Development of Low Cost Total Energy Exchange Devices for Reducing Building Energy Consumption

Belding, William ; Collier, R. ; Worek, William

Collier Technologies

关键词: Buildings;    Dehumidifiers;    32 Energy Conservation, Consumption, And Utilization;    Energy Efficiency;    Heat Exchangers;   

DOI  :  10.2172/939577
RP-ID  :  None
RP-ID  :  FC26-00NT40992
RP-ID  :  939577

美国|英语

来源: UNT Digital Library

【 摘 要 】

The primary goal of this program is to develop a commercially viable enthalpy exchangers that exhibits performance comparable to state-of-the-art exchangers, meets flammability test standards, supports no biological growth, maintains mechanical integrity for a 10 year life (typical of competitive warrantees) and exhibits a total media raw material cost of approximately 1/5 of that of the competition. The first three program tasks were devoted to: (1) gathering background information on competitors and their methods of manufacturing; (2) establishing experimental and evaluation procedures for the program; (3) identifying potential desiccants, supports and binders to be tested; (4) preparing matrix combinations on a laboratory scale; (5) testing component combinations for equilibrium moisture uptakes at different relative humidities (isotherms) and dynamic moisture adsorption rates; (6) using media adsorption properties to models to predict exchanger performance; (7) estimating ease of manufacture and finished wheel costs; and (8) calculating raw material, wheel and cassette costs based on the best media formulations. Since the rotary enthalpy exchangers have high rotational speeds, uptake rate is at least as important as equilibrium moisture uptake. Therefore, a procedure and apparatus were developed to determine adsorption rate so that the Lewis number (the ratio of mass transfer resistance to heat transfer resistance) could be calculated. The calculated values for different media materials could then be used for performance model predictions. Based on the results achieved, three systems have been selected as enthalpy exchange media candidates for the next phase of work. All materials are expected to give at least the same level of sensible and latent performance as the competitive media.