Green Shelters and Dehumidification for Corrosion Mitigation and Improved Equipment Maintenance Flexibility

Operating in austere environments demands innovative corrosion mitigation practices that employ proven effective methods, such as controlled humidity storage, with autonomous power production to enable equipment storage where previously not possible.  One such concept is a modular/mobile dehumidified storage shelter enclosure using commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) equipment to integrate renewable and conventional energy sources for power to reduce operational costs.  OSD sponsored a proof of concept project through the Air Force Corrosion Prevention and Control Office to develop, field-test, and characterize the performance of a prototype modular/mobile, dehumidified equipment shelter module powered by a combined solar panel/storage-battery system with conventional Diesel generator backup.  

This paper discusses this project’s progress, system design, operations, and performance data for transitioning effective “Green” technologies into high energy consumption processes, such as dehumidification.  The dehumidified equipment storage module system concept aligns with the national goal of obtaining 25% of electricity from renewable sources by 2025 (National Defense Authorization Act 2007), reducing installation energy usage by 30% by 2015 (Executive Order 13423), and reducing hot water generation power demand in new/renovated buildings at 55% by 2010 and 100% by 2030 (2007 Energy Act). 

Keywords:  Green, Shelter, Storage, Equipment, Dehumidification, Corrosion Prevention, Corrosion Control, Renewable Energy