AIR DEHUMIDIFIER

A Project Report

Submitted by

SOHAM TEMKER 21T27507

AAMIN VHORA 21T27508

Guidance by,
Assistant Professor AVESH KHAN

DEPARTMENT OF
Mechanical Engineering

In fulfilment for the award of the degree of

Bachelor of technology &Engineering

In

Mechanical Engineering

ITM (SLS) BARODA UNIVERSITY

Dhanora Tank Road, Pallid Village, Halol Highway, Near

Jarod, Vadodara - 391510 (Gujarat), INDIA.

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 Certificate

This is to certify that the report submitted along with the project entitled “air dehumidifier”
has been carried out by “SOHAM TEMKER (21T27507), AAMIN VHORA.(21T27508)”
under my guidance in fulfilment for the BTECH in Mechanical Engineering– VII the
Semester of ITM (SLS) BARODA UNIVERSITY, during the academic year2022-23. These
students have successfully completed the project activity under my guidance.

SIGNATURE OF:- HEAD OF DEPARTMENT

PROJECT GUIDE: PROF. JUNED DADI
MR.AVESH KHAN

DATE

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The satisfaction and euphoria that accompany the successful completion of any task would
be incomplete without the mention of the people, who made it possible, whose constant
guidance and encouragement aided me in the completion of my project.
I consider it my privilege to express voice of gratitude and respect to all those who guided
me and inspired me in the completion of this project.
I would like to express my thanks to my Institute guide PROF. AVESH KHAN & HOD
PROF. JUNEYD DADI for his precious guidance and effectually care which happens to be
the psyche of this thesis report.

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS
Certificate 1

Acknowledgement 2

Table Of Contents 3

List Of Figures 6

Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION

PROBLEM SUMMARY 7

AIM AND OBJECTIVES 10

PROBLEM SPECIFIACTION 11

Chapter 2 LITERATURE REVIEW 1 12

Chapter 3 ABOUT PROJECT 14

DEHUMIDIFIER 14

APPLICATION 14
HUMIDIFIER IN COASTAL CITY 15

COMPONENTS REQUIRED 17

FEATURES ASPECTS 17

EXPECTED OUTCOME 17

Chapter 4 DESIGN 18

MODEL 18

FINAL DESIGN 19

Chapter 5 LIST OF COMPONENTS 20

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 EXHUAST FAN 20

HEATER 20

FILTER 20

WHEEL 20

WORKING DEHUMIDIFIER 21

SPECIFICATION OF MODEL 22

SPECIFICATION OF MEASURING INSTRUMENTS 22

COST OF PRODUCT 23

Chapter 6 CALCULATION 24

PSYCHOMETRIC CHART

EXPRIMENT SETUP

Chapter 7 SUMMARY 28

CONCLUSION 28

ADVANTAGES & DISSADVANTAGES 28

FUTURE SCOPE OF THIS PROJECT 29

REFERENCE 30

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List of figure
Figure No FIGURE DESCRIPTION Page no.

1 Figure 1 Growth for desiccant dehumidifier in market

2 Figure 2 Conventional Dehumidification Process

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

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 Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 problem summary
The Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) industry is facing
many challenges in the 1990s, including a decrease of energy resources, an increase in energy
demand due to overpopulation, and new regulatory policies of government. To respond to
these challenges, more energy-efficient heating, cooling, ventilation, and dehumidification
technologies are needed.

There are a number of methods for formation of energy-efficient HVAC technologies;

among them there are two ways chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydro chloro fluorocarbons
(HCFCs) technology. These technologies uses chemical which increases in ventilation rates
for buildings because of concerns regarding indoor air quality and occupant health. The
higher ventilation rates converts into greater cooling loads in particular seasons. Greater
latent loads require during cooling seasons like summer when the relative humidity within a
building must be kept sufficiently low to reduce the growth of micro-organisms that cause
health problems and also may damage building materials.

Therefore Dehumidification has become a very important part of the HVAC function. Apart
from above two technology Desiccant dehumidification and cooling technology can
provide energy-efficient solutions for the industry. Desiccant dehumidification technology
has a successfully work over more than 60 years for industrial applications such as product
drying and neglect corrosion.

It has also been used for several years in clean rooms, hospitals, museums, and other 12
special places requiring highly controlled humidity levels. Now days the use of desiccants
for dehumidification in air-conditioning applications has been on the rise and their capital
cost has been on the decline.

