Tabla de contenido
- Face velocity (higher speed = steeper rise) Core depth and plate count Surface corrugation and coating thickness Dust or fiber loading on fins
- Manufacturers publish pressure drop vs airflow. A good design operates on the flatter part of the curve — typically 2–3 m/s face velocity for plates. Beyond that, fan power rises faster than recovered heat.
- Net savings = recovered thermal energy − extra fan energy. As a rule of thumb, keep added pressure drop under 100–150 Pa for ventilation applications unless efficiency gains are large.
- Use EC plug fans to capture part-load efficiency. Add pre-filters to keep the core clean. Provide access for periodic cleaning. Model the full year, not just design day.
- Is a bigger core always better? Not always. A deeper core raises efficiency but also pressure drop; optimize the combination. How often should I clean? Inspect quarterly in dusty duty; clean when pressure drop rises 15–20 % above baseline.
A heat exchanger only saves energy if the recovered heat exceeds the extra electricity needed to push air through it. That trade-off is governed by pressure drop.
- Face velocity (higher speed = steeper rise)
- Core depth and plate count
- Surface corrugation and coating thickness
- Dust or fiber loading on fins
Manufacturers publish pressure drop vs airflow. A good design operates on the flatter part of the curve — typically 2–3 m/s face velocity for plates. Beyond that, fan power rises faster than recovered heat.
Net savings = recovered thermal energy − extra fan energy. As a rule of thumb, keep added pressure drop under 100–150 Pa for ventilation applications unless efficiency gains are large.
- Use EC plug fans to capture part-load efficiency.
- Add pre-filters to keep the core clean.
- Provide access for periodic cleaning.
- Model the full year, not just design day.
Is a bigger core always better?
Not always. A deeper core raises efficiency but also pressure drop; optimize the combination.
How often should I clean?
Inspect quarterly in dusty duty; clean when pressure drop rises 15–20 % above baseline.