Improvements in building design and a reduction in sensible heat loads generated by more efficient equipment has changed the sensible to latent load ratio in many building HVAC applications.
This has led to an increased need to reheat the air after dehumidification as the sensible load within the space is not sufficient to maintain a comfortable work or living environment.
This effect has been compounded by a desire to introduce more ventilation air to the space, particularly following the COVID pandemic.
The overall effect is a reduced sensible heat ratio driven by an increase in latent load while sensible loads are decreasing. To solve this problem, Air Change developed its popular PCU (Precise Control Unit) series of air management systems to achieve precise temperature and humidity control for critical applications.
These units are designed to remove the latent load leaving the sensible load to be controlled by other HVAC systems. In some applications they are used to dehumidify and control the space temperature.
There are many small scale applications that require the supply of dehumidified ventilation or make-up air without the precision, sophistication and cost of a fully integrated PCU solution.
For these smaller less precise applications where budget is an important consideration, Air Change developed its SMA (Small Makeup Air) range to supply dehumidified air up to 900litres/sec where a split package unit configuration is required. SMA units have been available for the past three years with demand increasing in each year since their release.
Now Air Change Group is proud to announce the release of its new PMA series of dehumidification units designed to deliver dehumidified air at a specified temperature whether its 100% outdoor air, 100% return air or a mixture of both. in a compact packaged unit.
Waste condenser heat is used in a simple unique way to reheat the air from its specified dewpoint temperature to its required supply air temperature. The PMA unit and its mechanical components have been designed and selected to ensure ease of replacement and serviceability and offers greatly improved accessibility when compared to the SMA range which is more complex due to its split construction.
PMAs come in different capacities from a low of 200 l/sec to a maximum of 900 l/sec. They are offered with different inverter refrigeration capacities for normal and high ambient applications with a capacity to deliver air as low as 8.2g/kg of absolute humidity and supply to the space at a comfortable 20-23degrees, depending on outdoor air conditions and the space load.
Their compact footprint makes them an ideal solution for small installations which lack centralized HVAC plants to overcome humidity problems within a space. Examples of such installations include classroom and teaching environments, small grocery stores such as fuel station markets and modular accommodation sites such as those used in the mining industry to house the FIFO workforce.
Progressively they are being offered with R32 refrigerant as well as the standard R410a option. All fans are fitted with EC motors to vary the supply air volume while maximising electrical efficiency and reducing peak demand requirements. Simplicity of design has been a driving consideration which has reduced both initial capital cost and ongoing maintenance costs.
For more information about the PMA please contact the Air Change Sales Team on 8774 1400 or visit our website www.airchange.com.au