DRY-CON X® FAQs
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Why do you have two completely different looking vents on a shipping container?
One vent is the exhaust (patented), the other the intake. Two completely different tasks. The exhaust is the driving force that generates the airflow. The intake allows the air into the enclosure to replace the air that the exhaust is pulling out. Both of those vents have been designed and manufactured to work together to ensure optimum performance and require no DIY modifications for shipping container installation.
Why not use just any vent like a louvered design for the intake?
Louvered vents allow wind to blow inside in almost all incoming angles. This “blow-in” cannot be controlled, allowing anything airborne to enter like ash, pollen, dust, snow, fumes, etc. Our hooded and screened intake vent is designed to keep weather and critters out while greatly reducing pollution entry. We also found the louvers universal fit to the different container wall profiles creates a large gap and can be difficult to seal properly.
Why do you not recommend an intake be mounted at floor level on a shipping container as do some other vent suppliers?
We feel the air is cleaner higher off the ground. Being an intake, it could draw anything inside such as car or lawn mower fumes. Even sparks from grounds keeping machines have been known to enter. Also, more moisture in grass, puddles and of course, possible snow or debris build up.
Why are your vents made of plastic?
The patented exhaust vent might look peculiar, but its design is extremely precise. The shape must be exact, and every curve, angle and flare must remain as designed or its operational airflow specs will be compromised. A metal product is too easily damaged and dented. The Polycarbonate plastic we use is pretty much indestructible (except in a fire) and will snap back to its original shape even after being run over by an SUV! click here to watch a 20 second demo When used in applications near the ocean, electrolysis is highly possible with an aluminum vent attached to a steel container.
How do you suggest venting a container with petroleum products inside?
Two possibilities. Exhaust vent (or 2) at floor level at one end, with an intake up high at the other end. If heat is a concern, place an exhaust at floor level and another high near the ceiling at the same end. If it’s a 20-footer, 1 intake at the opposite end up high, or 2 intakes on a 40-footer. The reason our exhaust vent can be at floor level is because it does not draw air in, it only exhausts, pulling out fumes and heat. It’s a one-way check valve, without moving parts.
How does your exhaust vent compare with the spinning roof top turbine?
A very good question. Those units are a clever design, old, well tested and they also have performance specifications. Two of our exhaust vents will move as much air as one 12” turbine, under the same wind speeds on a 40-foot container. With no moving parts we have an advantage with gusts and turbulence. Our exhaust will instantly react and proportionally increase the draw rate. In addition, the wind speed almost doubles on a container corner versus the roof top. And in light or no winds we pick up thermals and winds as low as .5 mph and still create a substantial draw. The mechanical turbine has a mechanical disadvantage. They don’t spin in low wind conditions under 2 mph. A major problem with the turbines is installation. It can be a very tough DIY project. Modification is a given and requires cutting a hole in the roof. Sealing is tough. On one container yard we counted 5 different roof profiles, so matching the supplied mounting plate to roof will not always work. Add to that the cost of parts (be sure to include a roof plate of some sort) in your area to see which has the advantage. If you are going to have a turbine installed by an outside source the price difference for the same performance as the DRY-CON X® will be significantly higher. We checked with 12 container service providers and didn’t need to go any further to make that statement.
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You promote your installation as the quickest and easiest with the double-sided tape. Is there a downside, possible failure with adhering?
The Industrial grade product we use was selected by the engineers at 3M® for our application. It is used for High rise building construction in places like Dubai to replace rivets and welding. Total overkill, but that was the idea.
Note: The spec sheet on the tape is amazing, but we still tested it in freezers, ovens, outdoors for a couple years in the wet Pacific Northwest and in places like Costa Rica, Sweden, Northern Canada, Europe, Dutch Harbor and Wasilla Alaska and every state in the US among others. As of October 2024, there has been no report of tape failures or sealing issues ( 5 years into using it at this time) . Riveting or screwing plastic or aluminum to steel is not a fun job. We were doing that for 5 years on dozens of containers during our venting experiments and testing. That is what prompted us to find a more user-friendly system for attachment.
Moisture and Condensation Facts:
Warm air holds more moisture than cold air. As interior warm air rises and comes in contact with a cold metal surface (ceiling) condensation forms. This also happens to contents with hard, dense surfaces such as glass, metal, porcelain, etc. Outside RH is usually higher in the early morning then dries a little throughout the daylight hours. The larger the exterior temperature fluctuation in relation to the inside the more difficult it is to stop the condensation. The heat of the day warms the interior air and when the sun goes down the roof cools off, condensation then forms on the cold ceiling. This is why an insulated ceiling is beneficial. The condensation in a container must be prevented, or the interior RH will always be maxed at 99%.
As the inside cools in the evening (or on the colder days) the RH reading might increase. That’s not indicating there is now more moisture inside. The cooler air is denser than the warm air, so the moisture percentage reads higher. Colder air will have less water content. At 5°F there is no moisture in the air, so cooler climates can be easier to manage.