Dew point and humidity are important environmental factors in industrial settings. Although both these terms describe the amount of moisture present in an environment, some crucial differences exist between them.

Understanding the differences between an environment’s dew point and humidity is essential for selecting an optimal humidification or dehumidification system for your business or facility. Knowing the amount of moisture present in your internal climate as well as the point at which it condenses will allow you to better control the systems that govern these factors.

Specialized dew point

Understanding Humidity and Dew Point Control—Why Is It Needed?

Humidity measures the amount of water vapor present in the air. Absolute humidity defines how much water the surrounding air holds, and relative humidity is the percentage of air that contains liquid vapor at the time point of measurement. Specific humidity expresses the relationship between moist and dry air in a single system.

An environment’s dew point is the temperature needed for water vapor to condense and form on surfaces. A higher dew point means a higher atmospheric temperature at which dew forms.

Another way to describe an area’s dew point is the point at which its air reaches 100% relative humidity. At this point, the air has absorbed the maximum amount of moisture that it can retain and introducing any further moisture to the system results in fog or precipitation. This also occurs when the temperature is reduced in an environment that has 100% relative humidity.

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Industries

A wide variety of industries rely on controlling the relative humidity and dew points to maintain good product quality and optimal working conditions:

  • Food distribution centers use humidity control systems to increase shelf life and avoid exorbitant energy prices
  • Humidity control prevents the spread of pathogens in medical facilities
  • Production facilities that work with hazardous chemicals control air moisture content to reduce the risk of volatile chemical reactions
  • Storage facilities use humidity control systems to keep porous or delicate materials from spoiling

Finding the correct moisture content for a room also increases its comfort for people. Commercial and industrial operations use humidity control systems to maintain comfortable internal environments without incurring large energy bill fluctuations.

Humidity Control Solutions for Multiple Industries

Controlled Environment In Medical Analysis Equipment

Environmental control companies must constantly innovate to create humidity control systems optimized for specific industrial environments. To use a specific example, biotherapy reagent packaging plants require systems that successfully balance high evaporative loads and heat. Designers of humidity controls for these kinds of facilities must customize clean rooms to consistently maintain high safety and health standards.

In another example, aerospace OEMs require large industrial cooling systems to maintain good manufacturing environments for delicate technological systems. Humidification control systems must meet narrow temperature, dew point, and humidity requirements to prevent corrosion or damage to sensitive electronic equipment.

Semiconductor manufacturers also rely on effective humidity control systems for this reason. Climate control systems for these facilities must achieve critical tolerances for humidity and temperature in both near-saturation environments and dry or trace-moisture facilities. Additionally, it is especially essential that if an application is using outside air, limited humidity fluctuation rates are considered for the process.

Control Moisture Buildup with Air Innovations

Humidity control in industrial environments improves product quality, industrial compliance, and employee, customer, and patron safety. Air Innovations designs a full suite of humidification control systems for settings that range from industrial clean rooms, HVAC systems, and factory floors.

If you would like to learn more about how we can help control the moisture content of your facility or business, be sure to contact us today.

If you would like to see case studies, view our general case studies page. We also have whitepapers available covering multiple industries including the the aerospace industry, the semiconductor industry, the pharmaceutical industry, and our Micro Environments product line.