Energy Recovery Wheels

Increased ventilation rates, which are required to satisfy the ventilation standard, mean a greater expenditure of energy to condition outside air. One way that savings can be realized in an HVAC system is through the use of exhaust air energy recovery. Exhaust air energy recovery can take many forms—rotary heat exchangers, heat-pipes, plate heat exchangers, etc., but all of the devices operate on the same principle —they use exhaust air to condition supply air through a transfer of energy. This application guide examines the rotary heat exchanger—also called an energy wheel, or energy recovery wheel—and the benefits of incorporating such a device in an air handling unit.