Abstract
Water elements with flowing water on the surface are common in buildings as a form of indoor decoration, and they are most often perceived as passive humidifiers. However, by controlling water temperature, they can be also used for air dehumidification. The dehumidification capacity of indoor water elements was investigated experimentally under laboratory conditions. For the experimental verification of dehumidification capacity, a water wall prototype with an effective area of falling water film of 1 m2 and a measuring system were designed and developed. A total of 15 measurements were carried out with air temperatures ranging from 22.1 °C to 32.5 °C and relative humidity from 58.9% to 85.6%. The observed dehumidification capacity varied in the range of 21.99–315.36 g/h for the tested measurements. The results show that the condensation rate is a dynamic process, and the dehumidification capacity of a water wall strongly depends on indoor air parameters (air humidity and temperature). To determine the dehumidification capacity of a water wall for any boundary conditions, the equations were determined based on measured data, and two methods were used: the linear dependence between humidity ratio and condensation rate, and nonlinear surface fitting based on the dependence between the condensation rate, air temperature, and relative humidity.
Highlights
In the field of the research and development of water walls for building applications, water walls where water flows between two solid materials are mainly presented
Air temperature varied from 22.1 °C to 32.5 °C, and relative humidity changed from 58.9% to 85.6%
This paper shows the possibility of the use of water walls as dehumidifiers, this element is built in interior spaces mainly for its aesthetic function
Summary
In the field of the research and development of water walls for building applications, water walls where water flows between two solid materials are mainly presented. It has been proven that a water wall system used as a green building façade can enhance the energy performance [2,3,4,5] and fire protection of buildings [5] Another group of water walls (Figure 1) represents decorative water features often located in the interior of public spaces such as shopping centers, hospitals, libraries, the entrance areas of office buildings, and hotels, and airports. In this case, water falls on solid material and is in direct contact with indoor air, so there is an assumption that in addition to thermal comfort, other parameters of the indoor environment can be affected. Water elements similar to green walls are perceived as a significant aesthetic element of the indoor environment and represent one of the patterns of biophilic design [6,7,8]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
