The conventional combustion power generation systems convert around 30% of consumed fuel into electricity. In centralized production systems another 7% on average is lost as the electricity is distributed from the power-station to consumers. The distributed cogeneration systems increase energy efficiency to 80% by using the waste heat released by the generation system for space heating. There are no transmission losses as the power is produced locally.

During large part of 2009, cooling rather than heating is required so the advantages of cogeneration are lost and efficiency returns to the 30% level. The company’s systems provide high efficiency all year round by using waste heat for cooling and dehumidification. The emissions and carbon footprint attributed to the building is reduced by a roughly similar amount. Cool water for the cooling process can be taken from any convenient source such as a cooling tower, geothermal well, river, etc.

DuCool can replace existing cogeneration systems with dehumidification and cooling or provide a complete tri-generation system including all components. DuCool systems can use low grade heat that can be found in large quantity in many industrial manufacturing facilities to generate energy efficient cooling and dehumidification.

An additional benefit of DuCool’s systems is the improvement of indoor air quality. The desiccant solution used in the DuCool systems disinfects and cleans the air eliminating around 91% of micro-organisms and 80% of airborne particles larger than 5 microns, including allergens such as pollen and dust.

DuCool’s desiccant dehumidification and cooling systems offer year-round energy savings in any climate.

For example, in the warm climate of Florida, a micro turbine provides electrical power to an ice skating arena while the DuCool desiccant system utilizes waste heat to cool and dehumidify the rink year-round.

In the temperate climate of New York, an internal combustion engine provides power and its waste heat is used by a DuCool system for heating in the winter months and cooling in the summer.

In a Mediterranean climate of Greece, solar heat is used for cooling year round at a 90% reduction in energy costs compared to a conventional chiller.

DuCool’s systems can operate with much lower hot water temperatures 120-185 F (50-85 C) than other cooling and dehumidification systems such as desiccant wheels and absorption chillers. DuCool’s desiccant dehumidification units are cost effective and require lower hot water temperatures than absorption chillers, because the company’s open-cycle systems operate at atmospheric pressure while absorption units are closed-cycle systems operating at near-vacuum sub-atmospheric pressure conditions. The DuCool systems have a process in which during the dehumidification process, air is internally cooled and the air leaves the unit dry and at a comfortable temperature. As a result, much lower temperatures are required for regeneration compared to desiccant wheel dehumidification systems.

DuCool is an Israel-based manufacturer of energy efficient dehumidification, cooling and heating, as well as disinfection systems.