The supermarket industry was the first to realize the capacity of desiccant dehumidification,
and there are currently more than 500supermarkets that use desiccant dehumidification
system integrated with electric-driven refrigeration systems. In these integrated designs, the
desiccant system works as a pre-conditioner for outside (ventilation) air to remove the latent
load.

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 Other applications of desiccant dehumidification are in hotels and motels, office buildings,
full-service and fast food restaurants, laboratories, and retirement homes. The advantage of
desiccant dehumidification is better humidity control, more efficient latent load removal,
and reduction in electric demands.

Figure 1 Growth for desiccant dehumidifier in market

Now take some examples of Industrial/ Manufacturing units along with their effects of
humidity control as explain by industry are:
1) To prevent corrosion and improve production of lithium batteries.

2) To prevent condensation and corrosion on metal surface of electrical equipment.

3) To prevent deterioration of products in pharmaceutical packing.

4) To optimize seed moisture level and minimize microbiological growth in grain

storage houses.
5) To improve the product by preventing condensation on the mould surfaces.
Air dehumidification can be achieved by two methods:
(I) cooling the air below its dew point and removing moisture by condensation, or

(2) Sorption by a desiccant material. For the last few years cooling based dehumidification
have been used. In the cooling based dehumidification method- vapour compression

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refrigeration system, the dry air is produced by cooling the atmospheric air below the dew
point temperature. In other words below the dew point temperature, water vapour gets
condensed and separated from the air.

Figure 2 Conventional Dehumidification Process

This method has various advantages which are as follows:

1) Light weight and Compact size.
2) Independent of whether condition.
3) Suitable for low quantity dry air.
4) Easy handling of operation and installation.
Though this system has many advantages, it has drawbacks also like it cools below
due point temperature so it consumes more electricity. This system uses HFC and HCFCs
material which harmful to environment.

This system requires compressor and other mechanical elements so it would

increase the cost of entire system. The simple and effective way for producing the dry air is
by using Chemical dehumidification. Chemical dehumidification has two types as per
chemical or desiccant phase use either solid or liquid. As per desiccant use the dehumidifier
name as
1) Liquid Desiccant Dehumidifier and
2) Solid desiccant Dehumidifier.

Now a days, due to high energy crisis and operating cost these techniques uses in markets
and pharmaceutical industries. These techniques improve indoor air quality with
considerable reduction in energy consumption.

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 Desiccant material absorbs moisture from air due to vapour pressure difference without
any change in their chemical and physical composition. The amount of vapour adsorbed is
proportional to the surface area of desiccant due to its ability to absorb moisture and
considerable capacity to hold water.

Desiccant materials are as follows: Liquid: Lithium chloride, Lithium Bromide, Sodium
Chloride, etc. Solid: Silica gel, Activated charcoal, Zeolite, Activated alumina, etc. These all
materials must have to regenerate after first use. They are regenerate at particular temperature
so for use desiccant material regenerative unit must have to be add which can heated the air
and air than take water particles from desiccant Material and make it reusable.

AIM AND OBJECTIVES

In many parts of India Hot and humid conditions are present. In such environment, the dry
air is essential for domestic and industrial purposes. The dry air is producing by Vapour
compression refrigeration system (VCRS) but it leads to environmental issues. So main aim
of this project is to eliminate the environmental issues and make system eco friendly

Our purpose for this project we want to develop a dehumidifier that is cheap, power - efficient, conducive to
local environment and smartly designed. It was provided Air - Dehumidification and Air purification.

We have come up with an idea of developing a dehumidifier that solves all those issues at the minimal cost, while being
very handy to use.

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 1.3 PROBLEM SPECIFICATION

: Generally for domestic purposes Vapour Compression Refrigeration System has wide
scope but for the project it has various drawbacks as in this system mechanical work is done.

VCRS system having Compressor and Condenser which consumes high electricity which
increases operating cost of the system. Also, these 16 components increases the overall
product cost so it is not possible to buy such equipment for all people

. Conventional dehumidification system has above general disadvantages but for

experimentally also have certain drawbacks like: In the conventional system it is require
cooling air below its Dew point temperature so that moisture present in the air comes out and
condensing. Condense water then gets out by piping provided. This system requires very less
temperature to dehumidify air.

The lower the temperature, greater the dry air will be. This overcooling requires higher
electricity consumption as compressor and condenser have to work more than require. These
drawbacks can be eliminate by using desiccant dehumidification system as it also use at room
temperature and does not require making air cool below dew point temperature.

Desiccant dehumidifier only use two processes 1) dehumidification of air as require and 2)
Regeneration of air to regenerate the desiccant material.

