DOMESTIC DEHUMIDIFIERS IN COOL CONDITIONS: I-PERFORMANCE FACTORS

摘要

25% of New Zealand homes use dehumidifiers. Most non-living rooms in New Zealand houses are unheated with temperatures frequently below 10 °C, which means that these dehumidifiers are operating in a very inefficient part of their performance envelope. Their performance under these conditions is modelled. It has been found that the dehumidifiers operate in two different regimes: in the "ventilation-enhanced" regime extra ventilation of outdoor air helps lower indoor humidities; while in the "ventilation-hindered" regime extra ventilation tends to raise indoor humidities. Performance is modelled as a function of dehumidifier type, strength of moisture sources, level of heating, ventilation, insulation level and external climate.