Innovation reduces AC energy consumption

Nanofilm membrane technology could significantly reduce the energy required for automotive window demisting if proven successful in commercial and residential air-conditioning and dehumidification systems.

Evelyn Allen, co-founder and CEO of Evercloak, a Canadian spin-out company from the University of Waterloo in Ontario, says the firm’s nanofilms “disrupt traditional energy cooling systems by dehumidifying air more efficiently”.

Evercloak’s graphene-based membrane can selectively allow water molecules to pass through while effectively blocking out other components of air and gas. The thinness of the nanofilm membrane enables this separation process to be achieved with minimal energy expenditure.

In air-conditioning systems, these membranes can extract humidity instead of cooling it until it condenses. By bypassing this energy-intensive cooling process, Evercloak anticipates that smaller systems can be used, with a potential reduction of up to 50 per cent in power consumption and related emissions.

Successful field trials last northern hemisphere summer marked a significant milestone as they turned the idea of membrane-based dehumidification into a practical and commercially feasible solution that has attracted CAD$2 million ($A2.2m) in seed funding.

With the new funding, Evercloak aims to scale up membrane manufacturing, expand its commercial team, and provide a more sustainable cooling solution for buildings worldwide.

The company’s primary objective is to scale up production for large-area coatings and develop applications that incorporate Evercloak’s innovative water-vapour selective coatings to enhance HVAC systems.

By implementing these coatings, buildings can efficiently dehumidify incoming air, substantially reducing the energy demand on air-conditioning systems. As car-makers look to extend EV battery range, there could be applications for demisting and cooling for cabin comfort.

Initially, Evercloak focused on methane dehydration applications but soon recognised potential in the HVAC sector. By 2050, cooling buildings is projected to account for 30 per cent of global electricity consumption.