In the conventional dehumidification, we do not get pure quality of dry air as there are
mechanical losses due to heat generation and friction inside components. While in desiccant
dehumidification we can get pure quality of dry air as per require because there is only single
operation can produce dry air.

Return air from the conditioned room then heated and pass over the desiccant material and
regenerate the material and got out to environment. We can eliminate the problems of
conventional dehumidification by combining it with desiccant dehumidification. Such
systems are under study and known as Hybrid dehumidification system

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 Chapter – 2 LITERATURE REVIEW

Published BY: - Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Engineering Sciences, Kyushu

University, Kasuga-koen 6-1, Kasuga-shi, Fukuoka 816-8580, Japan b Faculty of
Engineering Sciences, Kyushu University Kasuga-koen 6-1, Kasuga-shi, Fukuoka 816-8580,
Japan c Mechanical Power Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Mansoura
University,
El-Mansoura 35516, Egypt d International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research
(WPI-I2CNER), Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan e
Kyushu University Program for Leading Graduate School, Green Asia Education Center,
Kyushu University, 6-1 Kasuga-koen, Kasuga-shi, Fukuoka 816-8580, Japan

Publishing: Muhammad Sultan a,d , Ibrahim I. El-Sharkawy b,c,d , Takahiko Miyazaki b,d ,
Bidyut Baran Saha a,d,e,n , Shigeru Koyama
- Article history: Received 22 July 2014 Received in revised form 21 November
2014 Accepted 10 February 2015
- Keywords: Air-conditioning Desiccant dehumidification

abstract

To address the importance of desiccant air-conditioning (DAC) systems, this paper discusses
the comparison between DAC and conventional vapor compression air-conditioning (VAC).
Performance and economic feasibility (PEF) of the system is conferred with reference
literature to correlate the types of DAC system from the perspective of energy saving and
system payback period. The present study provides three examples of existing desiccant
cooling systems namely

(i) standalone DAC system, (ii) single-stage hybrid DAC system, and (iii) two-stage
hybrid DAC system,
(ii) which highlight their importance under different environmental conditions. This
study provides scientific and experimental supports on how the standalone or
hybrid desiccant cooling can be a supplement to the exiting VAC system

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Conclusions of research paper

Throughout this literature review, it has been found that the standalone DAC can be operated
by solar thermal energy for moderate humid climates. The system performance increases
with higher regeneration temperature up to a certain temperature level.

The threshold regeneration temperature depends on the desiccant material, mass flow rate,
air velocity, ambient and demand conditions. A standalone DAC system for a given
operating condition can obtain a certain level of performance and the design needs to be
modified to achieve higher performance and economic feasibility (PEF).

The present study focuses on two kinds of modifications namely VAC assisted hybrid
system and multi-stage dehumidification. It has been found that multi-stage DAC system can
be operated at lower regeneration temperature as compared to single-stage cycle delivering
the same dehumidification amount.

The moisture removal capacity in the two-stage dehumidification is found to be higher than
single-stage with constant flow rate which helps to improve the system COP. Feasibility
studies show that the potential of DAC in dry conditions is limited but there the
evaporative cooling will become an optimum solution rather than conventional VAC
system.

Most of the regional based studies show that payback period of less than five years can be
obtained by utilizing the DAC system intelligently and thus significantly contribute in
energy saving and environmental protection.

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 CHAPTER 3: ABOUT PROJECT

Dehumidifier

DEFINITION:

Dehumidify or dehumidification - literally means "pulling out or removing" the

moisture/humidity from the air. The dictionary defines dehumidification as the
process of removing atmospheric moisture
Methods of Dehumidification
• Air Conditioning - Dehumidification by increasing the total pressure
or compressing the air
• Desiccant Dehumidification (also known as Chemical Dehumidification) - In
this method a desiccant material or drying substance is introduced into the
airstream to remove moisture
• Mechanical Dehumidification (also known as Refrigeration Dehumidification)
- It is the method of removing humidity by cooling the air to condense the
water vapour

DEHUMIDIFIER APPLICATION

• Product Drying: Food Industry Pharmaceutical Industry

Engineering and Mechanical Industry Leather of excellence Industry Miscellaneous

Industries

• Production and Processing: Food Industry, Pharmaceutical

Industry, Electronics Manufacturing, Special Rooms, Power and Power Distribution Industry,
Healthcare/Hospitals, Glass Industry, Printing Industry Aviation Industry, Automobile
Industry Etc.

