ERV with added Refrigeration heat recovery
ERV with added Refrigeration heat recovery
(OP)
I have that idea to enhance a regular ERV wheel with a refrigeration heat recovery (or rejection in summer). I drew up (attached) how that could look like and wonder if the best and brightest have come across that or have an opinion. Basic idea is:
1. Use ERV wheel to recover some energy and precondition OA
2. Add reversible heatpump to extract heat in EA and warm up OA (Winter operation) or do the opposite in summer (re-cool OA and reject heat to EA).
Potential advantages:
1. potentially better COP of heatpump in cooling since it rejects heat to the EA that is colder than OAT.
2. Potentially high COP to heat OA in winter since we extract heat from relatively warm EA.
Possible issues are:
1. added pressure drop due to condenser/evaporator coils. Obviously an energy simulation needs to determine if there is a net benefit.
2. potential freezing of EA coil if we extract too much heat (I'm in WI)
3. A small heatpump may have less overall efficiency than using a larger more efficient chiller for cooling OA.
Any opinions appreciated. Right now this is a very schematic concept without having done actual calculations for a real-world design.
1. Use ERV wheel to recover some energy and precondition OA
2. Add reversible heatpump to extract heat in EA and warm up OA (Winter operation) or do the opposite in summer (re-cool OA and reject heat to EA).
Potential advantages:
1. potentially better COP of heatpump in cooling since it rejects heat to the EA that is colder than OAT.
2. Potentially high COP to heat OA in winter since we extract heat from relatively warm EA.
Possible issues are:
1. added pressure drop due to condenser/evaporator coils. Obviously an energy simulation needs to determine if there is a net benefit.
2. potential freezing of EA coil if we extract too much heat (I'm in WI)
3. A small heatpump may have less overall efficiency than using a larger more efficient chiller for cooling OA.
Any opinions appreciated. Right now this is a very schematic concept without having done actual calculations for a real-world design.





RE: ERV with added Refrigeration heat recovery
I am adding a link to a similar project in Sweden without the heat wheel.
B.E.
You are judged not by what you know, but by what you can do.
RE: ERV with added Refrigeration heat recovery
RE: ERV with added Refrigeration heat recovery
But now that I think about it more, 2 wheels probably would be more efficient without compressor, but similar pressure drop.
I wouldn't do a heatpump only, since the ERV will decrease EA humidity and recover humidity for OA. that also would decrease likelihood of freezing EA when the EA coil is in evaporator mode in winter.