It then flows by gravity to the evaporator end of the pipe to begin the cycle again. The dehumidifying heat pipe is used mostly in commercial and industrial applications. Before the addition of the dehumidifying heat pipe, an oversized air conditioner equipped with electric resistance re-heating coils was used to adequately dehumidify the warehouse. Most models of heat pumps and air-conditioners can be retrofitted with dehumidifying heat pipes. They can also be built into new heat pump or air-conditioner heat exchanger coils.
Heat pipes save electricity in another way as well.
They allow the cooling system to be reduced in size. They can also be used to help heat domestic hot water. To do so, a heat exchanger transfers the heat extracted by the pipes to a water tank. There are currently several manufacturers of heat pipe technology. The following articles provide additional information on using dehumidifying heat pipes.