Structure and Properties of Total-Heat Exchange Membranes for Energy Saving Heat Exchange Ventilation Processes

As complement to air conditioners, ventilation systems are playing important roles in keeping human health as well as saving energy. They improved indoor air quality by replacing inside polluted air with outside fresh air. To reduce the energy needed to condition the induced fresh air, heat exchanging processes are designed to reduce the temperature differences between this fresh air and the indoor air. Heat exchanging processes using total heat exchange membranes (THEM) allowed not only the exchange of heat but also humidity, generally providing better energy saving and air quality improvement results. Recently, we have studied a novel class of THEM made from a casting process using inorganic and organic functional materials. Their structure and properties characterized with Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), BET Adsorption test, Water-vapor Permeability Analysis, CO2 Permeation Test, and Heat Exchange Efficiency Test are discussed here.