Efficient energy recovery in AHU

DOHA, Qatar 11.04.2010

Timo Schreck
Enventus AB, Sweden
 Main principles for cooling and dehumidification
process in AHU

Water
Rel. humidity

100%

80%

60%

50%

40%
1. With cooling coil and reheater al
py 24 g/kg
th
En
Summer outdoor design 22 g/kg
46.1°C, 31%

30%
2. Energy recovery with sensible 60
kJ/
1
20 g/kg

kg 18 g/kg

or sorption rotor 16 g/kg

1 .2

20%
0k
g /m 14 g/kg
3

1. With cooling coil and reheater 12 g/kg

15%
10 g/kg
2 Exhaust air 24.0 °C 50%
8 g/kg

10%
2. + With horse shoe heat pipe Incoming Fresh Air 20.6°C, 61%
6 g/kg

5%
4 g/kg

1.1 0 kg/m3
3
1.15 kg/m
2 g/kg

3. With double wheel system -0 g/kg

and cooling coil

10 °

15 °

20 °

25 °

30 °

35 °

40 °

45 °
Temperature

Carrier psychrometric chart for air humid - Pressure 1.013 bar (0.000 m / 20.000 °C / 50.000 % rH)
 CASE STUDY
• Location: Dubai / Doha
• Summer out door 46.1°C, Rh 31%, 19.9 g/kg
• Inlet fresh air 20.6°C, Rh 61%, 9.2 g/kg
• Exhaust air 24.0 °C Rh 50%, 9.2 g/kg

• Calculation done for 1m3/s, 3600 m3/h

• Temp / humidity efficiency of HR units 65-70%
• Exhaust air 90% of supply air

• COP of cooling units 3

• Cooling capacity cost 300-400 €/kW,
300 €/kW used
• Electric capacity cost 800-1000 €/kW,
800 €/kW used
(price of power plant, actual for peak load case)
 Water
Rel. humidity

100%

80%

60%

50%

40%
The process E nt
h al
py 24 g/kg

Summer outdoor design 22 g/kg

46.1°C, 31%

30%
20 g/kg
1
60
kJ/ 18 g/kg
kg

16 g/kg
1 .2

20%
0k
g /m 14 g/kg
3

12 g/kg

15%
10 g/kg
2 Exhaust air 24.0 °C 50%
8 g/kg

10%
Incoming Fresh Air 20.6°C, 61%
6 g/kg

5%
4 g/kg

1.1 0 kg/m3
3
1.1 5 kg/m
Process load: 64 kW/m3/s
2 g/kg

-0 g/kg
10 °

15 °

20 °

25 °

30 °

35 °

40 °

45 °
Temperature

Carrier psychrometric chart for air humid - Pressure 1.013 bar (0.000 m / 20.000 °C / 50.000 % rH)
The challenge

Investor:
- Minimum investments
- Energy efficient solution
Society:
-Sustainable development
- Green building, LEEDS etc.
- Regulations
Engineer:
- Minimum service
- Minimum amount of partners
- No problems
- Fast to design
- Easy to commission
- Peace of mind
- Good engineering work
No energy recovery
 Water
Rel. humidity

100%

80%

60%

50%

40%
Basic traditional process y
a lp 24 g/kg
w/o recovery En
th

Summer outdoor design 22 g/kg

46.1°C, 31%

30%
20 g/kg
1
60
kJ/ 18 g/kg
kg

Cooling down to 12.8°C 16 g/kg

Dehumidification
1 .2 -10.2 g/kg

20%
0k
g /m 14 g/kg
3

12 g/kg

15%
10 g/kg

2
8 g/kg

10%
Reheating to 20.6°C Incoming Fresh Air 20.6°C, 61%
6 g/kg

5%
4 g/kg

1.1 0 kg/m3
3
Cooling 75 kW/m3/s

1.1 5 kg/m
2 g/kg

equals 25 kW/m3/s electric power

-0 g/kg

Reheating 10 kW/m3/s Temperature

10 °

15 °

20 °

25 °

30 °

35 °

40 °

45 °
Carrier psychrometric chart for air humid - Pressure 1.013 bar (0.000 m / 20.000 °C / 50.000 % rH)
Without energy recovery
Pros
• Low initial cost in AHU

Cons
• Very high running cost
• Higher initial cost in cooling,
electric installation etc.

