SCI和EI收录∣中国化工学会会刊

中国化学工程学报 ›› 2022, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (1): 121-144.DOI: 10.1016/j.cjche.2021.12.018

• Review • 上一篇    下一篇

Membrane-based air dehumidification: A comparative review on membrane contactors, separative membranes and adsorptive membranes

Huaixun Lim1,2, Kunli Goh2, Miao Tian3, Rong Wang2,4   

  1. 1 Interdisciplinary Graduate School, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637335, Singapore;
    2 Singapore Membrane Technology Centre, Nanyang Environmental and Water Research Institute, Nanyang Technology University, Singapore 637141, Singapore;
    3 School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, 1 Dongxiang Road, Chang’an District, Xi’an 710129, China;
    4 School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Singapore
  • 收稿日期:2021-08-02 修回日期:2021-12-16 出版日期:2022-01-28 发布日期:2022-02-25
  • 通讯作者: Rong Wang,E-mail address:Rwang@ntu.edu.sg

Membrane-based air dehumidification: A comparative review on membrane contactors, separative membranes and adsorptive membranes

Huaixun Lim1,2, Kunli Goh2, Miao Tian3, Rong Wang2,4   

  1. 1 Interdisciplinary Graduate School, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637335, Singapore;
    2 Singapore Membrane Technology Centre, Nanyang Environmental and Water Research Institute, Nanyang Technology University, Singapore 637141, Singapore;
    3 School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, 1 Dongxiang Road, Chang’an District, Xi’an 710129, China;
    4 School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Singapore
  • Received:2021-08-02 Revised:2021-12-16 Online:2022-01-28 Published:2022-02-25
  • Contact: Rong Wang,E-mail address:Rwang@ntu.edu.sg

摘要: This review compares the different types of membrane processes for air dehumidification. Three main categories of membrane-based dehumidification are identified – membrane contactors using porous membranes with concentrated liquid desiccants, separative membranes using dense membrane morphology with a pressure gradient to drive the separation of moisture from air, and adsorptive membranes using nanofibrous membranes which adsorb and capture moisture to realise dehumidification. Drawing upon the importance of dehumidification and humidity control for urban sustainability and energy efficacy, this review critically analyses and recognizes the three unique categories of membrane-based air dehumidification technologies. Essentially, the discussion is broken into three sections-one for each category-discriminating in terms of the driving force, membrane structure and properties, and its performance indicators. Readers will notice that despite having the same objective to dehumidify air, the polymers used amongst each category differs to suit the operating requirements and optimize dehumidification performance. At the end of each section, a performance table or summary of dehumidifying membranes in its class is provided. The final section concludes with a comparative review of the three categories on membrane-based air dehumidification technologies and draw inspiration from parallel research to rationalise the potential and innovative use of promising materials in membrane fabrication for air dehumidification.

关键词: Membrane dehumidification, Membrane contactor, H2O/N2 selectivity, Permeability, Adsorption

Abstract: This review compares the different types of membrane processes for air dehumidification. Three main categories of membrane-based dehumidification are identified – membrane contactors using porous membranes with concentrated liquid desiccants, separative membranes using dense membrane morphology with a pressure gradient to drive the separation of moisture from air, and adsorptive membranes using nanofibrous membranes which adsorb and capture moisture to realise dehumidification. Drawing upon the importance of dehumidification and humidity control for urban sustainability and energy efficacy, this review critically analyses and recognizes the three unique categories of membrane-based air dehumidification technologies. Essentially, the discussion is broken into three sections-one for each category-discriminating in terms of the driving force, membrane structure and properties, and its performance indicators. Readers will notice that despite having the same objective to dehumidify air, the polymers used amongst each category differs to suit the operating requirements and optimize dehumidification performance. At the end of each section, a performance table or summary of dehumidifying membranes in its class is provided. The final section concludes with a comparative review of the three categories on membrane-based air dehumidification technologies and draw inspiration from parallel research to rationalise the potential and innovative use of promising materials in membrane fabrication for air dehumidification.

Key words: Membrane dehumidification, Membrane contactor, H2O/N2 selectivity, Permeability, Adsorption