“Seoul, Barcelona, Naples, and Athens share similar latitudes and daily maximum, average, and minimum temperatures, yet the perceived temperature feels completely different. The reason lies in humidity.”
This is according to Lee Dae-young, CEO of Humaster and principal researcher at the Urban Research Division of the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST). Focusing on the idea that the real challenge in combating heat is not temperature but humidity, Lee developed the humidity-control air conditioner Humicon, which is now gearing up for mass production. This technology was selected as one of the Top 10 Mechanical Technologies of the Year in 2018.
Humicon—a blend of Humidity and Conditioner—is an air conditioning technology based on humidity control rather than temperature control. At its core are two innovations: Husheet, a polymer-based dehumidifying material with moisture absorption, antibacterial, and antifungal properties, and a desiccant dehumidification system with heat recovery ventilation that uses Husheet.
Lee explained the importance of humidity management that “When humidity is high, sweat does not evaporate, causing a hot and sticky discomfort. Indoors, condensation and mold may occur, damaging interior finishes, leading to material losses, and raising health risks. On tropical nights, simply lowering humidity through dehumidification alone can create a much more comfortable and healthy environment.”
As public awareness of humidity increases, debates often arise in summer about whether dehumidifiers or air conditioner dehumidification modes perform better. The conclusion: there is no significant difference—both rely on the same principle of moisture condensing on a cold surface. The difference lies in side effects: in enclosed spaces, dehumidifiers can raise the temperature excessively, while air conditioners can lower it excessively.
Lee and his research team instead focused on an entirely different principle—the desiccant method.
Lee explained, “In this method, air cooled by a heat pump evaporator passes through a desiccant rotor for dehumidification, and then the rotor is regenerated by the heat pump’s condenser array. Because the system applies energy recovery, it achieves a high dehumidification effect with low energy consumption. Certification testing at a nationally accredited institute confirmed that this technology delivers 160% higher dehumidification performance compared to first-grade energy efficiency electric dehumidifiers at the same power consumption.”
The moisture filter used in this technology is also noteworthy. It can be internally regenerated, enabling semi-permanent use without replacement, while completely solving consumer complaints about indoor temperature rise and noise from electric dehumidifiers.
To further enhance product completeness, Lee developed a new polymer dehumidifying material for the moisture filter.
“Our proprietary polymer dehumidifying material applied to the filter delivers over five times the dehumidification performance of silica gel and also excels in deodorization, antibacterial, and antifungal properties,” Lee said. “Even after 100,000 absorption/desorption cycles, performance remained intact. It is harmless to humans, and because it is a polymer, it is easy to manufacture, process, and mold.”
The material development technology has been granted patents in both Korea and the United States. It was awarded the Korean Intellectual Property Office’s Patent Technology Award in 2014 and received the Green Technology Certification from the Ministry of Environment in 2017.
Same temperature, no humidity. Humicon features desiccant technology that helps maintain optimal humidity at 40%. It also includes air purification and ventilation functions, ensuring fresh and clean indoor air.
Huzero is an industrial dehumidifier designed for low-temperature and extremely low-humidity environments to improve factory productivity, offering energy efficiency 60% higher than existing market products.
Husheet is an innovative and patented technology, ultra-slim dehumidifier that can control humidity as well as deodorizing. It also has dehumidifying, deodorizing, antibacterial, and anti-fungal functions.
Protect your valuable clothes and belongings from humidity with Huspot, a desiccant dehumidifier designed specifically for dressing rooms in your home. Huspot effectively removes moisture from bathrooms and other areas using advanced desiccant technology, and safely release the humidity outside. Therefore, it is not neccessary to empty a water tank, install pipes, or worry about water leaks. Huspot can be installed on the ceiling, allowing you to maximize the use of your dressing room space while maintaining an optimal humidity level for your clothes and accessories. Keep your dressing room fresh and humidity-free with Huspot.