Summary
• Should be avoided as total
economically bad solution
• Not sustainable design
Energy recovery with sensible wheel
 Water
Rel. humidity

100%
With sensible wheel:

80%

60%

50%

40%
py 24 g/kg
h al
nt
Cool recovery
E down to 30.9°C
Summer outdoor design 22 g/kg
no dehumidification 46.1°C, 31%

30%
20 g/kg
1
3
60
kJ/ 18 g/kg
kg

16 g/kg

cooling down to 112.8°C

.2 0

20%
kg/ 14 g/kg
m 3

12 g/kg

15%
Exhaust air 24.0°C 50%
10 g/kg
4 2
8 g/kg

10%
Incoming Fresh Air 20.6°C, 61%
6 g/kg

5%
4 g/kg

Cool recovery 19 kW/m3/s

1.10 kg/m3
3
1.1 5 kg/m
2 g/kg

Cooling 55 kW/m3/s -0 g/kg

equals 18kW/m3/s electric power

10 °

15 °

20 °

25 °

30 °

35 °

40 °

45 °
Temperature

Reheating 10 kW/m /s 3
Carrier psychrometric chart for air humid - Pressure 1.013 bar (0.000 m / 20.000 °C / 50.000 % rH)
Sensible wheel
Pros
• 25% of cooling load is recovered
• Smaller cooling unit and cooling
coil

Cons
• No humidity recovered
• Electric heating still needed
• Could be much better with little
extra investment

Summary
• Solution that should be avoided
if dehumidification needed
• First step towards energy
recovery
Sorption / Total Energy wheel
 Water
Rel. humidity

100%

80%

60%

50%

40%
With sorption/total energy wheel
py 24 g/kg
h al
E nt
Summer outdoor design 22 g/kg
46.1°C, 31%

30%
20 g/kg
1
60
kJ/ 18 g/kg
kg
Cool recovery down to 31.2°C
dehumidification -7.4 g/kg 16 g/kg
1 .2

20%
0k
g /m 14 g/kg
3

Cooling down to 12.8°C 3 12 g/kg

15%
2 Exhaust air 24.0°C 50% 10 g/kg

4 8 g/kg

10%
Incoming Fresh Air 20.6°C, 61%
6 g/kg

5%
4 g/kg

Cool recovery 41 kW/m3/s

1.1 0 kg/m3
3
1.1 5 kg/m
2 g/kg

Cooling 35 kW/m3/s -0 g/kg

equals 12 kW/m3/s electric power

10 °

15 °

20 °

25 °

30 °

35 °

40 °

45 °
Temperature

Reheating
Carrier psychrometric chart for air humid - Pressure 1.013 10 kW/m
bar (0.000 3/s% rH)
m / 20.000 °C / 50.000
Sorption/total Energy wheel
Pros
• 55% of cooling load, 63% of
latent load is recovered
• Smaller cooling coil

Cons
• Still more to recover
• Electric heating still needed
10 kW/m3/s

Summary
• A good established solution
towards good energy
recovery
 Sorption wheel +
horse shoe heat pipe
 Water
Rel. humidity

100%

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%
With Sorption wheel +heat pipe y
lp 24 g/kg
t ha
En
Summer outdoor design 22 g/kg

30%
46.1°C, 31%
20 g/kg
1 .1 1
60 8 kg
k J /k /m 3 18 g/kg
g

16 g/kg
1 .2

20%
Heat
0 kg
/m 3 pipe cooling down 25.2 14 g/kg

3
Cool recovery down to 31.2°C 12 g/kg
1 .2 4

15%
Cooling down to 12.8°C /m3
2 kg
dehumidification -7.4 g/kg
2 10 g/kg

5 6 Exhaust air 24.0°C 50%

8 g/kg

10%
Heat pipe heating up to 18.1
Incoming Fresh Air 20.6°C, 61% 6 g/kg

5%
4 g/kg

1.1 0 kg/m3
3

3
3

1.1 4 kg/m

1.1 2 kg/m
1.1 6 kg/m
2 g/kg
Cool recovery 49 kW/m3/s -0 g/kg

Cooling 27 kW/m3/s
10 °

12 °

14 °

16 °

18 °

20 °

22 °

24 °

26 °

28 °

30 °

32 °

34 °

36 °

38 °

40 °

42 °

44 °

46 °

48 °
Temperature
equals 9 kW/m3/s electricity
Carrier psychrometric chart for air humid - Pressure 1.013 bar (0.000 m / 20.000 °C / 50.000 % rH)
Reheating 3 (7)kW/m3/s
Sorption wheel + heat pipe
Pros
• 65% of cooling load, 63% latent load
recovered.
• Reduced electric heating capacity
• Smaller cooling coil

Cons
• Still electric reheating needed, horse
shoe heat pipe doesn´t heat in winter
• Freon installation with leakage risk
• What happens in long run?