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• Packaging: Food Industry, Garment Industry, Pharmaceutical Industry, Fertilizer

Industry Storage: Museums and Libraries, Shipping and

Marine, Leather, Food Industry Pharmaceutical Industry. Manufacturing Aviations Industry,

Power Industry, Electrical Manufacturing Industry, Special Rooms, Defence Industry

APPLICATION OF DEHUMIDIFIER IN FOOD INDUSTRY

• Fruits & Vegetables

• Milk & Allied products (Diary)

• Grain, pulses and oilseeds (staple) products

• Packaged Food

• Meat & Poultry and Seafood

• Bakery & Confectionary

• Beverages

HUMIDITY IN COASTAL CITY LIST

• MUMBAI
• CHENNAI
• KOCHI
• PURI
• SURAT
• DAMAN ETC

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FIGURE 3 COASTAL CITIES- MUMBAI

FIGURE 4 DESERT CITIES- JACOBABAD

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COMPONENTS REQUIRED

1 Exhaust fan

2 heater

3 desiccant wheel

4 Silica powder

5 air filter

6 frame

FUTURE ASPECTS

The present project is carried considering the local climatic/weather conditions of

AGARTALA. REGION.

As per the progress of the project the market survey of major components are done.

The next step is to work on the designing aspects capillary, refrigerant flow and leakage
problems. Hence the assembly of the components and it's testing.

The project can be mass produced for a local uses given that the dehumidifier is cheap,
power efficient and easy to use.

EXPECTED OUT COME

• He Expected Outcomes Of Using Air Dehumidifiers Include:

• Reduced Humidity:
• Improved Indoor Air Quality
• Comfort
• Protection Of Belongings
• Energy Efficiency
• Health Benefits
Remember the effectiveness of an air dehumidifier will depend on
factors such as its Capacity, the size of the area it's used in, and the initial
humidity level

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 Chapter 4 Air dehumidifier design

3.1 AIR DUHUMIDIFIER

- Design MODEL shown in figure

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- FINAL DESIGN SHOW IN FIGURE

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 Chapter 5 list of components & working

- Components
Exhaust fan filter

FIGURE FIGURE

Heater Desiccant wheel

FIGURE FIGURE

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WORKING OF DEHUMIDIFIER

FIGURE

Desiccant dehumidifiers work by using a large desiccant wheel to adsorb

moisture from the process air stream. As the process air is dried, the moisture
content of the wheel rises. To remove this moisture the wheel is in constant
rotation and a second air stream is heated and passed through the wheel.

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SPECIFICATION OF MODEL:-

FIGURE

SPECIFICATION OF MEASURING INSTRUMENT:-

FIGURE

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COST OF PRODUCT:

NOTE: All these costs are approximate

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 Chapter 6 calculation

CALCULATION

- Assumption for calculation: There are some assumption in design

which are as follows:
- Velocity of the air is neglected here.
- Fabrication errors may cause air to leak via gaps.
- Heater capacity constant for all desiccant materials
- Readings may be varied because of outside atmospheric conditions.
- Friction loses are neglected
- Humidity before air passes through wheel is increased by wetting cloth
in order to take readings easily and hence actual performance can be
found out of desiccant
- The readings of temperature are taken near the wet cloth as
inlet temperature.

Dimensions of the room where experiment is carried out:

For ex. L*B*H= 4.2*4.8*3.3(m*m*m) = 66.52m³

From the psychometric chart other properties of desiccants can be found as
follow:

1) WBT1 and WBT2

2) h1 and h2 (h= constant)
3) w1 & w2
4) mw = w1-w2
5) DPT at end of drying process
Where, WBT= wet bulb temperature, ℃ h = enthalpy, kJ/kg of dry air w =
specific humidity, kg/kg of dry air mw = moisture removed during drying
process DPT = dew point temperature

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EXPERIMENT

FIGURE

For Silica gel:

Figure 10 Psychometric chart for silica gel
1. DBT1= 28.5 and DBT2= 33.8
2. WBT1=24.4℃ and WBT2=24℃
3. H1= 74 kJ/kg of dry air
4. H2= 72.3 kJ/kg of dry air
5. W1 =17.77g/kg of dry air & w2=14.95g/kg of dry air
6. MW= 17.77-14.95
=2.82g/kg of dry air
7. DPT = 20.2℃

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EXPERIMENTAL SETUP:

1 Attach a motor for direct evaporation of water and its outlet is connect
with cotton cloth

2 Connect desiccant wheel with rotor which runs approximately 30 rpm.

Here make sure that connection of motor and rotor is providing separately for
easy on and off them.

