Z-Duct heat exchanger saves energy for pharmaceutical company

Efficiency opportunity

Several years ago, the company installed an air handling unit with a desiccant wheel for dehumidification to maintain proper humidity levels in its manufacturing environment.

Hot air is run through the desiccant when it becomes saturated with moisture to regenerate the medium.

For many years the system worked well, but Munters recognized an opportunity to make the system more efficient.

The Munters solution

A Munters Z-Duct® air-to-air heat exchanger was placed downstream from the desiccant wheel to recover discharge heat during the regeneration cycle. The captured heat is then used to heat outside air coming into the dehumidifier´s reactivation side.

This solution lessened the amount of steam required for regeneration air heating, which reduced the plant’s gas-fired boiler fuel needs. As a result, the heat exchanger paid for itself shortly after the unit went into operation.