Ventilation systems play a key role to maintain healthy and comfortable indoor air quality (IAQ) in almost all commercial buildings. At the heart of the system, you have an air handling unit and a heat exchanger for heat or energy recovery.
Adequate indoor air quality (IAQ) involves many factors depending on the local situation and climate. Health issues, such as breathing problems, can arise from air containing dust, pollen, or other contaminants. A poor indoor climate can also result in damages to the buildings. Commercial (non-residential) air handling units tend to be larger units, designed for buildings like offices, hotels and airports.
The challenge is to reach a comfortable IAQ with as little energy input as possible. This means, pressure drop should be low (less fan power is needed) and thermal/humidity efficiency high (less energy consumed for heating/ cooling/ humidity control).
At the center of a ventilation system is the air handling unit (AHU). At a minimum, an AHU includes one or several fans in each air channel to move the air through the unit. Filters on either side remove dust, pollen, etc., and protect the fans. Finally, a heat exchanger transfers the required heat or humidity from the exhaust air to the supply air.
Depending on the geographical region, the primary purpose of the heat exchanger shift between heating or cooling (and maybe also dehumidifying) the outdoor air before it enters the building.
Air-to-Air Heat Exchangers
Implementing an air-to-air heat exchanger is an excellent way to utilize what is usually considered waste heat. An air-to-air heat exchanger will utilize the temperature difference between the supply and exhaust air to increase the system’s overall efficiency. There are two types of air-to-air heat exchangers, rotary and plate heat exchangers.
Type and exact configuration depends on the application. Both types are made of aluminum, with excellent properties such as efficient heat transfer capabilities and an extraordinarily long life span. Heatex offers numerous design variables and options for each product, enabling perfect fit and performance in every AHU.
Started by two Swedish innovators in the early 60s. Pegust’s business idea is to develop and manufacture solutions for drying, indoor climate and environment. Innovative thinking is behind the company’s success to this day. ”The greater the customized challenge, the more we thrive on designing the optimal solution.” – Göran Gustafsson, CEO Pegust.
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Plate heat exchangers enable heat transfer and humidity control by condensation and have less leakage than a rotary heat exchanger.
Typical options in commercial ventilation applications for crossflow heat exchangers include:
Depending on ambient factors, maybe also:
For commercial ventilation applications, we usually recommend Heatex Model H2 but feel free to compare all our cross flow heat exchangers.
Rotary heat exchangers enable humidity transfer and generally provide slightly higher efficiency than a plate heat exchanger.
Typical options in commercial ventilation applications for rotary heat exchangers include:
For commercial ventilation applications, we usually recommend Heatex Model E but feel free to compare all our rotary heat exchangers.
Airports & Exhibition Centres Very big buildings need large airflows to reduce internal heat loads.
Museums & Art Galleries Buildings containing exhibits need constant temperature and humidity control to maintain a stable room climate to protect things against premature aging.
Swimming pools Indoor swimming pools require ventilation to reduce humidity for comfort and protection of the building.
Marine & Cruise ships Due to the limited space and risk of corrosion, air handling units on seagoing ships must be equipped with compact, high-quality heat exchangers to provide fresh air without interruptions for long periods. In tests made according to ISO 9227, Heatex heat exchangers have proven to resist corrosion in salt spray tests for extensive periods of time.
Hospitals & Medical Clean room environments need a low particle concentration atmosphere as well as constant temperature and humidity levels. Heatex heat exchangers are certified according to a wide range of European hygiene standards.
If you want to know more about the topic of indoor air quality we recommend visiting the Indoor Air Hygiene Institute. It’s the only organization dedicated solely to indoor air quality and its certification. The Institute aims to improve human health and productivity within indoor spaces through excellence in indoor air ventilation, filtration, and purification standards.
Heatex holds several certifications covering product and operation quality worldwide. Our products are field-tested and designed to comply with all relevant building codes and regulations.
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