With growing global emphasis on energy efficiency and sustainable development, particularly under the macro policy framework 

of the “dual carbon” goals, industries worldwide are undergoing a profound green transformation. As a core solution in air 

humidity control, the technological evolution of desiccant wheel dehumidification not only concerns the performance enhancement 

of the equipment itself but also directly impacts industrial production's energy consumption levels and carbon emissions. This 

paper delves into the evolution of this technology, exploring its market opportunities and broad application prospects in the 

era of a low-carbon economy.

Core Directions of Technological Evolution

Confronting the high-energy consumption bottleneck of traditional technologies, industry innovation is advancing along three 

distinct pathways: reducing energy consumption in the regeneration process, developing high-performance composite adsorbent 

materials, and deepening the integration of intelligent control systems.

1. Optimizing Regeneration Energy Consumption: From Single Heating to Energy Cascading

Regeneration energy consumption accounts for over 60% of total energy use in traditional desiccant wheel dehumidification 

systems, representing a critical pain point for achieving green breakthroughs. Early regeneration processes relied on single 

high-grade heat sources like boiler steam, resulting in low energy efficiency and significant waste of residual heat. Current 

technological innovations have shifted toward system energy integration and cascading utilization.

• Heat Pump Coupling Technology: By deeply integrating high-temperature heat pumps with desiccant wheel systems, the

  condensation heat from heat pumps provides a stable heat source for wheel regeneration while recovering waste heat from

  regeneration exhaust air. This creates a closed-loop energy cycle of “energy supply-energy use-regeneration.” Practical

  applications demonstrate that such system upgrades significantly reduce energy consumption. One case study achieved

  annual electricity savings of 475,000 kWh, equivalent to reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 271 tons.

• Solar-Waste Heat Integration: Solar collectors are integrated into the regenerated air path to preheat air using renewable

  energy, directly reducing electric heating loads. System design also prioritizes recovering low-grade heat from process

  waste and regeneration exhaust, utilizing devices like heat pipe exchangers to preheat fresh air and further minimize

  overall energy consumption.

2. Adsorption Material Innovation: From Single-Component Silica Gel to High-Performance Composites

The adsorption material within desiccant wheels directly determines a unit's dehumidification capacity, efficiency, and stability. 

While traditional silica gel materials are well-established, they face limitations in extreme low-humidity environments or specific 

chemical conditions. Material R&D is advancing toward composites, functionalization, and structural innovation.

• Composite Adsorbents: Research involves modifying silica gel with salt solutions like lithium chloride or calcium chloride to

  create composite adsorbents. These achieve higher adsorption capacity and more ideal adsorption rates across varying

  humidity conditions, broadening the temperature and humidity range for efficient operation.

• Structural Innovation (Honeycomb Rotors): Honeycomb rotors made from ceramic fiber or titanium-silicon composite

  materials represent a structural breakthrough. This design maximizes adsorption surface area, boosting efficiency by up

  to 40% compared to traditional structures. It also offers acid/alkali corrosion resistance and washability, ensuring an 8-10

  year service life in harsh industrial environments. Its unique channel design enables ultra-low dew point control from -40°C

  to -80°C, meeting the most stringent precision requirements.

Table: Technical Breakthrough Directions for Composite Adsorption Materials

3. Integration of Intelligent Control: From Basic Control to Adaptive Optimization and 

System Enhancement

Intelligent control has become the core driver for improving energy efficiency and reliability. Control technology is evolving from 

simple start-stop and PID regulation toward adaptive optimization based on IoT and artificial intelligence.

• Integrated Smart Control System: Next-generation systems equipped with PLC touchscreens and adaptive control strategies

  dynamically adjust wheel speed, regeneration temperature, and airflow based on environmental humidity/temperature and

  load variations. This maintains regeneration temperature within ±1°C, preventing energy waste from over-regeneration.

• AIoT Energy Optimization Platform: Through industrial IoT platforms like EK-AIoT, systems enable remote monitoring, data

  analytics, and automated optimization of operational efficiency. Cutting-edge research focuses on integrating AI large models

  to build specialized knowledge bases, empowering equipment with predictive maintenance, intelligent fault diagnosis, and

  dynamic generation of more precise energy-saving strategies. This drives the evolution of equipment from “automation”

  to “autonomous optimization.”

Market Opportunities Driven by “Dual Carbon” Policies

China's deepening “carbon peak and carbon neutrality” strategy creates unprecedented market opportunities for energy-

efficient desiccant wheel dehumidification technology.

• Mandatory Policy Requirements: The “dual carbon” goals have prompted national and local governments to implement

  stricter energy consumption and carbon emission standards. In sectors like new energy batteries and electronic chips, energy

  consumption for low-humidity production environments accounts for a significant portion of total process energy use (e.g.,

  exceeding 40% in battery workshops), making it a critical area for corporate emissions reduction. This compels enterprises

  to adopt more efficient dehumidification solutions to achieve green upgrades.

• Huge Market for Retrofits: A vast number of existing industrial facilities (particularly in chemical, pharmaceutical, and lithium

  battery industries) operate with inefficient, high-carbon energy systems. “Zero-downtime, zero-carbon retrofit” solutions

  combining high-temperature heat pumps with low-temperature desiccant wheel technology enable green upgrades to energy

  systems without disrupting production, unlocking a massive retrofit market.

• Internal Drivers of Corporate ESG and Cost Efficiency: Reducing energy consumption directly translates to lower operational

  costs and improved carbon footprint. High-efficiency desiccant wheel systems not only help enterprises meet ESG

  (Environmental, Social, and Governance) disclosure requirements but also deliver long-term economic benefits, driving

  proactive technological upgrades.

Expansion Potential in Future Application Areas

Continuous technological innovation is propelling desiccant wheel dehumidification beyond traditional industrial sectors, enabling 

penetration into more precise, health-focused, and diverse scenarios.

Precision Industry and Advanced Manufacturing:

• New Energy Battery Manufacturing: Maintaining ultra-low humidity (often requiring dew points ≤ -40°C) in electrode and

  electrolyte production environments is critical for battery safety and performance. Energy-efficient desiccant wheel technology

  forms the foundation for large-scale industrial expansion.

• Semiconductors and Optical Components: Processes like chip lithography and lens coating are highly sensitive to moisture,

  demanding stable, ultra-low humidity environments (e.g., dew points -80°C). . Technologies like honeycomb desiccant wheels

  provide reliable solutions.

Biopharmaceuticals and Food Engineering:

• In active pharmaceutical ingredient production, sterile formulation, and high-value food processing, desiccant wheel technology 

  enables low-temperature, low-humidity clean environment control to ensure product quality.

Healthy Buildings and Indoor Environmental Quality:

• Future applications will evolve from “simple dehumidification” toward integrated control of temperature, humidity, and air

  quality. For instance, integrating silica gel dehumidification wheels with pollutant adsorption wheels (e.g., activated carbon)

  creates dual-layer composite systems. These systems efficiently dehumidify while continuously removing pollutants like

  formaldehyde and ozone. Regeneration processes restore adsorbent activity, eliminating frequent filter replacements. This

  approach significantly reduces energy consumption while ensuring air quality through fresh air intake. This approach aligns

  with the pursuit of healthy, comfortable, and green building environments.

Residential and Specialized Applications:

• With the maturation of technologies like hot-stone wheels, lightweight, quiet (as low as 30dB), compressor-free, and refrigerant-

  free residential wheel dehumidifiers are entering the market. Additionally, in specialized humidity-sensitive sectors like military

  armory storage, archival preservation, and agricultural seed breeding, desiccant wheel technology is experiencing steady growth

  in application demand.