Sustainable energy techniques adapted in buildings to regulate moisture transport and enhance thermal comfort: A review

Heating ventilation air conditioning (HVAC) design mainly deals with moisture and its control. The moisture may be present inside ducts, conditioned spaces, or outdoors. The process of humidification and dehumidification requires equipment for mass and heat transfer, where the transfer of energy and mass takes place at varying concentrations and temperatures. The exchange of mass or heat depends on the type of flow and is conceivably in the form of gas to liquid or liquid-vapor. This paper aims to review the effect of moisture in the buildings and modulate its effect with several humidifying and dehumidifying techniques as sustainable techniques depending upon the external weather conditions to maintain thermal comfort. Various humidification and dehumidification techniques have been discussed with both their merits, limitations, applications and future scope to meet sustainable energy demands.