Ground loop water dehumidifier?

TechShop · 11-20-15, 11:04 PM

I'm considering tapping into the return line from my loop and plumbing in a small copper water/air HX with a fan. A dehumidistat would turn on the fan whenever necessary.

Has this been done? Are there any good reasons not to?

MEMPHIS91 · 11-21-15, 05:30 AM

What temp is your water/air?

jeff5may · 11-21-15, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TechShop

I'm considering tapping into the return line from my loop and plumbing in a small copper water/air HX with a fan. A dehumidistat would turn on the fan whenever necessary.

Has this been done? Are there any good reasons not to?

This has been done. If you are having humidity issues, it will help. Even without much airflow, the cold surface will snatch lots of water out of the air if it can. Whether it can or not is determined by comparing the ambient dewpoint with your liquid line temp. If the liquid temp is below the dewpoint, the humidity will condense onto the hx.

The latest examples of this principle are in the heat pump food dryer thread. Many ecorenovator members made working units that dried herbs, fruits, and even made jerky. The machines work great!

Piwoslaw · 11-21-15, 12:37 PM

Something close: During a hot summer Daox used his basement's sump to cool the house. A side effect was condensation of humidity.

TechShop · 11-21-15, 12:38 PM

The temperatures are in my favor for sure. If I remove the insulation from a section of the loop piping, it readily condenses water. My loop water is around 46 degrees and I keep the air temp between 62 F - 66 F.

Currently I'm running a dehumidifier based on a 5000 BTU/Hr window AC. It uses around 480 Watts but does a great job.

I am considering this loop water dehumidifier as a way to reduce that 480 Watts to perhaps around 100 Watts (the power used by a small fan).

randen · 11-21-15, 01:51 PM

Techshop

Tried it. Didn't work very well. The HX temp of 45 Deg. F isn't cold enough to remove humidity to make you feel comfortable. The room will have slightly lower temp., intern the air gets closer to the dew point and we start to feel uncomfortable.

You require a colder evaporator to wring the humidity out and feel comfortable. Stick with the heat-pump air-conditioner. They work so well in the summer.!!!

Notice the frost on the tube of my air handler. This is in my well insulated shop with machines producing heat. The Geothermal HP is awesome. AND I don't notice the extra cost on the electric bill. It is cheap to operate.!!

Randen

11-20-15, 11:04 PM	#1
TechShop FNG Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Washington Posts: 71 Thanks: 8 Thanked 19 Times in 13 Posts	Ground loop water dehumidifier? I'm considering tapping into the return line from my loop and plumbing in a small copper water/air HX with a fan. A dehumidistat would turn on the fan whenever necessary. Has this been done? Are there any good reasons not to?

11-21-15, 05:30 AM	#2
MEMPHIS91 Journeyman EcoRenovator Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Oxford, MS USA Posts: 496 Thanks: 69 Thanked 87 Times in 61 Posts	What temp is your water/air? __________________ שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל ה' אֱלֹהֵינוּ ה' אֶחָד

11-21-15, 12:37 PM	#4
Piwoslaw Super Moderator Join Date: May 2009 Location: Warsaw, Poland Posts: 961 Thanks: 188 Thanked 110 Times in 86 Posts	Something close: During a hot summer Daox used his basement's sump to cool the house. A side effect was condensation of humidity. __________________ Ecorenovation - the bottomless piggy bank that tries to tame the energy hog.

11-21-15, 01:51 PM	#6
randen Uber EcoRenovator Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Strathroy Ontario Canada Posts: 657 Thanks: 9 Thanked 191 Times in 129 Posts	So you want to A/C with loop water Techshop Tried it. Didn't work very well. The HX temp of 45 Deg. F isn't cold enough to remove humidity to make you feel comfortable. The room will have slightly lower temp., intern the air gets closer to the dew point and we start to feel uncomfortable. You require a colder evaporator to wring the humidity out and feel comfortable. Stick with the heat-pump air-conditioner. They work so well in the summer.!!! Notice the frost on the tube of my air handler. This is in my well insulated shop with machines producing heat. The Geothermal HP is awesome. AND I don't notice the extra cost on the electric bill. It is cheap to operate.!! Randen Attached Thumbnails

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11-21-15, 12:38 PM	#5
TechShop FNG Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Washington Posts: 71 Thanks: 8 Thanked 19 Times in 13 Posts	The temperatures are in my favor for sure. If I remove the insulation from a section of the loop piping, it readily condenses water. My loop water is around 46 degrees and I keep the air temp between 62 F - 66 F. Currently I'm running a dehumidifier based on a 5000 BTU/Hr window AC. It uses around 480 Watts but does a great job. I am considering this loop water dehumidifier as a way to reduce that 480 Watts to perhaps around 100 Watts (the power used by a small fan).