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In developmentHumidity control

Desiccant wheel technology

ValensAir is developing its own desiccant wheel technology in Pakistan: the rotating heart of low-humidity air systems, where moisture is adsorbed from process air and driven off by heated regeneration air.

In development. This product is under active development by ValensAir and is not yet commercially available. Details on this page describe the technology and our development goals, not a released product.

The next generation of humidity control, developed in Pakistan.

A desiccant wheel is a slowly rotating honeycomb matrix coated with a moisture-adsorbing material. Most of its face dries the process air; a smaller sector is swept by heated regeneration air that drives the collected moisture out. Continuous rotation gives continuous drying, and can reach humidity levels that cooling coils alone cannot.

Desiccant wheel: adsorption and regeneration A rotating desiccant wheel. Process air passes through the larger lower sector, where the desiccant adsorbs moisture and dry air leaves. The wheel carries the moisture-loaded desiccant into the upper regeneration sector, where heated air flowing in the opposite direction drives the moisture out and exhausts it. Sector colour shows how much moisture the desiccant holds: cyan is dry, amber is loaded. Process air inHumid Process air outDry, slightly warmer Regeneration air in Moist exhaust out Regeneration sector Process sector

Run the wheel

Change rotation speed and regeneration heat and watch how the desiccant and the outlet air respond.

Process air leavingDry
Regeneration exhaustMoist
  • Dry desiccant / dry air
  • Moisture-loaded desiccant / moist air
Rotation is accelerated for illustration; industrial wheels typically turn at a few to a few tens of revolutions per hour.

Operating principle

  1. Adsorption

    Process air passes through the larger sector of the wheel. The desiccant attracts water vapour onto its surface, so drier air leaves the wheel.

  2. Rotation

    The wheel turns slowly, carrying moisture-loaded desiccant from the process sector into the regeneration sector.

  3. Regeneration

    A smaller stream of air is heated and passed through the wheel in the opposite direction. The heat releases the held moisture.

  4. Exhaust

    The warm, moist regeneration air is exhausted outdoors, and the dried desiccant rotates back into the process sector.

Specifications

Current development basis. Performance data will be published once verified in testing.

ParameterR&D programme
StatusIn development — not yet commercially available
 Project-specific selections are confirmed in the technical proposal for each enquiry.

Material science

Desiccant selection and matrix structure decide capacity, pressure drop and durability.

Balanced rotation

Wheel speed must match the moisture load and regeneration energy: too slow saturates the wheel, too fast carries heat into the process air.

Seals and sectors

Tight sector seals keep regeneration and process streams apart.

Applications

  • Pharmaceutical low-humidity suites
  • Hygroscopic powder and capsule manufacturing
  • Battery and lithium processing
  • Food, confectionery and cold-store applications

Development focus

  • Configurations to be defined through the development programme

Technical documents

Drawings and datasheets are issued against your enquiry so they reflect your duty.

Programme overviewAvailable on request

Interested in this technology?

Register your application so we can include your requirements in the development programme and keep you informed.

Request a quotationCall +92 327 2934549

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