When such conditions exist, many people in those areas attempt to spend as little time as possible outdoors. They dodge from homes into cars and buildings that are all air conditioned.
Air conditioning is an easy solution to combat high humidity, particularly for homeowners. But if you're running a business that involves different temperature zones and peoples' differing needs, air conditioning can be a problem. That's because traditional air conditioners necessitate that the air be overcooled to lower the humidity.
For a business establishment, such as a restaurant, discomfort from temperatures that are too warm, or uncomfortably cold can be disastrous - annoying employees and driving away customers, which results in lost revenue.
Restaurant Dilemma
Such was the prospect of a fast-food restaurant chain in St. Louis, a city well-known for high levels of humidity. It was here that Lion's Choice was founded in 1967, and where they serve thin-sliced hot roasted beef sandwiches with "secret seasoning" on a buttered and toasted bun. They have 20 locations in Missouri and Illinois.The chain's stores utilize two rooftop A/C units to control climate comfort. But providing uniform indoor temperature and humidity levels proved difficult in some structures in high humidity locations. The units would automatically turn off when the temperature setpoint was reached. At that point, there was no control of humidity until it again became warm enough for the units to restart.
The store managers only had the option of raising or lowering the thermostat. When they increased the level of cooling to 68°F to keep employees comfortable and productive in the food production area, the colder air in the seating area chilled the patrons. Conversely, if they set comfort levels for customers, the kitchen heat "withered" the employees.
Aside from creating inconsistent levels of human comfort, the constant cycling exacerbated condensation on the coils of the A/C units, as well as on glass surfaces in the restaurant. Also, because the units had to work longer to re-establish setpoint temperatures with each cycle, the cost of electricity was greater than it could have been using a more efficient system.
The Solution
Brian Jones, sales engineer with Waites Company in St. Louis, worked with Lion's Choice management to resolve the situation. Waites, established in 1956, is an air engineering firm and manufacturer's representative for commercial and industrial HVAC products and systems in parts of Illinois and Missouri.Jones knew from experience that air conditioning alone was not adequate to alleviate the high moisture condition to the point that consistent temperatures could be maintained in the Lion's Choice restaurants. The situation called for a supplemental system that would adequately dry the air.
"These A/C units processed return air from the building and also brought in fresh outside air. Both were humid and, as condensation began to form on the coils, the units would become less and less efficient," Jones said. "Sometimes HVAC engineers design systems only by considering outside air temperatures and not humidity levels."
Waites Company represents Munters America Commercial Division, a leading provider of dehumidification products and systems. Jones recommended installation of the new Munters Humidity Control Unit (HCU 2000) to control humidity on an as-needed basis, running only when humidity levels threaten comfort.
Installation of the unit was quick and easy. After the unit was hoisted onto the roof, it was wired and ducts were attached between it and the two air conditioners.
The HCU 2000 provides a "packaged" system that applies two technologies - refrigeration and desiccant dehumidification. Unlike cooling-based dehumidifiers, which cool the air to condense moisture and then draw it away, desiccants attract moisture molecules directly from the air and release them into an exhaust air stream.
The Munters unit draws outside air, cools and dries it, and feeds it into the air conditioners. The dried air then is circulated through the structure by the A/C fans.
Results
To date, units have been installed in five Lion's Choice restaurants. The humidity control system provides the restaurants with the ability to create the desired climate by providing independent control of temperature and humidity.By utilizing the air conditioning and dehumidification systems in tandem, the restaurant managers have been able to stabilize comfort at a thermostat setpoint of 74° with a rh level of 48%. That is far above the 68° setting required before dehumidification was employed.
"The HCU 2000 controls humidity on an as-needed basis, running only when humidity levels threaten comfort. And, the system operates cost effectively because all of the energy required for the operation of its desiccant dehumidifier is recycled from its cooling components," Brian Jones said.
"We tried other options to control the climate in our restaurants to no avail," said Jim Tobias, president of Lion's Choice. "Munters came in and solved our problem. The installation of the units went smoothly and they provided us with the desired climate immediately."AMCA
