Industrial dehumidification for optimal humidity control
Moisture control for industrial processes and preservation applications
Precise control of relative and absolute humidity is critical to many industrial processes, manufacturing facilities, and preservation applications. Ambient air often has high humidity levels, which cause a variety of problems when left uncontrolled.
Uncontrolled relative humidity causes risk for mold and bacterial growth, problems with electrical circuits, corroding metal parts and pipes, ice and frost forming in chilled storage facilities, and overall an unhealthy, uncomfortable, working environment for human beings.
Industrial and commercial dehumidification solutions effectively address humidity-related issues by removing excess moisture from the air. Desiccant dehumidifiers are the go-to choice for most applications because they offer precise humidity control at any required dew point, reliable performance in all environments, and better energy efficiency.
Without dehumidification you risk:
- Increased energy consumption
- Process disruption and higher maintenance costs
- Poor product quality and shorter shelf-life
- Deterioration of equipment, documents, artifacts, and collectables
- Higher maintenance costs
- Unsafe or unhealthy working conditions
“Excess humidity can compromise product quality, damage equipment, and drive-up energy costs. Munters' advanced desiccant dehumidification solutions deliver unmatched humidity control by maintaining optimal dew points with precision and consistency—across all environments, all year long.”
John Thompson, R&D Director AirTech Americas
Problems caused by excess humidity
As relative humidity levels increase, so do their negative effects. For many industries, a combination of degradation, contamination, and wasted energy are major issues caused by high humidity.
Customized industrial dehumidification for stable indoor climate
Desiccant dehumidification remove moisture from the air, making it easy to maintain relative humidity indoors, regardless of the conditions outdoors. Instead of reacting to excess humidity issues after the fact, an industrial humidity control system prevents them from happening in the first place.
By proactively controlling moisture, you can protect your process, products, and bottom line. Munters dehumidification systems can be customized to meet the exact dew point requirements that your business or application needs.
Properties of Munters desiccant rotor technology
Munters desiccant dehumidification systems enable ultra-precise humidity control. They can maintain any humidity level required, with dew points down to -21 °C (-70°F) or lower. This level of control is critical for processes involving powders, sensitive electronics, or materials that must stay dry to remain stable.
The heart of a desiccant dehumidifier is the rotor, which is made from a honeycomb matrix impregnated with a desiccant material. The wheel then rotates slowly, with moist air passing through it. The desiccant honeycomb has unique properties that attract moisture to its surface using two important physical forces. The Van der Waals forces initially attracts water vapor molecules to the surface of the desiccant. Once close, hydrogen bonds form between the water molecules and the desiccant, holding them tightly in place. This combination allows the desiccant to effectively capture and retain moisture from the air. The trapped water is then heated and exhausted from the system through a process called regeneration.
To remove moisture, desiccant rotors utilize a process called adsorption, which is not the same thing as absorption. Adsorption works by trapping moisture on the surface of the material, whereas absorption works by pulling moisture into the bulk of the material. Adsorption allows desiccant rotors to be quickly dried out while rotating in the dehumidifier.
The essential difference between other dehumidifiers and Munters desiccant dehumidifiers is the efficiency and precise control they provide. These systems can use different desiccant formulations for specific applications and can be configured based on a customer’s objectives. The unique properties of desiccant dehumidification systems make them the default choice for most industrial, commercial, and preservation applications.
The benefits of desiccant technology
- High moisture removal efficiency
- Energy savings with Munters PowerPurge™
- Consistent performance at any required dew point
- Proprietary desiccant formulas and honeycomb designs
- Durability & low maintenance
How dehumidification affects energy efficiency
Humid air requires more energy to heat and cool due to the thermodynamic properties of water vapor. For heating, more energy is needed because water vapor has a higher specific heat capacity than dry air, increasing the total thermal mass. When cooling, additional energy is needed, not only to lower the air temperature (sensible cooling), but also to condense and remove moisture (latent cooling).
