Residential air-to-air heat exchangers: a study of the ventilation efficiencies of wall- or window-mounted units

Technical Report · Wed Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1982

OSTI ID:5110157

Offermann, F J; Fisk, W J; Pedersen, B; Revzan, K L

Mechanical ventilation systems with air-to-air heat exchangers can be installed into residences to provide energy efficient supplementary ventilation for the purpose of controlling indoor concentrations of contaminants, odors, and moisture. Wall-or window-mounted units have become particularly attractive because they are relatively inexpensive and easy to install, however, because they lack an air distribution system, concern has arisen over their ventilation performance. To address this concern, the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory has conducted a series of experiments on two different models of wall- or window-mounted heat exchangers in two multi-room research facilities. The nominal ventilation efficiencies of these units have been determined by measurement of tracer gas decay rates at several indoor locations to be in the range of 0.44 or 0.65. No significant correlations between nominal ventilation efficiency and heat exchanger model or operational strategies were observed. Significantly higher local ventilation efficiencies were noted in the rooms where the heat exchangers were operating. Some preliminary tests indicate that internal leakage between the airstreams contributes significantly to the ventilation inefficiency of these systems.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Berkeley Lab., CA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-76SF00098
• OSTI ID: 5110157
• Report Number(s): DOE/BP-219; ON: DE84010340
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320101* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Residential Buildings-- (-1987)
AIR INFILTRATION
AIR POLLUTION
BUILDINGS
EFFICIENCY
HEAT EXCHANGERS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
POLLUTION
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
VENTILATION
VENTILATION SYSTEMS