Development of Dehumidifier for Protected Horticulture

시설원예용 제습기 개발

Relative humidity of air In the greenhouse has to be maintained at 70 to 80 percents to provide a better growth condition of crops. To control relative humidity of air in the greenhouse, a dehumidifier functioning by refrigeration cycle was designed and manufactured in this study. And, results of its performance test in the greenhouse site were reported. The developed dehumidifier has separated condenser and evaporator in the heat exchanger part in order to increase dehumidifying capacity at a low temperature condition. When the conditions of incoming air into the dehumidifier were temperature of $15\~25^{\circ}C$ and relative humidity of $0\~95\%$, quantity of condensed water per hour, ie, dehumidification rate was $4.7\~7.0\;kg/hr$. Relative humidity difference was not greater than 5 percents at various locations in the greenhouse due to proper distributing of dehumidified air through vinyl duct. Thermal energy output from the developed dehumidifier was about 8,5000 kcal/hr that was 7 percents of maximum greenhouse heating load of 10 a.