The call for the use of energy-efficient and sustainable technologies and processes in air conditioning is particularly relevant to humidification and dehumidification. Example: liquid sorption processes. Innovative membrane heat and mass transfer units can help here. They are designed on the basis of measured values and then tested, maintained and optimised over their entire life cycle.

Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Hannes Rosenbaum

Approach

The development of the Industry 4.0 Membrane Heat and Mass Exchangers was based on four main areas (tools):

• For the TESTING TOOL, approaches were developed to adapt common test methods for leakage, tightness, permeability and processing quality with regard to non-destructive testing on semi-finished products (iMWÜ production) and in plant operation.
• The DIAGNOSETOOL and the CONTROLLING AND NETWORKING TOOL of the iMWÜ4.0 were developed on the basis of the acquisition, storage and evaluation of long-term measurement data from a functional sample. The focus was on hygienic (risk of mould) and energy aspects. Numerical calculations using balance equations for mass, momentum, energy and species support self-diagnosis and machine learning, as do material properties from laboratory tests. Computational algorithms have been specifically programmed for implementation in an online monitoring system - for comparison and analysis of real and comparative processes.
• The solution approach for the MANUFACTURING TOOL (automatable production of the i-MWÜ4.0) was the conceptual constructive revision with regard to automatable production/manufacturing and assembly. Preference was given to materials, components, semi-finished products, joints and joining techniques that are suitable for series production and that enable the arrangement of components and the assembly process to be coordinated.

Outcomes

The results of the successfully completed R&D project include:

• A test method including a test device for non-destructive testing of flowable, multi-layer textile composites (patent pending): Tightness/leakage and processing quality testing on unassembled semi-finished products
• Monitoring of iMWÜ4.0 status data (LabView)
• implemented algorithm for hygienic self-diagnosis regarding the risk of mould growth
• Implementable Python code of the ideal comparison process in iMWÜ4.0 as well as the calculation of real material properties from measurement data for online analysis in the form of a target/actual comparison
• New design approaches for 2- and 3-fluid membrane heat and mass exchangers