Low-Cost Energy Recovery Ventilator Incorporating a High Flux Moisture-Permeable Membrane

Substantial improvements to the integrity of residential building envelopes have been realized in recent years with the use of advanced house wraps, fenestration, and air sealing technologies. While tight construction significantly lowers residential energy consumption, the concomitant reduction in natural ventilation results in less frequent air turnover that can adversely impact indoor air quality and occupant comfort. The addition of mechanical exhaust ventilation may improve comfort and air quality through increased air circulation and contaminant dilution, but without conditioning of the make-up air, the infiltration of cold dry air in the winter and hot humid air in the summer can significantly increase HVAC loads. An energy recovery ventilator (ERV) that transfers heat and moisture between supply and exhaust air streams will be developed and demonstrated in the proposed program. The ventilator utilizes a high performance, low-cost water-permeable membrane to improve upon existing ERV performance while significantly reducing ERV cost. The capability to transfer humidity from a moist air stream to a dry air stream at over three times the flux of existing membranes will be demonstrated in the first phase of the program. The membrane fabrication process will be matured and optimized membrane performance parameters will be established. The energy recovery ventilator will be modeled to predict device performance and estimate life-cycle energy and cost savings. Development of the proposed energy recovery ventilator will significantly shorten the payback period for ERV installation and accelerate residential ERV adoption throughout the U.S. The membrane technology is also well-suited to other moisture management applications, including humidifiers, medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, fuel cells, and sensors.