Keeping rolled paper conditioned through winter
Rolled paper gains and loses moisture with the surrounding air. Dry winter conditions can contribute to curl, static and changes in dimensions, affecting feeding and registration in downstream converting and printing.
This supplier needed humidity control across two manufacturing and warehouse buildings. One had 109,200 square feet of floor area and a 27-foot ceiling; the other had 122,900 square feet and a 26-foot ceiling. Together, they contained 6,143,800 cubic feet of air. The design allowed for 1.5 air changes per hour in the first building and 1.0 in the second.
An identical equipment package in each building
Each building received two high-pressure pump stations and 22 high-velocity 24-inch fans. Eight nozzles on each stainless mist ring introduced atomized water into the fan's airstream at 1,000 psi. This fan-assisted system was a forerunner of today's FanMist design.
Two independently controlled zones in each building allowed humidity demand to be managed by area. The specified nozzle output was 1,584 lb/hr per building, or 3,168 lb/hr across the project.
Working above the paper rolls
Steel brackets positioned the fans high on perimeter walls and interior columns. The fans directed mist horizontally into open ceiling space above roll storage and production aisles, providing room for evaporation before the air reached stored material.
Treating the water for a paper environment
The project specified demineralizing treatment with deionization tanks and a blending valve, with reverse osmosis offered as an alternative. Reducing the dissolved mineral content addressed both equipment scaling and the mineral residue that can remain when atomized water evaporates.
Pump stations and treatment equipment were placed near floor drains. The humidistat was located centrally in each area being humidified.
Installation, startup and operator training
Both buildings were coordinated as one installation, with approximately ten working days allocated to routing high-pressure lines to all 44 fans. Factory technician startup supervision and operator training followed the installation.
Equipment overview
| Equipment | Quantity / configuration |
|---|---|
| High-pressure VFD pump stations, 4.0 gpm each | 4 |
| 24-inch fans with eight-nozzle mist rings | 44 |
| Two-zone control packages | 2 |
| 3/8-inch high-pressure tubing | 1,400 ft |
| Water-treatment and spare-parts packages | One per building |
Equipment and ratings describe this project’s original configuration. Contact IHC to confirm current replacement parts and compatibility.
From the installation
Project record
System proposal finalized in August 2009 for installation ahead of the 2009–2010 heating season.
Based on the IHC project profile supplied in October 2026. Customer identity and exact location are withheld. RH values are design targets, rather than a continuous operating-performance record.
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