A study on performance improvement of corrugated type total heat exchanger considering the structure of flow passage on surface

Abstract

Three types of flow passage structure of a total heat exchanger (perforated type, slit type, and embossed and perforated type ) are studied to enhance the heat exchange performance of a heat recovery ventilation system (total heat exchanger). The perforated type has four punched rows of 6mm holes in the flow passage channel, and the slit type has six processed rows of 40mm length. The embossed and perforated type has holes of about 1mm diameter and protrusions of about 0.2mm height on all surfaces. The heat exchange efficiency of the modified total heat exchanger was compared to that of a general total heat exchanger with a smooth surface. The Korean Standard (KS) heat recovery ventilator test condition was applied for tests. In the case of cooling operation based on a typical Reynolds number of 140 (typical air flow rate of 100 m 3 /hr), the perforated type, slit type, and embossed and perforated type showed temperature efficiency improvement of 1.2%, 2.5%, and 5.0%; latent efficiency improvement of 18.0%, 32.3%, and 24.5%; and enthalpy efficiency improvement of 7.9%, 11.5%, and 11.2%, respectively. The corresponding improvements of heating operation were 3.0%, 3.4%, and 4.0%; 5.0%, 6.6%, and 18.7%; 3.2%, 4.3%, and 7.7%, respectively. On the other hand, the air pressure drop throughout the modified flow passage of the total heat exchanger increased by up to 1.7% at the typical Reynolds number of 140, from the air pressure drop of the regular total heat exchanger.