Smart, Energy-Efficient Drying Drives a Low-Carbon, Sustainable Future: NARI ReAl-Sorb System Named a 2026 R&D 100 Award Winner
Published：2026-09-16 16:04
With funding from the Energy Administration, Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), under the Energy Technology Program for Research Institutions, the National Atomic Research Institute (NARI) has developed the NARI ReAl-Sorb System, which has won a 2026 R&D 100 Award—an honor widely regarded as the “Oscars of Innovation” in science and technology. The award highlights NARI’s R&D strengths in net-zero technologies, circular-economy technologies, energy-efficiency applications, and intelligent systems integration.
The ReAl-Sorb System addresses long-standing challenges associated with conventional adsorption drying equipment, including high energy consumption during regeneration, dependence on imported adsorbent materials, and high operating costs. It upcycles industrial waste—such as aluminum dross and slag generated during aluminum processing—into high-performance adsorbent materials and integrates AIoT-based intelligent control, a 3D-printed porous adsorption wheel, and low-temperature regeneration technology. The system enables highly efficient regeneration at temperatures as low as 60–70°C, reducing both energy consumption and reliance on imported materials while putting the “Waste to Resource” principle of the circular economy into practice.
The ReAl-Sorb System has completed industrial validation and can be applied in sectors that require low-humidity environments, including high-value crop cultivation, food drying, and high-tech manufacturing. Field validation shows that the system improves overall energy efficiency by more than 20% and reduces operating costs by at least 30%. NARI has also completed seven technology transfers and 10 technical service projects, demonstrating tangible results and strong market potential as the technology transitions from R&D validation to industrial applications.
The 2026 R&D 100 Award demonstrates the tangible results of the Energy Administration’s support for forward-looking energy-efficiency research and represents international recognition of innovative energy-saving technologies developed in Taiwan. Looking ahead, NARI will continue to strengthen collaboration among industry, government, academia, and research institutions while accelerating the commercialization of the technology and its expansion into international markets. Working alongside industry partners, NARI aims to advance energy-efficient, low-carbon, and sustainable smart manufacturing, thereby supporting Taiwan’s industrial transition toward net zero and enhancing its long-term competitiveness.
Figure 1. The NARI ReAl-Sorb System, developed in-house by NARI.
Figure 2. Manufacturing process for NARI ReAl-Sorb green desiccant wheels
Figure 3. Technical features of the NARI ReAl-Sorb System |
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