Yes, the principle is fundamentally different. A desiccant wheel must be constantly regenerated at very high temperatures (100–160 °C). The blown air exits heated, often creating a need for additional cooling.

NEODRY operates on a radically different principle: water vapor from the air passes through polymer membranes that are permeable to vapor but impermeable to air and liquid water. On the other side, a concentrated calcium chloride (CaCl₂) solution circulates continuously, capturing the vapor and diluting itself. The solution is then regenerated in a second membrane module at only 30–40 °C—a temperature that can be recovered from a chiller unit condenser, a district heating network, or any available waste heat. The result: electricity consumption is reduced by a factor of 2 to 4 compared to conventional technologies.

NEODRY can achieve an absolute humidity of up to 1 g/kg of dry air, regardless of the setpoint temperature of the treated room—even in cold environments (from -15°C to +20°C). This is a performance that conventional air handling units struggle to achieve in cold conditions due to the risk of icing on the heat exchanger coils. NEODRY does not face this constraint: humidity separation is achieved exclusively through membrane transfer.

Yes, and that's one of its key advantages. By lowering the temperature of the saline solution in the dehumidification module, the treated air exits at a lower temperature than the incoming air. This simultaneous cooling reduces the load on existing refrigeration systems, generating additional savings on cooling capacity—without the extra energy costs associated with regeneration.

Yes. In fact, this is one of NEODRY's key differentiators. Dehumidification at sub-zero dew point temperatures is possible in continuous operation, without the need for dual systems to ensure alternating defrosting and dehumidification. The polymer membranes are not susceptible to frost, and atmospheric pressure operation eliminates the mechanical stresses of freeze-thaw cycles. Validated range: incoming air from -15°C to +40°C.

The pressure drop is 200 Pa per module—significantly lower than desiccant wheels. The tangential flow of air along the membranes generates much less aerodynamic resistance than perpendicular flow through a wheel. In most configurations, existing fans do not need to be replaced, and ventilation power is reduced, contributing to overall savings.