From the very beginning, Lynn says, he was dedicated
to providing boat owners and builders with a low-cost
solution to machinery space ventilation. As a satisfied
customer, I believe it’s safe to say that Delta “T” Systems
has succeeded. The company offers complete, end-to-end
coverage of its product, from mechanical and electrical
engineering to full naval architectural support for the
design of any machinery space ventilation system on
vessels ranging from 36-foot recreational cruisers to 200-
plus-foot ferries and military, research, and commercial
craft. The only job Delta “T” doesn’t do is the installation.
It all starts with a worksheet that the customer accesses
on the company’s website ( deltatsystems.com) and fills
out. This provides Delta “T” with the information needed
to begin designing a system. Drawing on one of the
world’s largest engine and generator databases, Delta “T”
engineers are able to accurately calculate the necessary
air movement, fan size, and moisture eliminators for
virtually any vessel in the aforementioned size range.
The system they assemble for the customer is complete
and includes fans, louvers, and dampers, as well as
sophisticated electronic control and monitoring
systems that are capable of sensing temperature and
depression in an engine room and adjusting ventilation
accordingly to provide maximum cooling, moisture
elimination, and combustion air. Customers are not
charged for engineering and system design services;
these are part of the package that remains so integral
to the Delta “T” concept of full product support.
The devil, as they say, is in the details, and Delta “T”
Systems has those covered, too. For example, the fan
fixture openings must be large enough to admit sufficient
combustion air, even if a fan fails (not that that happens
often with Delta “T” equipment). The moisture
eliminator, referred to as an impingement separator,
works by using an ingenious, velocity-induced slingshot
effect. Air is blown at high velocity through a louver that
induces a sharp bend in the direction of flow. Because
water molecules are denser than air molecules, they are
inertially slung out of the air, forming a film in an area of
low pressure. Ultimately, they coalesce into droplets that
drain out of the separator. The unique design of the
impingement “dryer” allows for maximum airflow with
the least amount of resistance possible. The components
used in the louver mechanism, referred to by Delta “T”
as a “profile,” are made of PVC, while the housings are
constructed from PVC or aluminum, depending on the
customer’s preferences and needs. They are custom-made
for each customer’s specific application and can even be
painted to match the vessel.
The systems designed by Delta “T” typically rely on
cross-ventilation for compartment cooling. This usually
Delta “T” Systems
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Delta “T” Systems Inc.
858 W. 13th Court
Riviera Beach, FL 33404
561.848.1311
deltatsystems.com; info@deltatsystems.com
involves the use of two intake fans located forward and
two exhaust fans located aft. Their speed and operation
are dictated by the aforementioned temperature- and
pressure-sensing control mechanism. All of the products
Delta “T” uses, from moisture eliminators, axial fans,
and centrifugal blowers to smoke/fire dampers and
ventilation control systems, are designed in house, and
95 percent are manufactured at the Delta “T” facility. All
products are designed by Delta “T” Systems specifically
for marine applications; they do not simply adopt
industrial equipment for their needs. During my tour
of the manufacturing facility, I watched as a variety of
complex components were designed and assembled,
from huge, steel-cased axial fans to delicate electronic
control systems. Indeed, they do it all under one roof
(or, technically, two roofs).
Delta “T” Systems can boast of having designed
more than 1,000 ventilation systems that use moisture
elimination technology. Lynn stressed that the firm’s
repeat customers drive improved engineering. Their
feedback and requests continually push Delta “T”
to improve its products. An accommodations space
dehumidifier that employs the Peltier effect, also known
as thermoelectric cooling, has recently been added to the
company’s stable of ventilation and moisture elimination
products. I’ve seen this product, and its compact design
is both effective and impressive.
It’s a telling statement that one of the earliest Delta
“T” systems, installed aboard an Alaska State fisheries
patrol vessel that operates nearly 365 days a year in
the most severe weather, has been working effectively
and efficiently without failure since 1995. Similar systems
have been installed in a variety of vessels that run
under the most demanding temperature and moisture
conditions imaginable: recreational cruisers, Coast Guard
craft, U.S. and foreign naval ships, oil rig supply vessels,
and others. If you’re searching for the ultimate in
engineering space ventilation and moisture elimination,
it’s worth having a look at Delta “T” Systems.
Steve owns and operates Steve D’ Antonio Marine
Consulting ( stevedmarineconsulting.com), providing consulting
services to boat buyers, owners, and the marine industry.
