Humidifier Fitted With Anti-Legionella Features

The Jetspray humidifier from JS Humidifiers has been redesigned to incorporate anti-Legionella features.

The Jetspray humidifier from JS Humidifiers, which was developed to combat water contamination in print and paper humidification systems 25 years ago, has been redesigned to incorporate anti-Legionella features.

Unlike previous spinning disc humidifiers, which had open water tanks, the Jetspray was designed to be a completely sealed system, said the company, preventing possible contamination of the water prior to it being sprayed in to the air.

However, the Jetspray has now been developed further to incorporate auto-purge cycles and an ultraviolet sterilisation system.

The purge cycle will drain the system regularly to ensure the water cannot become stagnant and, therefore, develop any bacteria like Legionella, added the company.

The UV steriliser acts as an additional safety device to kill any bacteria that may develop prior to the water being released in to the atmosphere.

According to the company, even though Legionnaires Disease has never been linked to a Jetspray system, the system's features have been developed to maintain the Jetspray's suitability for the printing and paper industries.

Fitted as standard to every new system, the features can also be retrofitted to existing Jetspray systems in operation.

JS Humidifiers said that humidification in the printing and paper industries is essential in maintaining a paper's characteristics for optimum processing.

In dry conditions, moisture is drawn from the exposed surfaces of paper and it shrinks, which causes tight edges and the paper begins to curl.

As a result, the paper can misfeed on machinery causing creasing.

Changes in the physical dimensions of the paper will also result in mis-registration of colours in multi-pass print jobs.

Static electricity will also build-up if the atmosphere is below 45 per cent relative humidity, making the paper difficult to work with.

The Jetspray humidifier is claimed to eliminate those problems.

The system is said to comprises lines of precision-engineered nozzles that combine compressed air and water to release fine sprays of moisture in to the air.

The Jetspray can be used to humidify any sized area by increasing the number of nozzles used.

Installations range from single nozzle systems protecting individual pieces of machinery to miles of nozzles releasing up to 3,000 litres of water per hour in to the atmosphere.

The nozzles incorporate self-cleaning needles and the drip-free design makes them suitable for printing and paper as they can be fitted in to a ceiling space without the need for regular maintenance.

A maintenance check once a year is all that is required, said the company.

The ideal humidity for paper storage, printing and finishing is between 50-60 per cent relative humidity.

Low humidity environments are typically created in cold climates, as heat generated by machinery and heaters dries the air.

If the outside temperatures are around 50 degrees C the indoor humidity can be as low as 15 per cent - 20 per cent relative humidity.

JS Humidifiers' Jetspray systems are in use with companies including Stora Enso, Duni, Holmen Paper, Smurfit Print Group, News International, Harmsworth Quays Printing, Buckeye and M-real.

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