A new center at Mississippi State will research ways to reduce the energy required to dehumidify air. The Global Center for Desiccant Technology, housed in the Mechanical Engineering Department, will develop a test facility for research and education, said director B. Keith Hodge.
Desiccants chemically remove moisture from the air.
This method, which is gas-driven, is much cheaper than conventional vapor compression systems. In the desiccant system, chemicals extract water vapor from the air. Water vapor is adsorbed by the desiccant and through a recharging process is discharged into the atmosphere. In addition to energy savings, the system offers environmental advantages. And this system uses natural gas, which burns very efficiently.