HIGH-PERFORMANCE, LOW-TECH
  • Projects
    • Environment Box
    • Passive Refrigeration
    • Water Cooling
    • Fog Catching
    • Roof Geometries
    • Optimal Insulation
    • Cooler Windcatcher
    • Green Machine
    • Mitigating Humidity
    • Convective Air Flow
    • Styrene Reuse
    • Thermal Reflection
    • ETFE Rigidification
    • Phase Change Materials
    • Polar Reflection
    • Cavity Depth Variation
    • Vapor Permeability
    • Algae Facade
    • Moisture Buffering
    • Engineered Geometries
    • Recycled Desiccant Materials
    • Living Wall
    • Solar Shading Facades
    • SHADESin.reACTION
    • Low-Fab Dehumidification
    • Breathing Wall
    • Urban Heat Island
    • Acoustical Design
    • Latent Heat of PCM's
    • Insulative Qualities of Air
  • About
  • Lectures
    • Building Science Basics I
    • Building Science Basics II
    • Research & Literature Review
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    • 1: Research Proposal
    • 2: Prototype
    • 3: Data
    • 4: Design Proposal
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Picture
Proposal
Background
Construction
Methodology
Results

Design Proposal

Background

Picture

Research Question

Which low-cost, low-tech (Low Fab) desiccant material has the potential to achieve greater levels of thermal comfort? 

Hypothesis

Because of its greater adsorption capacity, silica gel will have the greatest impact in the moisture content inside the environment box. 
Picture
Silica Gel
Picture
Bentonite Clay
Picture
Activated Charcoal
Picture
Rock Salt
Picture
Sponge

Construction/Fabrication

Desiccants in either solid or liquid forms have adsorption capacities. As air moves from a fan blower through the dehumidifying system’s zone, comprised of an interchangeable material component, moisture is removed and the processed air is released into the unconditioned chamber. Herein sensors are used to measure the ambient temperature and relative humidity.

​
​
Materials:
  • Inline Duct Fan Blower
  • Rigid Foam Insulation
  • Plywood
  • Acrylic 
  • Dowels and/or Nails
  • Silica Gel Packets
  • Bentonite Clay Packets
  • Activated Charcoal
  • Rock Salt
  • Sponge
  • Arduino, sensors, and breadboard
  • 3D Printed Tech Holster and Membrane Molds

Drawings

Picture

Schematic Diagram

Picture

Adsorption Capacity

Silica Gel
Bentonite Clay
Activated Charcoal
Rock Salt
Sponge
40%
30%
20%
-
-
Sources:
https://www.deltaadsorbents.com/Blog/Post/10/desiccants-how-are-they-used-what-do-they-do
https://www.edcosupply.com/bentonite-clay-versus-silica-gel-in-desiccant-bags/
​https://www.agmcontainer.com/blog/desiccant/selecting-desiccant/
​
  • Projects
    • Environment Box
    • Passive Refrigeration
    • Water Cooling
    • Fog Catching
    • Roof Geometries
    • Optimal Insulation
    • Cooler Windcatcher
    • Green Machine
    • Mitigating Humidity
    • Convective Air Flow
    • Styrene Reuse
    • Thermal Reflection
    • ETFE Rigidification
    • Phase Change Materials
    • Polar Reflection
    • Cavity Depth Variation
    • Vapor Permeability
    • Algae Facade
    • Moisture Buffering
    • Engineered Geometries
    • Recycled Desiccant Materials
    • Living Wall
    • Solar Shading Facades
    • SHADESin.reACTION
    • Low-Fab Dehumidification
    • Breathing Wall
    • Urban Heat Island
    • Acoustical Design
    • Latent Heat of PCM's
    • Insulative Qualities of Air
  • About
  • Lectures
    • Building Science Basics I
    • Building Science Basics II
    • Research & Literature Review
    • Scales of Fabrication
    • Electronics
    • Methodology
    • Graphical Excellence
    • Moving Graphics
  • Assignments
    • 1: Research Proposal
    • 2: Prototype
    • 3: Data
    • 4: Design Proposal
    • Presentation & Paper
  • Workshops
    • Thermal Scavenger Hunt
    • Balance Point Game
    • Advanced Shop Training
    • Basic Electronics
    • Advanced Electronics
    • Excel & Illustrator
    • Data Visualization
    • Videos
    • Animations
  • Syllabus
  • Resources