Comparing energy costs, performance, and indoor air quality.
Plan your next project with help from our applications engineers
Source Capture provided by PoolPak results in up to
savings per year
which could represent as high as
cost savings over a 15 year lifespan
this is more than
the cost of new equipment
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.
Operating costs for natural ventilation dehumidifiers are heavily affected by climate. Operating cost savings of source capture are driven by extremely high energy costs associated with dilution which requires bringing in far more outside air (OA) than the code requires, while still requiring the aid of a compressor in most climates. Calculations are based on ASHRAE climate data
0.4% DB/MCWB
| 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% |
The following myths used to sell 100% outside air (OA) can cost you money, yield dissapointing IAQ, and overall comfort.
Using more Outside Air removes the need for source capture.
The weather conditions in most parts of the country are not suitable for a 100% outside air approach. Over 90% of all OA systems have compressors added to ensure conditions are not too warm or humid year-round.
Dilution is an effective means to ensure better IAQ.
A facility can be operating in 100% OA mode and still have IAQ issues, especially if
air distribution is not well designed. Chloramines are heavier than air and tend to sit on the water surface. The dilution approach requires the chloramine layer to be disturbed, absorbed into the rest of the room, and exhausted. This is why directly exhausting the chloramine layer with source capture is more effective.
Using more Outside Air removes the need for compressor-based dehumidification.
Using more outside air than code requires dramatically increases your operating costs as it requires moving and conditioning large volumes of OA. Optimized compressor operation nets you a 1/3 reduction in your energy costs and provides yearound comfort.
Adding more Outside Air than the code requires leads to better space conditions.
Adding more OA results in unnecessary space condition fluctuations. You can expect conditions that are too dry in the winter and too warm and humid in the summer.
Source Capturing chemicals eliminates the ability for heat recovery on the exhaust air.
After source capture, the exhaust air stream is full of energy and should be considered for heat recovery.
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.
