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The Pinnacle® system is particularly well suited for school classrooms where designers attempt to reduce project first cost by designing for only 7.5 cfm/student in lieu of the recommended 15 cfm/student.

For example, a typical school classroom today contains approximately 30 children. The sensible load associated with the lights, occupants, etc. is approximately 2 tons. The latent load associated with the occupants and infiltration is approximately 4.3 pounds per hour assuming the space is to be controlled at 75°F and 50% RH, with a humidity content of 65 gr/lb. If the latent load is to be handled with an outdoor air load of 450 cfm (based on 15 cfm/student) then the outdoor air must be delivered at 50 gr/lb.

Now, if only 7.5 cfm/student is applied in lieu of the 15 cfm considered previously, then the required moisture differential doubles from the 15 gr/lb previously calculated to 30 gr/lb. Thus, to handle the latent load with 225 cfm of outdoor (7.5 cfm/student) the outdoor air must now be delivered at 35 gr/lb (= 65 gr/lb - 30 gr/lb). This level of dehumidification is generally NOT obtainable with conventional HVAC equipment.

The ability of the Pinnacle system to provide very dry outdoor air is also particularly advantageous where extreme indoor air humidity loads are encountered. For example, at least twice a day the doors to a school facility may be kept open for extended periods of time. Doors are frequently open in the morning when the students arrive and also when they leave for the day. It is very desirable to have excess/reserved latent capacity in the HVAC system in order to bring the indoor conditions back under control. This reserve capacity is particularly important during the morning because the outdoor air infiltrating the building during the cooling mode is typically cool and humid. As a result, little dehumidification will be accomplished by the conventional HVAC systems controlled by space temperature.