The Humidity Control Solution

Precise Control with Modulating Hot Gas Reheat

 Humidity Problems?
T he study of indoor air quality has pointed to moisture as one of
the main causes of poor indoor air quality. High humidity can
cause many problems including mold growth, condensation, wood
A simple way to address this situation is adding an on/off 3-way
solenoid valve to bypass hot refrigerant gas from the compressor
discharge to a reheat coil placed after the cooling coil in the supply
rot, paper deterioration, increase in sickness and allergic reactions, air stream. The valve is controlled by a dehumidistat in the space
and a variety of other indoor air quality and physically damaging that allows the unit to continue the moisture removal process after
issues. the dry bulb setpoint has been satisfied. This solves most moisture
related problems in a return air only system, but in systems
In many geographic locations and building applications, the conditioning ventilation air, the following problems continue:
standard moisture removal ability of the cooling system
cannot match the humidity control demand since the system has Poor control of the amount of reheating, which
been designed to satisfy a dry bulb space temperature setpoint. wastes energy.
When this setpoint has been satisfied, the supply fan continues Uncomfortable supply air temperature swings
to provide fresh air while the cooling system is shut off until the during operation.
temperature rises to some level above the setpoint. During that off Unacceptable supply air temperature and poor
time all moisture removal capability is lost. Moisture on the cooling temperature control in makeup air applications,
coil also evaporates back into the supply air stream, increasing the especially with 100% outside air.
relative humidity.

Window Condensation with High Indoor Humidity Mold and Microbial Growth with High Humidity
 The Solution: Modulating Hot Gas Reheat
AAON has addressed all of these humidity control problems with a unique design incorporating a reheat coil, a
modulating 3-way hot gas reheat valve, supply air temperature sensor, and a simple controller. The advantages
of the design are many:

Occupant comfort is uniform and consistent because there are The factory provided supply air temperature sensor field
no drastic swings in the supply air temperature that are inherent mounted in the supply air ductwork provides input to the
with on/off solenoid valve control systems. controller for reheat supply air temperature control.

If the dry bulb thermostat is satisfied and the dehumidistat is The valve position is controlled to provide a specific supply air
still calling for moisture removal, the system will continue to temperature or a reset supply air temperature. The
cool and the reheat control valve will modulate the amount of reset temperature setpoint used is determined by a
hot refrigerant gas passing through the reheat coil to maintain a field provided 0-10 VDC reset signal or from the unit
supply air temperature. controller. Typically reset is based on space temperature.

Since the amount of hot refrigerant gas passing through

the reheat coil is modulated, the system delivers only the
amount of reheating that is required for space comfort. This
3-Way Modulating Hot Gas
minimizes energy use while still offering precise temperature Reheat Control Valve
and humidity control.

Horizontal Configuration RN Series Packaged

Rooftop Unit with Modulating Hot Gas Reheat

CF Series and V3 Series Split System

with Modulating Hot Gas Reheat
V3 Series Air Handling Unit

CF Series Condensing Unit

 Minimum Work, Maximum Performance
Packaged unit includes factory installed refrigerant piping, 3-way modulating hot gas reheat valve, reheat
Packaged Unit coil, liquid line receiver, and the modulating hot gas reheat controller. Supply air temperature sensor is
factory provided for field installation in the supply air ductwork.

Air handling unit includes factory installed reheat coil and check valves on the liquid and hot gas reheat lines.
Supply air temperature sensor is factory provided for field installation in the supply air ductwork.

Condensing unit includes factory installed 3-way modulating hot gas reheat valve, liquid line receiver, and the
Split System modulating hot gas reheat controller.

Field connection of suction line, liquid line, and a single hot gas reheat line between the condensing unit
and the air handling unit is required. Field supplied and installed suction line accumulator/subcooler is
recommended, especially for VAV and makeup air systems.

Modulating hot gas reheat controller is factory configured and ready to accept inputs from the
Controls field mounted, factory provided supply air temperature sensor in the ductwork, and field mounted
dehumidistat. Controller has a built-in logic to ensure positive oil return to the compressors. Controller also has
an LCD display for status display, setpoint changes, and forced control of the valve for startup and maintenance.

Dehumidistat
(Factory or Field Supplied )
Supply Air Temp Sensor
(Factory Provided)

Space

Expansion Valve

Supply Fan
Evaporator Coil
Reheat Coil

Modulating
Hot Gas
Reheat Valve
Field Wiring
Reheat Controller Check Valve

Optional Reset Signal

(Field Provided) Compressor
Condenser

Receiver Tank

Packaged Unit Space Controlled Modulating Hot Gas Reheat Schematic

 Dehumidistat
(Factory or Field Supplied)

Space

Reheat Coil

Evaporative Coil
Supply Air Temp Sensor
(Factory Provided)
Check Valve

TXV
Suction
Hot Gas Flow Check Valve Line
Line Flow
Air Handling Unit Flow
Liquid
Line
Oil Return Line

Flow
Field installed SL
Piping and Suction Line
Wiring Accumulator/Subcooler
LL (Field Supplied) LL
Hot Gas SL
Line

Suction
Field Wiring Flow Line

Liquid Modulating
Line Flow Hot Gas
Reheat Valve
Flow
Optional Reset Signal Receiver Tank Reheat Controller
(Field Provided)
Flow
Compressor

Condenser
Condensing Unit

Split System Space Controlled Modulating Hot Gas Reheat Schematic

 Modulating Hot Gas Reheat System Control
Modulating hot gas reheat can either be controlled using a standalone controller with thermostat and dehumidistat, or with a factory
provided AAON unit controller.

