AIR-TO-AIR HEAT RECOVERY DEVICES FOR SMALL BUILDINGS

With the escalation of fuel costs, many people are turning to tighter, better insulated buildings as a means of achieving energy conservation. This is especially true in northern climates, where heating seasons are long and severe. Installing efficient well sealed vapor barriers and weather stripping and caulking around doors and windows reduces cold air infiltration but can lead to damaging moisture buildup, as well as unpleasant and even unhealthy accumulations of odors and gases. To provide the necessary ventilation air to maintain air quality in homes while holding down energy costs, air-to-air heat exchangers have been proposed for residential and other simple structures normally not served by an active or forced ventilation system. Four basic types of air-to-air heat exchangers are sited for small scale use: rotary, coil-loop, heat pipe, and plate. The operating principles of each of these units are presented and their individual advantages and disadvantages are discussed. A test program has been initiated to evaluate the performance of a few commercial units as well as several units designed and/or built at the University of Alaska. Preliminary results from several of these tests are presented along with a critique on their design.

• Record URL:
  • http://www.dot.state.ak.us/stwddes/research/assets/pdf/ak_rd_82_23.pdf
• 
• Record URL:
  • https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/40092
• Corporate Authors:

  Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities

  2301 Peger Road
  Fairbanks, AK  United States  99701
• Authors:
  • Zarling, J P
• Publication Date: 1982

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Pagination: 50 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Energy conservation; Frigid regions; Heat exchangers; Minor structures; Performance evaluations; Ventilation systems
• Uncontrolled Terms: Heat recovery
• Old TRIS Terms: Small buildings; Test results
• Subject Areas: Design; Energy; Environment; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Terminals and Facilities; I21: Planning of Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00488139
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities
• Report/Paper Numbers: AK-RD-82-23
• Files: NTL, TRIS, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Sep 30 1989 12:00AM