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  • 1.  Desicant Dehumidifier

    Posted 02-12-2024 20:16

    Hello,

    I'm curious if anyone has experience using desiccant dehumidifiers to create dry storage environments? What are the advantages/disadvantages of these versus traditional refrigerant dehumifiers?

    Many thanks,



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    Zoé Delguste-Cincotta
    Collections Manager
    Aga Khan Museum
    Toronto ON
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  • 2.  RE: Desicant Dehumidifier

    Posted 02-13-2024 09:59
    Dear Zoe

    - Desiccant units are better at low temperatures (e.g., cold basements and warehouses) - the chiller coil on a refrigerant unit will freeze up in this situation, restricting airflow over the coil and preventing further dehumidification. 
    - Desiccant units produce more heat than refrigerated units. 
    - The regeneration air for a desiccant unit needs to be vented (usually via a flexible hose) to the outside of the space which is being conditioned, whereas a refrigerant unit needs to be connected to a drain.

    Use a desiccant unit if the space is cold.or does not have a drain. 

    JP

    JP Brown (he/his)
    Senior Conservator

    t: +1 312 665 7879
    f: +1 312 665 7193

    Field Museum
    1400 S. DuSable Lake Shore Dr.
    Chicago, IL 60605



    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Desicant Dehumidifier

    Posted 02-13-2024 12:19
    We've used the Ruby Dry desiccant dehumidifier in museums in the southwest of England.  They are better than refrigerant dehumidifiers at low temperatures (e.g. below 5*C, 41*F) and the air they expel is about 4*C 9*F warmer than ambient air, so they can be useful in cold or poorly heated buildings.  Everywhere else we found the Mitsubishi refrigerant dehumidifiers to be the top performers - reliable and effective.

    Hope that helps
    Helena Jaeschke
    South West Museum Development



    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Desicant Dehumidifier

    Posted 02-14-2024 08:50

    Hello,

    For over two years I have been personally running continuously an Ebac Industrial Products DD400 (Model 10500ss-US) desiccant dehumidifier, a retailed purchase in the U.S. from Silvane in March 2022 for $4,000, in a leaky, old collectable storage (antique and vintage motorcycle collection) and machine workshop of 12,000 cubic feet. The dehumidifier is controlled by a wall humidistat usually set to 60RH and it has faithfully maintained that 60RH at all times year-round as measured by wall mounted Abbeon certified dial hygrometer, even during long periods of room disuse when the heat is set for 45F. Maintenance for the 2+ years has only been an intake filter cleaning twice! 

    The mostly stainless steel device seems very sturdily built and the desiccant dryer is a well-contained ceramic heater - the safest of electrical heaters. It is noisy as the device is within the space unenclosed. The bare steel return 8 in. duct from the desiccant heating (outside air brought in / heated / passed through the desiccant on its turning drum drying cycle / returned to outside) is warm in winter and seems to contribute welcome room heat but is hot in summer (correction would be insulation). In addition, the desiccated air exits the register mildly warm year-round. 

    My understanding is this device will dehumidify below freezing, if that were ever to be needed. 



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    Robert Lodge

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    Original Message


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