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.
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.
Commercial ventilation systems can cover a wide range of commercial applications from retail, through to sport and leisure as well as office accommodation. Different areas demand different requirements.
Here are some of the most important applications using air-conditioning systems and energy recovery.
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.
Our skilled and experienced application engineers support you during the entire development process.
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