This directly impacts energy consumption for climate control, but it also decreases energy efficiency in a variety of industrial processes that use conditioned air. Applications which require cold ambient temperatures, like cold storage facilities, and applications that need to heat process air, like spray drying, can see significant energy savings with dehumidification.
What makes the Munters desiccant rotor unique?
At the heart of every Munters desiccant dehumidifier is a patented rotor technology that sets it apart from conventional systems. Unlike generic desiccant wheels, the Munters rotor is engineered with proprietary materials and an open honeycomb structure that maximizes surface area and moisture adsorption. The result is higher capacity, faster drying, lower dew points, and consistent performance—even in harsh environments.
Each rotor is manufactured in-house and undergoes rigorous quality control to ensure stable operation over time. The Munters rotor is not just a component—it’s the core innovation that enables our dehumidification systems to deliver unmatched humidity control, efficiency, and reliability across industries.
Dehumidifiers for industrial and commercial humidity control
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Key industries
Food and beverage processing
Desiccant dehumidifiers are utilized extensively by food and beverage processors.
Some common food processing applications include
- Providing dry air directly to food manufacturing processes, such as drying tunnels, product coating, and spray drying
- Helping meat processors speed up drying after washdowns
- Inhibiting mold and bacteria growth
- Reducing ingredient spoilage, clumping, and clogging
- Speeding up process throughput
- Increasing product quality and shelf-life
Pharmaceutical and laboratories
Many drugs, and active pharmaceutical ingredients are highly moisture sensitive. Maintaining strict control of humidity levels during tablet production, capsule filling, and storage of medicines is critical. Dehumidification is also a key part of maintaining GMP and FDA compliance. Cleanrooms and production lines rely on desiccant dehumidifiers to meet pharmaceutical production standards and maintain product quality.
Battery and chemical production
Many chemicals and materials, like lithium, are highly reactive to moisture. Even small amounts of moisture can damage the final product or even cause ignition. Desiccant dehumidifier creates the super-dry environments required to safely handle and manufacture lithium batteries and other chemicals.
They also keep raw materials and products dry during the production process. For example, in chemical production or fertilizer storage, controlling humidity prevents reactions with moisture and stops powders from clumping.
Cold storage, freezers and chilled rooms
In cold storage facilities, warehouses, and freezers, uncontrolled humidity can compromise safety and your bottom line. Mosit air leads to condensation on surfaces, resulting in ice coating shelves, floors, and evaporator coils. Slippery floors and fog can create safety incidents and slow down operations.
Condensation and frost can destroy cases and damage product, while moist air and frozen evaporator coils lead to more defrost cycles and higher energy bills. Desiccant dehumidification can eliminate humidity from your cold storage and all of the problems that go with it – protecting your product and your profitability.
Warehousing, museums and archives
Protects stored goods, documents, and artifacts from mold growth and degradation. Materials like clay, paper and film all have their comfort zones. Valuable archives, artwork, and historic documents require controlled humidity to preserve them for future generations.
Power plants, water treatment and pumping stations
Prevent condensation on pipes, turbines, and electrical panels. By avoiding rust and electrical short-circuits caused by moisture, dehumidification helps these facilities avoid corrosion-related downtime and reduce maintenance costs.
Construction and infrastructure projects
Industrial dehumidification solutions are used to dry out construction sites, cure concrete under controlled conditions, and protect building materials from degradation, corrosion, and moisture damage. This speeds up project timelines, ensures quality, and reduces long-term maintenance.
Electronics and high-tech manufacturing
Many electronic components and materials, especially semiconductors and printed circuit boards are highly moisture sensitive. High relative humidity can cause corrosion, which degrades performance and can result in long term failures. Moisture can also be absorbed by materials and later vaporized during soldering, leading to delamination or cracking. Desiccant dehumidifiers provide a low relative humidity manufacturing environment and help maintain cleanroom standards.
Learn more about how to control humidity and indoor climate
What’s the difference between dehumidification technologies?
A desiccant dehumidification system enables precise humidity control in industrial, commercial, and preservation applications. But how does it compare to other technologies?
Key products for dehumidification
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