VAPOBLOC

In the heating period this means: In the dry heated air. For this reason, many people suffer from a sore throat, from burning eyes or dry skin. When rooms are cooled by air-conditioning, the supply air must be dehumidified. This significantly increases the energy consumption. The solution: an enthalpy plate exchanger – or in short: the Vapobloc. Its innovative membrane enriches the incoming warm air with moisture from the exhaust air or extracts moisture from the air under hot or tropical conditions. Without transmitting odors, germs, spores and bacteria! The Vapobloc has thus proven itself in all areas of application such as hospitals, schools, retirement homes or apartment buildings.

MOISTURE TRANSFER

Moisture is transferred through the special polymer membrane. The supply air is less dry and therefore provides for increased comfort.

FROST

Since a large part of the humidity is transferred to the supply air, there is normally hardly any condensate that can freeze.

MINIMUM MAINTENANCE

VAPOBLOC is easy to clean and has no wearing parts.

HIGH HEAT TRANSFER

Various sizes also allow optimum dimensioning for all ventilation units.

SAVINGS IN HUMIDIFIER OUTPUT

The humidifiers can be smaller in size. The running costs for operation are considerably lower.

WATER VAPOR PERMEABLE MEMBRANE

Allows only the transfer of water vapor molecules. Other media such as air, odors, germs and bacteria cannot pass through.

Humidity transfer

Vapobloc doesn’t depend on pores or fragile surface-mounted desiccants to transfer humidity from one air stream to the other. Instead, the dense functional copolymer layer separating the air streams absorbs water vapor creating liquid channels in the solid membrane. There is no physical opening, so the polymer is hermetic and prevents crossover of air or other gases. Only water molecules move through hydrophilic segments of the polymer membrane by a stepping-stone mechanism driven by the vapour pressure differential across the material. Membran characteristics: Air permeation <0.05 cm3/cm2/min/kPa Water Vapor Flux: >28 kg/m2/d

Permeable Membrane

Depending on the type of membrane, it is possible to separate some single subsistles and mixtures. Membrane technology is also widespread in the civil and industrial fields, such as filtration of the environmental and food sector, in the recovery of organic vapors and in the treatment of waste water.

Freezing

Vapobloc does not freeze in normal winter conditions as most humidity is transferred to the supply air. The annual payback of Vapobloc is therefore significantly higher compared to other recuperative systems like twin coils or plate heat exchangers due to more operating hours. Even if, under extreme circumstances, Vapobloc should still freeze, it will not be damaged. Leakage and transferred air ‹0.5%, freezing tolerance

Technical data

The distance plates are made out of corrugated aluminium plates which gives the plate heat exchanger its unique mechanical stability. Instead of a dividing plate between air streams Vapobloc uses a vapour permeable Copolymer stretched over the distance plates. Different fin spacing and square lengths are available, allowing an optimal layout design relating to pressure loss and effectiveness. Square length: 505, 605, 755, 1010, 1210, 1510, 2020, 2420 and 3020 mm Fin spacing: 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.5 and 5.5 mm

Square length and fin spacing can be combined as required.

The RICH Stainless Steel and Enthalpy Heat Recovery Exchanger selection software is now available for download in the Software & Downloads section.

Cleaning

The Vapobloc should be checked regularly for dirt and be cleaned if necessary. At least once a year the Vapobloc must be cleaned in order to maintain its latent effectiveness. Moderate contamination can be dealt with by rinsing the exchanger with warm tap water (max. 60°C). If necessary a mild dishwashing liquid such as Palmolive or Pril could be added. Do not use a high pressure cleaner - it could damage the membranes.