Comparisons are often made to show how one humidifier is more efficient than the other solely based on the energy required to generate steam or vapor. Little attention has been given to the impact of the humidifier on heating and cooling costs, the affect of local climate, or how utility costs can vary significantly from city to city.
In general, there are two types of humidification processes that are commonly used in our industry: isothermal and adiabatic systems. The two types operate very differently from each other, and there are many different models of each available today. There have been plenty of good articles written that describe and compare these systems in detail. This article makes a practical and operational comparison between the two types by simulating an isothermal humidifier and an adiabatic-type humidifier in the same air-handling system. Several different geographical locations are considered to evaluate the impact of the local climate as well as local utility costs.