Dilution vs. Source Capture

Comparing energy costs, performance, and indoor air quality.

Energy Costs

Source Capture results in up to

$ 0

savings per year

Which could represent as high as

$ 0

cost savings over a 15 year lifespan.

This is more than

x 0

the cost of new equipment

Indoor Air Quality

Source capture is

as effective as dilution in removing chloramines

Source capture has been measured to reduce
chloramines to below World Health
Organization defined maximum “safe range”

The difference between Dilution and Source Capture

1. Indoor Air Quality Comparison

No Air Movement

Chloramines are 4 times denser than air, leading them to settle on the pool surface or “breathing zone”, like a layer of scum, in the absence of any air disturbance.

Dilution/100% Outside Air

The Dilution approach to indoor air quality requires bringing in large volumes of outside air, targeting the pool surface. This causes the chloramine layer to be disturbed and absorbed into the rest of the room, leading to poor indoor air quality (IAQ). The chloramines are then partially exhausted.

Source Capture

Source Capture introduces a gentle air current at the pool surface level, which exhausts the chloramine-laden air “at the source”, without distributing the chloramines throughout the pool room. Dehumidifiers manufactured by PoolPak can be specified with the Source Capture ready option.

2. Effect of Source Capture on Nitrogen Trichloride (NCL3) at a YMCA by Purdue University

Using Source Capture rapidly brings trichloramine levels well below the safe range as determined by the World Health Organization (WHO)

*Paddock Pool Equipment Company, Inc. Study of Source Capture of Airborne Chloramines. Paddock Pool Equipment Company, Inc., 2010. PDF.

3. Cost Savings Analysis

There is a significant operating cost penalty in using the Dilution approach due to the large amounts of outdoor air beyond what codes require being introduced. Source capture allows you to operate at code minimums while delivering lower chemical levels. When the equipment operates at minimums and optimizes the use of outdoor air and compressor operation, there are significant energy savings. Calculations are based on ASHRAE climate data.

0.4% DB/MCWB

Edit
	Dilution (constant outside air)	Dilution (constant outside air and compressor)	Source capture (compressor and optimized ventilation )	Compressor HP	Annual savings	% reduction using source capture
Denver	$ 66,952	$ 70,034	$ 43,481	20	$ 26,553	40%
Minneapolis	$ 66,213	$ 68,830	$ 47,801	46	$ 21,029	32%
Washington DC	$ 62,558	$ 65,640	$ 45,836	46	$ 19,804	32%
Chicago	$ 64,493	$ 66,945	$ 46,611	46	$ 20,334	32%
Atlanta	$ 59,464	$ 66,845	$ 45,353	38	$ 21,492	36%
Dallas	$ 57,979	$ 65,360	$ 45,308	38	$ 20,052	35%
Boston	$ 60,363	$ 61,476	$ 42,236	30	$ 19,240	32%
Los Angeles	$ 58,405	$ 58,617	$ 37,904	20	$ 20,713	35%
Average	$ 62,053.38	$ 65,468.38	$ 44,316.25	Average reduction using source capture	$ 21,152.13	34%

Common Myths of the Dilution Approach

The following myths used to sell 100% outside air (OA) can cost you money, while yielding disappointing IAQ and overall comfort.

Myth 01

Using Outside Air alone provides energy savings over using compressors for humidity control.

Fact 01

Calculations we’ve seen which show Outside Air to be more energy efficient incorrectly assume that compressors are operating at 100% 24/7, 365 days a year. Operating costs are 34% lower on average with Source Capture compared to Dilution (Refer to the table above).

Fact 02

Geography strongly affects how feasible and energy efficient Outside Air is, but there are savings to the compressor and optimized ventilation approach even in mild climates like Los Angeles (Refer to the table above).

Fact 03

A vast majority (>90%) of successful installations use a combination of both to ensure year-round comfort and energy savings.

Myth 02

Dilution by bringing in more Outside Air than the code requires results in good Indoor Air Quality.

Fact 01

Dilution’s impact on Indoor Air Quality depends on air distribution. Even when 100% Outdoor Air is supplied, if it is not properly distributed from the supply duct to the breathing zone, certain areas will continue to experience Air Quality issues.

Fact 02

Source Capture chemical removal is not dependent on the supply air distribution to be effective and has proven to bring chloramine levels below the World Health Organization “safe range” (Refer to the chart above).

The Benefits of the Source Capture Approach

The dilution air approach was mostly abandoned in the 80s when people discovered the compressorized approach to controlling their space delivered more reliable results and saved energy. Source capture delivers superior indoor air quality without the need for bringing in more outside air than the code requires.

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