High Performance Membranes for Enthalpy Exchange

Heat and moisture management, i.e. enthalpy exchange, is a critical operation in several technical applications such as building HVAC systems, hydrogen fuel cells, and industrial carbon capture. In all these cases, significant energy savings can be achieved by using modern enthalpy exchangers which utilize specialty membranes that selectively allow heat and humidity to pass through while blocking air and other gases. However, these membranes are expensive and are based on harmful per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as “forever chemicals.” To fully realize the potential of enthalpy exchangers as a transformative technology for energy savings, there is an urgent need for high-performance, safe and sustainable membrane alternatives.

VTT researchers have developed an innovative cellulose-based membrane technology called HYGRON, designed to replace existing membranes in enthalpy exchangers. HYGRON membranes offer several advantages over the state-of-theart: they are completely biobased, free of toxic materials, exceed the performance of current membranes, and are more affordable to produce. This membrane technology could enable a new generation of enthalpy exchanger designs that can significantly reduce energy consumption in buildings, transportation and industrial carbon capture.
This project explores the commercial viability of this novel membrane technology with a primary focus on HVAC systems in buildings and secondary applications in sectors such as hydrogen fuel cells and carbon capture. The importance of energy saving in these rapidly growing sectors will create a huge demand for novel solutions like HYGRON technology, thus creating an enormous market potential. The project team is committed to commercializing this innovative technology and is supported by a diverse steering group and VTT’s Launchpad incubator.