Solution · Energy Supply

Protecting switchgear rooms,
preventing failures

Moisture is the invisible enemy of every electrical installation. In transformer stations, switchgear rooms, and substations, condensation and high humidity lead to corrosion, leakage currents, and failures – often in places that are not regularly inspected. DÖLCO keeps the room climate permanently in the safe range with stationary systems, ITR dew point control, and KISS remote monitoring.

Consultation →Expert consultation: +49 7664 50559-0

The problem

What moisture does to switchgear

Switchgear and cable rooms are often unheated, sometimes in contact with the ground, and poorly ventilated. Exactly where technology must work reliably for decades, humid air causes creeping damage – usually unnoticed until a malfunction occurs.

Condensation on switchgear
If the surface of busbars, housings, or cable terminations drops below the dew point, water precipitates – especially during temperature and load changes.
Corrosion on steel & contacts
Persistent moisture attacks steel components, screw connections, and contact surfaces. Contact resistance increases, and heat generation rises.
Failure of sensitive technology
Protection relays, measuring, and communication electronics are sensitive to moisture. Climate-related malfunctions cause unplanned downtime in systems that must be available at all times.
Leakage currents & safety
Moisture and dirt films on insulators and terminals reduce insulation resistance – leading to the risk of leakage currents, flashovers, and arcing.

The solution

Dry air, secure system

DÖLCO dehumidifies the room air in a controlled manner and keeps it stable below the critical humidity level – without interfering with the electrical system. The units operate autonomously, require little maintenance, and are designed for continuous operation.

Protecting switchgear rooms,
Regulated dehumidification
Stationary condensation dehumidifiers of the K and T series keep relative humidity constant in the safe range – no condensation, no moisture on cold components.
Protection of switchgear
Dry air stops atmospheric corrosion, keeps contact resistance low, and maintains insulation resistance – significantly extending the service life.
ITR dew point control
Dehumidification is dew-point controlled – only when the humidity requires it. This reduces energy consumption and avoids unnecessary operating times.
KISS remote monitoring
Keep an eye on humidity, temperature, and the status of every station via PC or smartphone – with alarm functions and data logging. Saves trips to remote stations.

Expertise

Condensation, dew point & target humidity

Condensation is physics: If a component surface – steel rail, housing, or wall in contact with the ground – cools below the dew point of the surrounding air, excess water vapor precipitates exactly there as condensate. The decisive factor is not just the air temperature, but the ratio of air humidity to the coldest surface. Protection principle: lower the air humidity so that the dew point is permanently below the temperature of the coldest component surface.

The target value is a relative room humidity of around 50–60%. In this range, atmospheric corrosion is largely stopped, condensation is excluded, and insulation resistance is secured – without drying the air unnecessarily strongly and energy-intensively. A dew-point controlled system like ITR maintains this range automatically.

Switchgear and transformer stations are often unheated and cool down significantly in winter. Simple condensation dehumidifiers then tend to ice up the heat exchanger. DÖLCO's K-series units therefore work with hot gas defrosting – they defrost automatically and remain capable of dehumidifying even at low room temperatures. The correct unit selection depends on room volume, temperature level, and moisture load; DÖLCO designs systems on a project-specific basis.

Condensation, dew point & target humidity

Products

The right DÖLCO systems

Permanently installed console and industrial units with hot gas defrosting, controlled via ITR and monitored via KISS.

K-series (Console/Wall)
Compact units with hot gas defrosting for transformer stations and switchgear rooms – K 3000 (44 l/24 h) to K 25000 (240 l/24 h). Wall-mounted installation saves floor space.
T-series (Large systems)
T 350 to T 2000 (360–2,000 l/24 h, three-phase current) for walk-in substations, switchgear buildings, and extensive cable basements.
ITR dew point control
Demand-based control – dehumidifies only when actual moisture occurs. Ideal for unattended continuous operation.
KISS remote monitoring
Cloud-based monitoring with alarm functions and remote switching – keep a central eye on distributed stations; malfunctions are reported before damage occurs.
View stationary systems →

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Why does condensation form even though it is not raining inside?
The cause is condensation from the room air: If a component surface cools below the dew point, water precipitates – especially during temperature changes in unheated, ground-contact stations, entirely without water entering from the outside.
What humidity level should I aim for?
In practice, a range of about 50–60% relative humidity has proven effective. In this range, condensation and corrosion are reliably avoided without drying the air in an unnecessarily energy-intensive manner.
Does dehumidification work in unheated stations in winter?
Yes. The K-series units feature hot gas defrosting and defrost their heat exchanger automatically – allowing them to remain capable of dehumidifying even at low room temperatures.
Doesn't continuous dehumidification consume too much energy?
Not with dew point control. The ITR control system operates on a demand basis and only switches on dehumidification when the humidity level requires it.
Can we monitor distributed stations centrally?
Yes. Via KISS, you can see the humidity, temperature, and status of all stations via PC or smartphone; in case of critical values, an alarm is triggered – saving inspection trips.

Consultation

Protecting stations reliably?

We will design the appropriate dehumidification for your stations and integrate them into remote monitoring upon request – free of charge and without obligation.

📞 +49 7664 / 50559-0✉ info@doelco.de