Contact: Maridith Geuder
Like a giant sponge absorbing water vapor out of the air, a new system being tested at Mississippi State will help control humidity problems in homes.
A patent donation to the university's Research and Technology Corp. is enabling the testing and refinement of what is known as whole-house dehumidification technology. Moving the process into commercial production "is a major project goal," said Robert A. Altenkirch, MSU vice president for research.
Carl A. James, associate director of the MSU center conducting the research, said the system works in conjunction with traditional heating and air conditioning systems.
Explaining the process, he said moist air to be conditioned flows through a honeycomb-like matrix coated with a desiccant, a material that can absorb several times its weight in water vapor. Shaped like a wheel, the desiccant matrix slowly rotates from the moist air stream to a second air stream, where the moisture is released and exhausted to the outdoors.
Silica gel packages included with new electronic equipment and a powdered form of the gel used to dry flowers are two common forms of desiccants.
James said home models of the dehumidification units are approximately the size of a conventional air handler for a central heating and cooling system, which is traditionally placed in a closet or attic. The technology has the potential to improve indoor air quality and comfort levels with increased energy efficiency.
"Traditional air-conditioning systems, which also dehumidify while operating, are temperature-responsive and do not remove moisture once the thermostat is satisfied," James said. "By contrast, desiccant systems respond to the humidity in the air."
In addition to increased comfort, homes with lower humidity levels also are less likely to suffer damage to moisture-sensitive furnishings and less likely to promote the growth of mold and mildew, James explained. Mold in residences and public buildings such as schools has been associated with health-related issues ranging from allergies to asthma.
Altenkirch said Mississippi State was selected for the research effort because of its established work in desiccants. The university's Global Center for Desiccant Technology, housed in the mechanical engineering department, was formed in 1995 to research ways to reduce the energy required to dehumidify air.
MSU mechanical engineering professor B. Keith Hodge, who holds the TVA Professorship in Energy Systems and the Environment, is center director.
James, the associate director, said expertise developed since the center's launch seven years ago gives it the research and testing capabilities needed for such an undertaking.
"We've already tested an alpha version of the desiccant system and now are involved in the next level of testing, a beta version," he said. A third version will be field tested over the summer in actual homes, with a goal of making these units available to the public before next summer.
"We think that making desiccant technology available to everyday users will increase consumer awareness of the importance of maintaining good indoor air quality and show the technology's capability to enhance everyday quality of life," James said.