Chemical Processing Humidity Control
Chemical processing has a broad spectrum of applications, from conveyance lines to isolation containment and fluid bed drying. The processing of chemicals frequently requires high-temperature air streams that must be heated and cooled to create the desired finished product.
We have applications in accelerated drying and providing a consistent drying result to ensure the processing is maximised in this field. Stopping the reabsorption of moisture in long-term storage to prevent condensation on parts used in processing, the knowledge we have can support your business.
Some of the issues that we have come across in this industry include:
- The manufacturing process can be inconsistent in drying results.
- Ambient conditions prevent production.
- The process can harm the environment due to the required amount of energy.
- The reabsorption of moisture in long and short-term storage.
- Condensation control on parts cooled in the process
- Controlling steam extraction to prevent condensed water
We have created and implemented new procedures or improved existing ones using our engineering expertise and skill base. Our belief is to support you; we must understand your business and process before we can develop it.
In 2012, DEHUM was approached by a customer who faced a severe problem with ambient conditions causing an acute bottleneck in productivity.
Our investigation revealed that the main problem was the application of a direct steam injection during the manufacturing process, used to activate an adhesive and sterilise the product. Unfortunately, once processed, the product maintained this steam, and when cooled, this led to condensation and moisture retention in the product.
Without a good understanding of psychometrics, the customer had employed extraction as a control method. However, this same approach using ambient air had led to drying times of over five days.
DEHUM proposed several innovative changes to the process, including introducing warm and very dry air. This keeps steam in its vapour form, meaning condensation cannot form, resulting in a dehydrated process.
Removing the 5-day bottleneck from the production process has helped keep our client one step ahead of their competitors and keep us two steps ahead of ours.
