Most cooling equipment performs both sensible and latent cooling without allowing building operators to control each individually. This can easily lead to air temperatures that are uncomfortably cold for supermarket customers. Gas-fired desiccant dehumidification breaks the link between sensible and latent cooling, allowing building operators to precisely control each to its required level. If a supermarket is equipped with desiccant dehumidification and conventional sensible cooling, the relative humidity can be lowered without lowering the air temperature. A schematic diagram of a rotating wheel desiccant is shown in the accompanying diagram.
Water vapor is absorbed by the desiccant coating the honeycomb structure of the wheel.
Care must be taken to size and design these systems properly. Applications Many supermarket chains are installing desiccant dehumidification systems for latent cooling and vapor compression systems for sensible cooling. As a result, they have fine control over relative humidity and air temperature. Customer comfort is enhanced, the frozen food product appearance is improved as a result of less frost-up, and operating costs are reduced. Operators of ice rinks benefit from desiccants also.