Wet membrane humidification technology, a physical method that utilizes the natural evaporation of water on specialized 

surfaces to humidify air, has become the preferred solution in sectors with stringent air quality requirements—such as data 

centers, high-end manufacturing, healthcare, and green buildings—due to its clean and energy-efficient characteristics. 

Amidst the global pursuit of carbon neutrality and sustainable development, this technology is undergoing profound 

transformation. Its future evolution will center on three core dimensions—material science, intelligent control, and system 

design—aiming to deliver more efficient, smarter, and greener humidity management.

I. Innovations in Material Science: Building the Foundation for Health and Durability

The performance of wet membrane materials fundamentally determines humidification efficiency and long-term equipment 

reliability. Future innovations will transcend traditional plant-fiber substrates, focusing on endowing humidification membranes 

with superior functionality.

First, antimicrobial and self-cleaning capabilities will become standard features. Incorporating sustained-release antibacterial 

agents into membrane materials or utilizing novel composite materials with inherent antimicrobial properties can suppress 

bacterial and fungal growth at the source, ensuring hygienic safety during humidification and preventing secondary 

contamination. A further research direction involves developing humidification membranes with “self-cleaning” surfaces. 

For instance, superhydrophobic nanocomposites can prevent contaminant adhesion, allowing pollutants to easily detach 

under water flow. This significantly reduces maintenance frequency and chemical cleaning agent usage.

Second, material durability and environmental adaptability will see significant enhancement. For industrial settings with high 

temperatures, humidity, or corrosive gases (e.g., paper mills, chemical plants), developing corrosion-resistant alloy frames or 

specially treated humidification membrane surfaces is crucial. Simultaneously, optimizing polymer composite formulations 

and structures can boost mechanical strength, acid/alkali resistance, and flame retardancy, ensuring long-term reliability 

under demanding conditions.

II. Evolution of Intelligent Control: From Automation to Adaptive Intelligence

With the integration of IoT and AI technologies, wet-film humidification systems are evolving from simple on/off controls into 

“smart terminals” capable of precise sensing, intelligent decision-making, and remote operation.

Precise sensing and adaptive regulation form the core of this intelligence. Future systems will integrate high-precision temperature 

and humidity sensors, potentially combined with air quality sensors, to achieve comprehensive monitoring of microenvironments. 

Equipped with advanced controllers (such as PLCs) and intelligent algorithms like fuzzy PID, the system can automatically adjust 

humidification levels and water valve openings within seconds based on real-time data and predefined models. This enables 

precise and stable humidity control while preventing energy waste.

IoT integration and intelligent operation represent a leap in management models. Devices will universally support standard 

industrial protocols like Modbus and BACnet, enabling seamless integration with building automation systems or IoT cloud 

platforms. This empowers maintenance personnel to remotely monitor overall equipment status, receive fault alerts, and analyze 

energy consumption data. Combined with mobile apps, functions like QR code-based repair requests and smart consumable 

replacement reminders become possible, reducing maintenance response times from days to hours and significantly boosting 

management efficiency. A more forward-looking application involves AI learning spatial usage patterns to enable predictive 

humidification. This approach satisfies comfort requirements while unlocking deeper energy-saving potential.

III. System Design Optimization: Toward Flexibility, Water Efficiency, and High Performance

To adapt to diverse building spaces and stringent sustainability requirements, wet membrane humidification technology is 

evolving toward modular, integrated system designs that maximize water resource efficiency.

Modular design delivers unprecedented flexibility. Future humidification units will feature standardized modular membrane 

cores akin to LEGO blocks. Users can freely combine one to dozens of modules based on space size and humidification 

requirements, selecting installation methods like overhead or side air supply. This design facilitates rapid deployment in 

retrofits, shortens construction cycles, and simplifies capacity expansion and equipment maintenance.

Integrated water and energy conservation design is pivotal for sustainable development. Driven by dual carbon goals, 

technological innovation directly targets energy and water consumption. On one hand, optimizing water distribution 

systems and adopting recirculating water technology significantly reduces direct drainage waste. On the other hand, a 

more revolutionary trend explores “waterless humidification” or “atmospheric water harvesting” technologies. For 

instance, permeable membranes based on graphene/nanopolymer composites can capture moisture from the air for 

humidification, theoretically eliminating the need for additional water sources and offering solutions for extremely arid 

regions. Furthermore, deeply integrating wet-membrane humidification with HVAC systems, waste heat recovery, and even 

solar-driven technologies—enabling independent thermal and humidity processing alongside tiered energy utilization—

has become a critical technical pathway for reducing overall building operational carbon emissions.

IV. Conclusion: Empowering a Green Future

The future of wet membrane humidification technology lies in an evolutionary path integrating cutting-edge materials, 

intelligent algorithms, and human-centered design. From self-cleaning antimicrobial materials to intelligent control systems 

capable of “thinking” and “learning,” and from flexible water-saving solutions to modular designs deeply integrated 

with buildings, each advancement brings it closer to aligning with green building and sustainable development principles.

Guided by China's national strategic goals of “carbon peaking and carbon neutrality,” wet membrane humidification 

technology transcends its role as a mere humidity regulator. It has become a critical component in creating healthy, 

comfortable, and low-carbon indoor environments. Its advancement will continue to propel the entire HVAC industry 

toward high-quality upgrades characterized by precision, low energy consumption, and ease of management. This 

evolution contributes robust technological strength to addressing global climate change and building a future where 

humanity and nature coexist in harmony.