Never Wears Out
Energy conservation, improved indoor air quality and mold prevention - it takes an awesome product to accomplish all this.
Awesome AirŽ was developed to work in conjunction with existing air conditioning systems, in the commercial/industrial marketplace. When properly maintained, Awesome AirŽ Filters never wear out and never need to be replaced.
How does it work? When excess moisture is removed from the air, less energy is needed to lower temperatures for cooling. The Awesome AirŽ Filter also does away with the need to super cool the air, which is how many air conditioning systems work. The Awesome AirŽ Filter serves as an excellent backup to conventional air conditioning systems, reducing the energy needed to achieve the desired cooling level.
The Florida Solar Energy Center, located in Cocoa, Florida, has written that "Research has found that desiccants can reduce energy costs by as much as 50 percent and can allow many facilities to use much less equipment than otherwise needed." A national drug store chain reduced their compressor runtime by 28% and is adding millions to the bottom line by using Awesome Air filters.
As for indoor air quality, air flowing through and across the Awesome AirŽ Filter removes airborne particulates and reduces some airborne diseases. Microbial air pollutants can become a problem when excess moisture accumulates in ventilating systems or occupied spaces, resulting in an environment conducive to bacterial growth.
This indoor air pollution has been called "Sick Building Syndrome." The syndrome causes headaches, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, respiratory irritation and burning eyes. It has been reported that 3.5 million workdays are lost due to allergies annually.
Energy Conservation
Awesome AirŽ is a desiccant filter system that works in conjunction with existing air conditioners. It saves electricity in two ways.
First, air conditioning systems (especially the high efficiency ones) cycle on and off so quickly that little moisture is removed from the air. By adding a desiccant filter system, dry air is being fed into the system. The system won't cycle on and off as often, making your air conditioner an energy savings device.
Second, when excess moisture is removed from the air, the air feels cooler. As a result, the thermostat can be moved up. In the average business, the thermostat can be moved up 3 degrees. TXU, a Texas power company says that for every degree you raise the thermostat, you save 7% on energy costs. This means the average business can save 21% by just moving up the thermostat.
Better Indoor Air Quality
The EPA and others agree that excess moisture is the cause of microbial growth, pollution, mold and even "Sick Building Syndrome." The key to controlling these problems is to control moisture. The advantage in using desiccants to collect the moisture is that they also collect indoor pollutants from the air at the same time. By removing excess moisture, the temperature, the comfort level, even the safety level of the environment is improved.
Mold Prevention
Molds produce allergens, irritants and in some cases, toxins. Molds are everywhere and can grow on nearly any organic substance as long as moisture is present. When mold spores land on a damp surface, they can begin growing and digesting the surface in order to survive. Excess moisture problems may be coming from the air conditioner that isn't taking enough moisture out of the air. During periods of high humidity, some people even turn their air conditioners off. When the system is turned off, a buildup of moisture quickly begins. Always adjust thermostats upwards when a building is not occupied, instead of turning the system off. Then, always use Awesome AirŽ to remove the excess moisture and the cause of mold.
Awesome AirŽ in Your Business Will Help Stop:
Condensation
Excess condensation occurs when humidity levels become excessive. Condensation can cause slippery, hazardous working conditions and detract from your product's appearance. Awesome AirŽ will reduce the levels of excess humidity and eliminate condensation.
Corrosion
When humidity levels exceed 50%, the conditions are present to induce rust and corrosion on metal surfaces. Awesome Air works to reduce your humidity level which will avoid the unsightly corrosion of your expensive furnishings and prolong the life of your equipment.
Mold & Mildew
Relative Humidity is often in and above the 70% range. Humidity levels this high provide the ideal environment for the formation of mold spores and mildews. By naturally reducing the moisture content in your building's air, Awesome Air will provide your business with a climate free of moisture-borne allergens, mold and mildews. The results are safer, healthier air, energy savings, less maintenance and improved comfort.
How Awesome AirŽ Helps Air Conditioners
Latent vs. Sensible Loads
When you read about our Awesome AirŽ product for your air conditioner, you'll see references to latent and sensible loads. The following may help to explain the process. (Courtesy of the University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service)A building's air conditioning system is responsible for removing moisture from the air in order to provide for both human comfort and mold-and-mildew control. Inside the air conditioner, warm moist air is blown through a cooling coil. In the coil, the air is cooled below its dew point temperature.
The dew point temperature is defined as the temperature of the air when the relative humidity is 100 percent. Relative humidity is defined as the amount of moisture in the air relative to the most moisture the air can hold at the same temperature. As air is cooled it loses its ability to hold moisture. So, relative humidity is increased by cooling the air, as well as by adding moisture to it. For example, as the air cools on a muggy night the relative humidity increases. When the relative humidity reaches 100%, the air has been cooled to its dew point and dew forms on surfaces.
Similarly for the air conditioner, once the air is cooled below the dew point, the air releases moisture which collects in a drain pan, and drains out of the system. The cooled and dried air is delivered to the building. The air now has a lower dew point called the exit dew point.
Many air conditioning systems do not remove adequate amounts of moisture for Florida's climate (or other areas as well). Most AC systems are designed to handle peak load conditions -- The hottest afternoon of the summer. Accordingly, they work best during the hottest times of the year but not so well at other times.
