Supermarkets face some unique and diverse challenges, including the need for effective supermarket humidity control, while meeting different demands of different departments under one ceiling. These issues are high humidity, temperature control, people movement, and inadequate fresh air.
If the humidity level in a supermarket is too high, it can lead to issues like condensation on cold surfaces and frost formation on evaporator coils, refrigerated cases, and frozen food packets. These problems can deter shoppers from making purchases.
Additionally, condensation on freezer glass cabinets obstructs the view and make it hard for clients to select the frozen food.
High humidity levels results in mould and mildew issues along with damp uncomfortable environment for customers and employees.
Causes of Uncontrolled Humidity
Supermarkets experience high humidity levels due to several factors:
- Significant human traffic necessitates fresh air to counteract elevated CO2 levels, which contribute to increased moisture
- The presence of a large quantity of organic matter, such as fruits and vegetables, releases moisture into the atmosphere
- Frequent opening and closing of refrigerator and freezer doors, allowing warm, humid air to enter, increasing overall humidity levels
- Insufficient or poorly maintained heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems
- Liquid spills and leaks from refrigeration units or other sources
- Seasonal or regional weather patterns can bring in high levels of humidity
General Recommendation
Ideally, stores should be maintained at dew point of around 12°C and relative humidity of 45-50%. Desiccant dehumidification helps supermarkets to eliminate frost build-up on frozen foods, freezer cabinets and cabinet doors. This process significantly cuts down electricity consumption used by conventional refrigeration to offset the latent load while providing a more comfortable shopping environment.
Bry-Air Solution
Bry-Air provides the BRYCOOL range of desiccant + refrigeration-based dehumidifiers for all such requirements at supermarkets. With desiccant-based dehumidifier, the incoming fresh air should be dehumidified at the level where it can maintain the Dew Point of air at 12°C after mixing with the return air from the inside area.
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