectively in cold environments. Unlike traditional refrigerant-based dehumidifiers, desiccant systems do not rely on temperature differences to remove moisture. They can operate efficiently at low temperatures, making them ideal for cold storage applications.
How to maintain humidity in cold storage?
Maintaining humidity in cold storage requires a reliable dehumidification system. Desiccant dehumidifiers are particularly effective, as they can maintain low humidity levels even in extremely cold conditions. Regular monitoring and maintenance of the dehumidifier ensure optimal performance, preventing ice formation and maintaining the desired humidity level.
By incorporating a desiccant dehumidification system, you can ensure that your cold storage environment remains free from ice and condensation, leading to increased efficiency, reduced maintenance costs, and improved product qualit