Heating and cooling in residential and commercial buildings account for 20% of total energy consumption in Canada. Conditioning indoor air using less energy is closely associated with minimizing production of greenhouse gases and making a sustainable global environment. In this study, we apply a nanocomposite fibrous membrane for an energy recovery ventilator (ERV). Heat and moisture from an exhaust contaminated indoor air are captured via ERV and recycled for conditioning entering outdoor air, ultimately resulting in energy savings and improving the indoor air quality of buildings.

Hydrogen fuel cells require humidification in order to operate effectively, yet, at the same time produce a constant stream of moisture through their exhaust. Membrane fuel cell humidifiers provide a method of ‘recycling’ this moisture, thereby saving energy. They work similarly to heat exchangers, but take advantage of special polymer membranes in order to exchange moisture. Fuel cell environments can be very taxing on membranes, reaching temperatures of 95C, so selecting the right membrane material is of utmost importance.

Heating and cooling in residential and commercial buildings account for 20% of total energy consumption in Canada. Conditioning indoor air using less energy is closely associated with minimizing production of greenhouse gases and making a sustainable global environment. In this study, we apply a nanocomposite fibrous membrane for an energy recovery ventilator (ERV). Heat and moisture from an exhaust contaminated indoor air are captured via ERV and recycled for conditioning entering outdoor air, ultimately resulting in energy savings and improving the indoor air quality of buildings.

The operation of a fuel cell to produce electricity requires a number of components outside the fuel cell stack itself. One key component is the humidifier. Proper operation of a Proton Exchange Membrane fuel cell requires a certain humidity level to be maintained in the membrane(s) present in the stack; the humidifier fulfills this requirement by transferring moisture from the exhaust gas stream to the inbound fuel, as well as increasing efficiency by preheating the fuel with waste heat in the exhaust.