A dehumidifier for a home or apartment helps to solve the problem of high humidity in any type of room. Such devices are presented in a wide assortment and differ among themselves depending on characteristics and features. Before installing a dehumidifier, it is necessary to carefully study its design and principle of operation, as well as determine the type of device.
Desiccant Description
A standard moisture absorber for a home is a device or an integrated system designed to normalize humidity in residential, office or industrial premises. The optimal indicators of this parameter should fluctuate within 40-60%, the mark of 70% is considered the maximum acceptable. All values above or below these marks are deviations from the norm. The decrease is usually associated with violations of the temperature regime when heating the house and is considered less dangerous than the increase.
An excess of moisture in the air is dangerous for human health, it affects the functioning of the respiratory system and general condition, provokes the development of fungus and mold on the walls and surfaces of the room. The presence of fungal spores in the atmosphere provokes the development of allergies, asthma and other respiratory diseases. To solve this problem, dehumidifiers were created. Devices of this type take air from space and return it back, lowering humidity to an optimum indicator. Innovative dehumidifiers are able to condense water vapor, absorb water and remove air outside the premises.
Air dryers can be domestic or industrial, the main difference between them is the performance. This indicator depends on the amount of air that must pass through the system. Home appliances are designed for apartments, industrial ones are suitable for use in spacious rooms.
Purpose of the dehumidifier
A moisture absorber or desiccant should be purchased for those who want to create the perfect microclimate in their home or apartment. For small rooms, devices with a capacity of between 15-50 liters are suitable, industrial devices process 50-120 liters. Household dehumidifiers are ideal for basements, garages, storage rooms and small offices. If you use the device correctly, you can normalize moisture readings in a short time. Owners of home dehumidifiers note their main advantages:
- increase the life of building structures;
- reduction in heating costs, since heating up air with normal humidity will require much less heat energy;
- protection of housing from condensation on windows and other glass surfaces;
- flood management;
- preventing the formation of mold and fungal microorganisms.
A self-made or factory-made air dryer can also be used in bathrooms, where it is difficult to achieve optimal humidity values.
Design and principle of operation
The design of the device completely depends on its power and manufacturer. Standard devices for the home in most cases consist of the following elements:
- housing;
- heat exchangers;
- electric motor;
- fan;
- Filters
- drainage tube;
- condensate tank;
- hygrometer.
Drainage occurs due to the physical process of condensation. Excess moisture in the air enters a chilled surface, the temperature of which must be lower than the dew point. Air masses pass through two heat exchangers filled with freon or another substance, using a fan.
Freon automatically cools when it passes through a capillary tube under pressure. After that, he goes into the exchangers and cools them. The air from the room gives off excess moisture while passing through the first heat exchanger, due to which condensate is released. Freon, located in the first heat exchanger and giving off a cold mass of air, evaporates. In the process of this reaction, it enters the compressor and passes into the second exchanger. Then freon condenses with the help of cold air, as a result of the assimilation process, the air masses warm up.
The principle of operation is the same for all types of dehumidifiers, with the exception of absorption and rotor models. Other devices work as standard, lowering humidity and keeping the air temperature at an optimum level.
DIY device creation algorithm
The simplest absorption desiccant can be made independently using standard equipment, observing all the necessary conditions. To do this, you need two bottles of plastic with a volume of 2 liters, a sharp object, for example, an awl or a thick needle, matches or a lighter, gloves, scissors, an absorbent, as well as a USB fan or cooler for cooling systems.
The step-by-step assembly algorithm of this simple device consists of several steps:
- The awl or needle is heated and made using them a hole in one bottle.
- A bottle with holes is cut with scissors into two halves of the same size.
- In the lower part of the bottle put the first part, pointing the neck down. It should have a cover with holes made in it.
- Absorbent is poured into the upper half of the bottle.
- Cut the bottom of the second bottle.
- A small fan is placed in this capacity, its task is to direct air towards the bottom. The fan should be 8-10 cm from the bottom of the bottle. From the throat, unscrew the lid to ensure air intake.
- A container with a fan must be put on a bottle filled with absorbent material. The joint must be carefully wrapped with electrical tape in order to seal.
A homemade dehumidifier from bottles helps to remove excess moisture no worse than the factory counterpart.
Dryer Types
Instruments for reducing humidity and drying the air vary depending on the principle of operation and performance, size and a number of other criteria. Stationary models are mounted on a wall or ceiling, mobile can be freely moved thanks to the presence of small wheels. A large number of air driers are available on the market, including condensation and membrane devices. The most popular are absorbent and condensation models. Each of the two types has its advantages and disadvantages.
Absorbent
Absorbent dehumidifiers work on the principle of absorbing excess condensate with a special absorbent. Such devices are considered to be short-lived, as their absorbency decreases as they become saturated with moisture. In modern absorbent desiccants, silica gel is used as a filler. To extend the life of the device, you need to evenly heat the absorbent that is in the rotor, and timely change it to a more recent one.
Condensation
Condensing dehumidifiers work on a principle similar to the operation of air conditioners, but at the same time they are supplemented with a function for cooling air masses.Inside such devices is a refrigerator element, in contact with it the air reaches the maximum value of the dew point, that is, the moment of moisture condensation. When the air is already cooled and the liquid is at the intake stage, the air masses are heated by the built-in compressor and fed back into the room. The air is dry during the operation of the device, so powerful condensing devices are not recommended for installation in residential buildings and apartments.
Humidity control
Before making a homemade air dryer, it is important to solve the problem of humidity control in advance. Factory devices are supplemented by built-in sensors that monitor humidity and air temperature. If we are talking about a device made by hand, for it you will need to purchase additional elements. This can be a pointer or digital hygrometer, which you can buy in a specialized store. It is also often part of the design of modern watches.
Too much air can be harmful. The presence of a hygrometer makes it possible to determine whether to include a dehumidifier at a particular time. It is advisable to use the device when the humidity in the apartment reaches a critical mark of 80%, as a result of which mold and fungal microorganisms can begin to multiply actively. Additionally, weather conditions are taken into account, in some cases it is necessary to include a humidifier, and not a dehumidifier.
