A new research paper published in the Journal of Building Engineering sheds light on the promising role of solid adsorbent materials, such as Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs), in improving the efficiency of HVAC dehumidification systems.
Conducted by researchers from the Università degli Studi di Firenze and supported by the Horizon Europe Project THUNDER, the study compares traditional air conditioning methods with desiccant-based systems. The results are striking: in specific scenarios, systems using MOFs achieved 65–85% energy savings.
Beyond energy reductions, the research also demonstrates improvements in exergy efficiency, underscoring the environmental benefits and sustainability potential of desiccant-enhanced air conditioning technologies.
This breakthrough could lead to more intelligent and sustainable HVAC solutions worldwide.
Read the full paper here.