Further Investigation of Energy and Performance Impacts of Whole-House Dehumidifier Duct Configurations

Primary Author(s)

Florida Solar Energy Center
Charles Withers, Jr., Florida Solar Energy CenterFollow

Report Number

FSEC-CR-2093-19

URL

http://publications.energyresearch.ucf.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/FSEC-CR-2093-19.pdf

Keywords

Dehumidification; Energy Consumption; Air Conditioning; Moisture; Ducted Dehumidifiers; Energy Impacts; Dehumidification Performance; Mechanical Ventilation

Abstract

This research project evaluated the energy impacts and dehumidification performance related to how ducted dehumidifiers (DHU) ducts were configured. Lab controlled testing over a variety of weather and latent loads evaluated five-different ducted DHU configurations as follows: Test 1 DHU air ducted from/to the central main body of building. Test 2 DHU air ducted from/to return side of central air conditioner (AC). Test 3 DHU air ducted from/to supply side of AC. Test 4 DHU air ducted from central main body and ducted to supply side of AC. Test 5 DHU air ducted from outdoors and indoors mixed before DHU then ducted to supply side of AC. There was insignificant difference in total space conditioning energy use or dehumidification performance between Test 1, Test 3, and Test 4. Test 5, used 8% more space conditioning energy than Test 1, which was mostly attributed to added cooling load associated with mechanical ventilation during warm humid weather. Test 2 used 3% more space conditioning energy and had poorer dehumidification. During steady operation of the central air and DHU, heat and dry air from the DHU reduced the latent performance of the central cooling system by 28%. Furthermore, the DHU evaporated moisture off of the central cooling coil at a rate of 2-3 pounds of water per hour when the AC was cycled off. This was about the average rate of the measured DHU moisture removal under actual test conditions. Test 2 was not a recommended practice.

Date Published

6-1-2019

Identifiers

35

Subjects

Energy consumption; Air conditioning; Ventilation; Performance--Evaluation

Local Subjects

Buildings - Air Conditioning; Buildings - Dehumidification; Buildings - Energy Consumption; Buildings - Moisture

Type

Text; Document

Collection

FSEC Energy Research Center® Collection

STARS Citation

Florida Solar Energy Center and Withers, Jr., Charles, "Further Investigation of Energy and Performance Impacts of Whole-House Dehumidifier Duct Configurations" (2019). FSEC Energy Research Center®. 35.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/fsec/35