The Importance of Steam Generator Systems in Commercial Humidification Applications
Leave a CommentIn the commercial sector, humidity has a profound effect on daily operations. For example, low relative humidity (RH) may cause illness or discomfort in employees, while fluctuating humidity may affect product or process quality in manufacturing operations. For these reasons, humidifier manufacturers have developed commercial humidification systems to help companies maintain proper humidity levels in their facilities.
Below we provide an overview of commercial steam humidifiers, including some of the advantages of using them and examples of typical applications.
Why Use Steam for Commercial Humidification?
By using steam humidification systems in their commercial facilities, industry professionals experience the following benefits:
Better Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air quality is significantly improved when the RH is between 40–60%. At these levels, both the presence of airborne bacteria and viruses and the development of fungi, mites, and ozone are reduced. As a result, the occurrence of allergies, asthma, and other respiratory symptoms among employees is much lower.
Greater Employee Comfort
Drier air forces the human body to give up moisture. As moisture transfers from areas of higher humidity (the human body) to areas of lower humidity (the surrounding environment), the object losing the moisture (the employee) feels colder. Adding moisture into the workspace, slows the rate of evaporation, making employees feel warmer without increasing the actual temperature.
Higher Manufacturing Process Quality
In manufacturing operations, humidity is critical to the performance of production equipment and systems. As any changes in humidity can significantly affect how certain materials react and interact, it is important to maintain consistent levels to ensure the finished parts demonstrate the same dimensions and quality from batch to batch. A humidification system helps achieve this goal.
Commercial Applications of Humidification Systems
Humidification systems find use in many commercial applications, including the following:
Wood Shaping
In wood shaping operations, steam generators are often used to soften and increase the pliability of materials. The wood can then be bent and shaped into musical instruments and other wood products.
Material Curing
Numerous compounds, including adhesives, coatings, concrete, and fabric, rely on humidity to cure properly. Additionally, some materials continue to absorb and release moisture even after they are cured. For the latter, low RH levels can cause shrinkage that results in gapping, loss of structural integrity, and other damage. The use of a humidification system ensures materials cure properly and retain their shape and strength.
Crop Storage
Once harvested, crops are temporarily stored before they are distributed to retailers and consumers. Storage operations often involve rapidly cooling the harvest to between 2–4° C to ensure it maintains its freshness. However, some products may experience damage during the cooling process. One solution industry professionals employ is introducing moisture during the chill down stage to prevent the crops from losing moisture while they are stored.
Hospital Maintenance
In hospitals, different rooms have different humidity requirements depending on their purpose. Steam humidification systems allow hospital personnel to ensure each location maintains the proper humidity levels for their given application.
Electro-Steam Steam Generators for Humidification
Steam generators are an ideal solution for a wide range of commercial humidification applications. For all your humidification needs, turn to the experts at Electro-Steam.
At Electro-Steam, we offer an extensive selection of steam generator units suitable for supplying moisture to commercial facilities, including:
For additional information about our steam generators and how they can benefit your commercial application, contact us today.