International. The International Refrigeration Institute (IIR) published two new information notes on energy recovery: one on energy recovery in mechanical ventilation systems and the other on air-to-air energy recovery equipment.
The thermal loads of buildings, in addition to internal gains, can be classified into two main categories: losses or gains per envelope and ventilation loads. Ventilation loads are becoming more important as air purity standards and therefore fresh air supply rates are increasing.
Heat recovery from exhaust air can greatly reduce these loads by preheating or precooling the fresh inlet air. Heat recovery in a ventilation system allows for significant energy savings, particularly when outdoor conditions differ greatly from indoor ones. In addition, when a recovery system is provided, the installed heating and cooling capacity can be greatly reduced.
The IIR Information Note on Energy Recovery in Mechanical Ventilation Systems analyzes the possible energy, environmental and economic benefits of this technology according to the climate in which the building is located. It concludes that heat recovery in mechanical ventilation systems can reduce the use of fossil fuels with recovery periods of one or two years.
The IIR Information Note on Air-to-Air Energy Recovery Equipment describes the performance, characteristics and operating modes of the wide variety of appliances available for use in building ventilation heat recovery or process-to-process industrial heat recovery. The energy benefits of heat recovery can allow for energy cost reductions that can easily exceed 70%.
The summaries for policymakers describe the main findings and recommendations of these new briefing notes and are freely accessible.
Download the two IIR energy recovery briefing notes (free for IIR members) at https://iifiir.org/en/iir-informatory-notes