Standalone Control Factory Provided Unit Controller

A 24VAC dehumidification input from the dehumidistat or Dehumidification can either be set as a priority, meaning that
customer provided controller initiates the dehumidification modulating hot gas reheat will be active anytime the humidity is above
sequence when using standalone control. the dehumidification enable setpoint, or non-priority, meaning it will
only be active when the cooling and heating demands are satisfied.
When the dry bulb temperature is satisfied but humidity setpoint is
not satisfied, the compressors will continue to operate. The supply air
Standalone Modulating Hot Gas Reheat temperature will be controlled to the user selected setpoint.
Controller for Dehumidistat Control

The AAON Touchscreen Controller has built-in space temperature and

humidity sensors. The user can select the desired control temperature
and humidity sensors (space, return, outside) for occupied mode and for
unoccupied mode. The temperature control sensor will dictate when the
Factory Provided AAON
Touchscreen Controller unit goes into cooling or heating, while the humidity control sensor will
dictate when the unit goes into dehumidification mode of operation.

Modulating Hot Gas Reheat Applications

The AAON modulating hot gas reheat system is the perfect dehumidification solution
for many different applications. During dehumidification, the modulating hot gas reheat
system condenses water out of the air stream at the unit’s evaporator coil, and then,
to avoid overcooling the supply air, reheats the air to a desired supply air temperature.
Therefore, this system can be used in Underfloor Air Distribution (UFAD) and Variable
Air Volume (VAV) applications where dehumidification and tight supply air temperature
control are needed.

It can also be used for ventilation air with chilled beam applications to prevent
condensation on the chilled beams, by controlling the space dew point. Another
application for the precise control of modulating hot gas reheat is supermarkets. They
present unique challenges for HVAC systems because the stores include a variety of spaces
that each have different temperature and humidity control requirements.
Supermarket Humidity Control

Supermarkets include a produce area, dairy & frozen foods area, bakery, deli, pharmacy, check-out stands, and office
spaces. Lack of humidity control can cause moisture buildup on the windows and glass refrigeration cases. Precise
space temperature control is also important to keep customers comfortable. Modulating hot gas reheat humidity
control is ideal for this application because the humidity can be controlled without sacrificing temperature control.
 Outside Air? High Humidity? No Problem.
To meet today’s standards for ventilation air, HVAC units must be designed to condition large amounts of outside air. With its
enhanced latent capacity, the modulating hot gas reheat option can condition and dehumidify large amounts (up to 100%) of
outside air and still maintain a neutral supply air temperature. Space temperature reset can be used to prevent unnecessary reheat
when space cooling is required.

High Capacity Evaporator Coil

A high capacity 6-row evaporator coil increases latent heat transfer. The additional rows provide more surface area, allowing the
coil to condense more water out of the air. This provides superior dehumidification capabilities for outside air systems, especially
when paired with modulating hot gas reheat.

Supply Air Temp Sensor

Space
(Factory Provided)

Expansion Valve
Outside Air Dehumidistat
(Field Provided)
Supply Fan

Evaporator Coil
Outside Air
Reheat Coil

70°F DB / 59°F WB 51°F DB Humid Outside Air

Neutral Supply Air Cooling Coil Leaving Air 95°F DB / 75°F WB Modulating Hot
Modulating
Hot Gas
Gas Reheat
Field Wiring
Reheat Valve
Schematic
Reheat Controller Check Valve

Optional Reset Signal

(Field Provided) Compressor
Condenser

Receiver Tank

Outside Air (OA) 80

95.0°F DB 140

75.0°F WB
130
66.8°F Dewpoint
WE
F

TB 120
-°

UL 75
HUMIDITY RATIO - GRAINS OF MOISTURE PER POUND OF DRY AIR
P

BT
M

EM
TE

PE
RA
N

TU 110
IO

RE
AT

- °F
UR

Supply Air (SA) OA

T

100
SA

70.0°F DB 70
T,
IN
PO

58.5°F WB 90
W
DE

Cooling Coil Leaving 50.6°F Dewpoint 65 Outside Air Modulating

80
Air (CCLA)
14.

Hot Gas Reheat System

0V

51.0°F DB
OLU

70
50.8°F WB 60
Psychrometric Chart
ME

%
90
50.6°F Dewpoint
- CU

25% 60
.FT

SA
. PE

CCLA 80
%
55 50
RL

%
70
B. D

50

60%
RY

40
15%
AIR

45
40 50%

40%
IDITY
13.

E HUM
LATIV
0

30% 8% RE 20
6%
20%
4% 10
E HUMIDITY
10% RELATIV
2%

40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105
DRY BULB TEMPERATURE - °F
 Dehumidification Strategies Comparison
On/Off
Modulating Hot Gas On/Off Hot Gas Modulating Auxiliary
Sub-Cooling
Reheat Control Reheat Control Reheat Control
Reheat
Modulating solenoid
On/Off solenoid valve On/Off solenoid valve
valve diverts only the Modulating auxiliary electric
Design Approach diverts warm
required amount of hot diverts hot refrigerant gas or gas reheat
refrigerant liquid
refrigerant gas
Not enough reheat
Supply Air Temperature Precise Swinging to control supply air Precise
Control Precision temperature
High - Typically Against
Energy Used Low Medium Low
Energy Codes
Can be used in 100% No - Return Air
Yes No Yes
Makeup Air Application Application Only

Contact your local AAON representative to find out more

about humidity control solutions from AAON.
www.AAON.com/RepSearch

It is the intent of AAON to provide accurate and current product information. However, in the interest of product improvement, AAON reserves the right to change pricing,
specifications, and/or design of its product without notice, obligation, or liability. Copyright © AAON, all rights reserved throughout the world. AAON® and AAONAIRE® are registered
trademarks of AAON, Inc., Tulsa, OK.

Humidity Control Solutions • R58470 • 170921