Desikointilaitteet

Desikointilaitteet, known in English as desiccant dehumidifiers, are devices used to remove moisture from the air. Unlike refrigerant dehumidifiers that cool the air to condense water, desiccant units use a desiccant material, typically silica gel, to absorb moisture. This process involves two airflow streams: a process airstream and a regeneration airstream. The process air, which is the moist air from the environment, passes through a rotating desiccant wheel. As the air moves through the wheel, the desiccant material attracts and holds water vapor. Once the desiccant material has absorbed a certain amount of moisture, the wheel rotates, bringing the saturated section of the wheel into the regeneration airstream. This airstream is heated, which drives off the absorbed moisture from the desiccant material, regenerating it for further use. The moisture-laden regeneration air is then typically exhausted outside the space being dehumidified.

Desiccant dehumidifiers are particularly effective in low-temperature environments where refrigerant dehumidifiers struggle due to freezing issues. They can achieve very low humidity levels, making them suitable for applications requiring stringent moisture control, such as food processing, pharmaceuticals, and storage of sensitive materials. They can also operate in a wider range of ambient temperatures. The technology is also known for its quiet operation as it lacks a compressor. However, desiccant dehumidifiers generally consume more energy than refrigerant units for typical room dehumidification tasks due to the continuous need for heating the regeneration airstream. The initial cost can also be higher.