AC systems are designed to remove a certain amount of moisture at peak conditions. This is called the latent heat ratio of the system. Sensible heat is heat in terms of degrees one reads on a common thermometer. Latent heat, the other kind of heat, is heat in terms of moisture removed. Sensible plus latent is the total heat removed. The latent heat ratio of an AC system is the portion of latent heat it can remove out of the total heat it can remove. It is typically around 30 percent at peak conditions (95 degrees F outdoors) and a few percent higher at night conditions (75 degrees F outdoors).
The building load also has a latent heat ratio: it is the portion of latent heat that needs to be removed from the building out of the total heat that needs to be removed. At peak conditions there is much more sensible heat than latent heat. At night and on cooler days, the amount of sensible heat shrinks but the amount of latent heat does not. And, on wet days, the amount of latent heat grows. The latent heat ratio may rise to 50 percent or more. During humid and/or cool weather, the AC system indeed cools the building, but it can't dehumidify adequately.
To make things even worse, some new air conditioning units have sacrificed latent (moisture removal) capacity in order to increase their nameplate SEER ratings. (SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio and is a measure of energy efficiency.) One way manufacturers increase SEER is to raise the cooling coil temperature. Unfortunately, this means that the air blown through the coil does not reach a low dew point temperature. Some of these high efficiency units have a latent heat ratio of 15 percent or less at design conditions.
Awesome AirŽ is designed to remove the latent heat, improving the performance of all air conditioners.
Desiccants Can Elevate Air Quality, Reduce Cooling Costs
by Ken Sheinkopf
Question: I read an article recently that said desiccants may be the key to improving indoor air quality. What are desiccants?
Answer: A desiccant is a material that absorbs water and therefore dehumidifies.
One popular use of desiccants is to package a small amount with new electronic equipment to keep moisture from damaging the components. Those little packets you find in a box along with your new radio or computer are desiccants. Energy researchers have been studying the use of desiccants for the past few years to see how they can be used in both active and passive solar cooling and heating systems.
Silica gel and some other types of dehumidification agents work well as desiccants to take moisture out of the air. Air passes through the material, and the humidity is removed. When the desiccant dries, it is regenerated and ready for further use.
When humidity is removed from the air, less energy needs to be used to lower temperatures for cooling. Desiccants also do away with the need to super cool the air, which is how many air conditioning systems work. In other words, the desiccant serves as an excellent backup to conventional air conditioning systems, reducing the energy needed to achieve the desired cooling level.
Research has found that desiccants can reduce energy costs by as much as 50 percent and can allow many facilities to use much less equipment than otherwise would be needed.
As for indoor air quality, tests have shown the potential benefit of desiccant material. Air flowing through a desiccant loses airborne particulates and has been found to reduce some airborne diseases. Because desiccants reduce moisture, they also are reducing molds, mildews and other allergens that get into indoor air.
Desiccants can play an important role in cleaning the air and keeping the indoor environment comfortable and safe.
Copyright Š Orlando Sentinel
Awesome AirŽ Filter Information
The Awesome AirŽ Filter contains a proprietary zeolite mineral blend enclosed in a breathable pouch. The pouch is encased in an aluminum bracket. As air moves though the filter, excess moisture, pollutants and allergens are adsorbed by the zeolite minerals giving you energy conservation, better indoor air quality and mold prevention.
Commercial Air Conditioners (A/C)
The Awesome AirŽ Filter is installed behind the air intake filter. 10 and 20-lb. filters are available. A 10-lb. filter can handle up to 2.5 tons of A/C. A 20-lb. filter can handle up to 5 tons of A/C. The dimensions of the 10-lb. filter are: L15" X H12" X W3". The dimensions of the 20-lb. filter are: L30" X H12" X W3". To determine the number of filters required, first check the tonnage of the A/C and then check the dimensions of the air intake vent. If the air intake vent can't support the 20-lb. filter, use the 10-lb. filter. Divide the tonnage of the A/C by 2.5 if using the 10-lb. filter and by 5 if using the 20-lb. filter and round up to the next whole number to determine the number of filters required.
10-lb. Awesome Air Filter
20-lb. Awesome Air FilterPTAC (Portable Thermal Air Conditioner)
PTAC units are commonly found in hotel and motel rooms. They provide a guest with heating and A/C. The Awesome AirŽ PTAC Filter installs underneath the PTAC unit. The dimensions of the PTAC unit are L23" X H4.5" X W3". One PTAC Filter is required for every PTAC unit.
Awesome Air PTAC FilterAwesome AirŽ Filters are a one-time purchase. If properly maintained, Awesome AirŽ Filters never wear out and never need to be replaced. Zeolites are characterized by the ability to adsorb and lose water and gases without damaging the crystal structure. Zeolite minerals never wear out.
Maintenance
Every 12 months, dry out the Awesome AirŽ Filters in the sun for 8 hours or bake the filters in an oven at 120 degrees for 2 hours. The heat dries out the filter and releases the pollutants and allergens that have been adsorbed.
Pricing: Contact your Local Distributor or email: info@bkfilters.com
Contact us at info@bkfilters.com or 800.383.6956 or 817.483.8497
