The Hindu Business Line : Patent Office nod for ‘fit-all’ dehumidifier

Thiruvananthapuram, July 18 On a hot day, it’s often the humidity that causes most discomfort and stops you from getting a good night’s sleep. Moisture in the air can also cause wall paint to blister and peel, metals to rust, wood to warp and draws to stick.

Condensation in electrical items may cause irreparable damage, and can even be dangerous. Less said the better about damage to health from mould, mildew and fungus.

But a contraption called dehumidifier can help make life better in these conditions. It removes moisture from the air, thus lowering humidity. It does this by condensing water onto a cold surface. A fan that blows warm air onto cold metal coils is used to speed up the process.

The resulting cold air is then passed over warm coils to bring it back to room temperature. Air conditioners work in the same way, but they do not reheat the air before returning it to the room.

The Patent Office has found “in order” an application pertaining to ‘an electro-mechanical device for regulating moisture content in a closed chamber’ (dehumidifier) developed by an inventor from Alappuzha district.

The Patent Certificate will be awarded to Mr C. J. Jobichan, the inventor, in due course. The invention relates to a method for regulating moisture for purposes of ensuring storage of electronic devices as well as for drying of industrial and agricultural commodities. Dehumidification is an inevitable requirement in the area of air conditioning and refrigeration systems, preservation of food commodities and for drying of agricultural commodities in agro-climatic conditions favouring high humidity levels.

Electronic hardware such as chips and compact discs, and optical devices such as camera and lenses, also need to be kept insulated from humid conditions if only to ensure maximum performance and longer life.

LONG-FELT NEED

There are many techniques available for reducing moisture content in the air, says Mr Jobichan. But there has been a long-felt need for an efficient technique that regulates moisture content in ‘a chamber of any size’. Continuous passage and exit of moisture-laden air, reusability of moisture adsorbents kept inside the device and an automatic moisture level detecting facility are other desirable features.

Mr Jobichan’s invention takes care of these, and more. His technique finds instant use in many applications if suitably enabled to operate with minimum electricity feed and made flexible with respect to chamber size. He proposes a device that is able to detect and reduce the moisture level of the reusable moisture adsorbents.

It is designed to effectively safeguard equipment prone to moisture absorption, fungi attacks or corrosion.