3 Two fans are fit in either directions of the dehumidifier. First is sucks air
for adsorption process which place upper side of dehumidifier and another is
suck air for desorption process which place exactly in front of heater.

4 Heater is fixed at the bottom portion of dehumidifier right be sides the fan.

5 Make switches and wire arrangement for supply electricity to fans and
heater.

6 Before starting the experiment open desiccant wheel side for filling the
desiccant material.

7 Takeout first desiccant material and fill it in the desiccant wheel.

8 Now close the desiccant wheel.

9 Start motor via battery to make cotton cloth wet.

10 After 4-5 minutes start desiccant wheel rotation with the use of battery
and fan which is put for supply air for adsorption.

11 Take readings for inlet and outlet of desiccant wheel from

hygrometers placed there.

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12 Now start fan and heater and continue for about hours for regeneration
of desiccant material. Take another desiccant and repeat above procedure

13 Place the heater and the air blower to vary the inlet temperature
to measure the effect on outlet temperature and regeneration
temperature.

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 Chapter 7 SUMMARY

CONCLUSION

Through the experience gained by this project we can now say that a lot of work
has been done in this field and still there is lot more to be done. For various
causes well understood like environment concerns, deteriorating fuel reservoirs
and need to conserve fuel for future those areas must be explored and
developed. Steps should be taken to achieve mentioned targets and analyse
present situation.

Here we have shown a small step to do the same and mentioned the futuristic
improvements possible. This is a demonstration of what the pace of time
requires and if we as students can do a bit along that way then a lot more can be
expected from the industries and thinkers. With more contribution and emphasis
on research and development by the industry this seems to be a possible
endeavour in near future.

ADVANTAGES

 Less expensive to install

 Low operating cost
 Power consumption is limited to the fan and heater.
 Higher dehumidification efficiency.
 Capable of lower dew points than conventional technology.
 Independent humidity control maintains comfort at higher dry-bulb set point.
 Preserves building materials by lowering equilibrium moisture content.
 Easy maintenance.

DISADVANTAGES

 Hygroscopic materials are highly damage and degrade by „fouling‟ and very difficult
to clean
 Cannot use in very dry locations where humidity is low.
 This system can give better performance only when there is higher humidity in atmosphere.
 Life of desiccant materials is very short.

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 Regeneration of desiccant takes more than 2 hours.

FUTURE SCOPE OF THIS PROJECT:

 This desiccant wheel dehumidifier reduces the moisture level from the cooling air in
more effective way compare than other system.
 This system is less costly compare than other system such as AirConditioner.
 This system has a good future because of its effectiveness and easier to use.
 This system is eco-friendly and because of this, the cooler covering the market at
great level.
 This system is very useful in industries and party places.
 The improved design can make this a good domestic cooling system.
 The mechanism of desiccant wheel can be applied to coolers.

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 REFERENCES
[1]. AGCC, March/April 1994, "Hot on Desiccants," Cool Times, Vol. 5, No.2,
pp. 18-20, American Gas Coolin Center, Arlington, VA.

[2]. ASHRAE, 1992, Desiccant Cooling and Dehumidification, Special

Publication, American Society of Heating Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning
Engineers, Atlanta, GA.

[3].EPRI, August 1992,Assessment of Gas and Electric Cooling Equipment,

EPRI TR-101142, Electric Power Research Institute, Palo Alto, CA.

[4]. GRI, 1994, "SuperAire Systems Applications," Pace Setters, 3194 GND
10,000, Gas Research Institute, Chicago, IL.

[5]. GRI, December 1992, "Dehumidification-A Major Opportunity for Natural

Gas," GRI Technology Focus, Gas Research Institute, Chicago, IL.

[6].Meckler, M., 1994, "Comparing Conventional and Desiccant Assisted Ductless

Split HVAC Systems for Offices in Several U.S. Cities," ASME Solar Energy
Conference Proceedings, San Francisco, CA, March 27-30,1994.

[7].Meckler, M., May 1989, "Integrated Desiccant Cold Air Distribution,"

Heating/Piping/Air Conditioning, pp. 67- 127.
Munters Cargocaire, Dehumidifiers Product Literature, Amesbury, MA. Munters
Dry Cool, the Super Air System Product Literature, Selma, TX.

WEBSITE:

 http://www.flycarpet.net/en/PsyOnline
 https://www.kwangu.com/work/psychrometric.htm
 http://www.sugartech.co.za/psychro/index.php
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dehumidifier
http://www.dehumidifierbuyersguide.com/review-parametersoverview Guide Assistant
professor Mr. AVESH KHSN Department Of Mechanical Engineering.

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