Summary
• Good step into right direction
• Still electric heating needed in winter
• Freon coils are doubtful for green
design
Double wheel concept
 Water
Rel. humidity

100%

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%
Double wheel concept al
py 24 g/kg
h
E nt

Summer outdoor design 22 g/kg

30%
46.1°C, 31%
20 g/kg
1 .1 3
60 8 kg
k J /k /m 3 18 g/kg
g

16 g/kg
Cool recovery down1.2to 23.9°C

20%
0
dehumidification -8.3kgg/kg
/m 3 14 g/kg

12 g/kg
1 .2 4

15%
2 kg
Cooling down to 12.8°C/m3
10 g/kg
2 1 Exhaust air 24.0°C 50%
1
8 g/kg

10%
Reheat recovery to 20.6°C Incoming Fresh Air 20.6°C, 61%
6 g/kg

Cool recovery 53 kW/m3/s

5%
4 g/kg

1.1 0 kg/m3
3

3
3

1.1 4 kg/m

1.1 2 kg/m
1.1 6 kg/m 2 g/kg
Cooling 22 kW/m3/s -0 g/kg
equals 7 kW/m3/s electricity
10 °

12 °

14 °

16 °

18 °

20 °

22 °

24 °

26 °

28 °

30 °

32 °

34 °

36 °

38 °

40 °

42 °

44 °

46 °

48 °
Reheating 0 kW/m3/s
Temperature

Carrier psychrometric chart for air humid - Pressure 1.013 bar (0.000 m / 20.000 °C / 50.000 % rH)
Double wheel concept
Pros
• 71% of cooling load, 77% latent
load recovered
• No electric heating
• Even smaller cooling coil

Cons
• Some increase in AHU costs(in
total installation cost savings)

Summary
• Perfect energy saving concept
• Should be used when reheating is
needed due to dehumidification
• Heat and cool recovery in one
 Comparison of different solutions per m3/s
System Cooling % Heating Other extra Total electric % Total cost of %
load load power: power load the loads
kW/m3/s kW/m3/s additional kW/m3/s Electric 800 €/kW
COP = 3 Cooling 300 €/kW
fan, drive
motor
w/o energy 75 0% 10 0 35 0% 50500 0%
recovery
Sensible 55 -27% 10 0.2 29 -17% 39400 -22%
wheel
Sorption/to 35 -53% 10 0.3 22 -37% 28100 -44%
tal energy
wheel
Sorption 27 -64% 3(7) 0.5 16 -54% 21300 -58%
wheel +
heat pipe
Double 22 -71% 0 0.5 8 -77% 12800 -75%
wheel
 Summary of double wheel concept
• Excellent concept from energy
saving perspective
•Sustainable green design
• Major savings in investments of
• Cooling capacity, chillers, cooling
towers etc.
• No electric heating
• Electric installation no switches for
electric hester
• Electric capacity fees
• Cooling piping installations.
•Major Energy savigns
• In all conditions and seasons
When reheating is required after
dehumidification
Thank you for your interest!
Any Questions?
 Design
Dimensioning:

Water
Rel. humidity

100%
1. Sensible wheel

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%
1. Exhaust air conditions lp
y 24 g/kg
t ha
2. Air after cooling coil En
Summer outdoor design 22 g/kg
3. Expected fresh air temperature

30%
46.1°C, 31%
20 g/kg
4. About 70% temperature efficiency. 1 .1 3
60 8 kg
k J /k /m 3 18 g/kg
2. Sorption / Total Wheel g

16 g/kg
1. Out door air
1 .2 2

20%
0 kg
2. Exhaust air after Sensible wheel /m 3 14 g/kg

3. Max capacity with 1.7 or 2.0 mm well 12 g/kg

1 .2
3 4

15%
2 kg
height 70- 85% temperature and /m 3
10 g/kg
humidity efficiency 2
1 1 Exhaust air 24.0°C 50%
1
3. Cooling coil 8 g/kg

10%
Incoming Fresh Air 20.6°C, 61%
1. Supply air after Sorption /total wheel 6 g/kg

2. Supply air to expected dew point

5%
4 g/kg

1.10 kg/m3
3

3
3
Controls:

1.1 4 kg/m

1.1 2 kg/m
1.1 6 kg/m
2 g/kg

1. Sensible rotor. -0 g/kg

1. Max capacity or temperature controller
10 °

12 °

14 °

16 °

18 °

20 °

22 °

24 °

26 °

28 °

30 °

32 °

34 °

36 °

38 °

40 °

42 °

44 °

46 °

48 °
Temperature
rotation speed
Carrier psychrometric chart for air humid - Pressure 1.013 bar (0.000 m / 20.000 °C / 50.000 % rH)
2. Sorption/ Total energy rotor
1. Max recovery capacity all the time.
Can be constant speed.