Dew Point and Frost Point: The Temperatures That Decide Core Survival

Dew point: where water appears

The dew point is the temperature at which air, cooled at constant pressure and humidity, becomes saturated and water begins to condense. If a recovery core surface drops below the exhaust dew point, condensate forms on it – normal in cooling duty, a design input for drainage.

Frost point: where ice appears

Below 0 degC the same limit is the frost point: moisture deposits as ice instead of liquid. In cold-climate ventilation the exhaust airstream can sit below freezing while the supply is also cold, so the core can ice up and block airflow.

Why this bounds the design

Recovery only works while the core is open. Once frost bridges the channels, effectiveness collapses and fan power spikes. That is why 気候ベースの選定 matters: northern sites need defrost or frost-tolerant cores, not just a high nominal effectiveness.

Related reading

Protection strategies – purge sectors, preheat, bypass – are covered separately under frost protection in heat recovery systems.

Frequently asked questions

Is frost point always below dew point? For the same moisture content, yes – frost forms at a lower temperature than condensation because ice has lower vapour pressure than liquid water.

Do plates frost as badly as wheels? Plates can frost too, but a motorised bypass is simpler to apply than wheel regeneration.

Need help specifying the right air-to-air heat recovery for your project? Contact the QIYU engineering team – WhatsApp +86 157 5335 5505, or email kuns913@gmail.com.

よくある質問

Why is dew point the critical temperature for a recuperator?

When the colder exhaust falls below the incoming air's dew point, moisture condenses on the core; below 0 degrees C it can frost and block the passages, so dew and frost point set the defrost or bypass strategy.

How do you protect a core in freezing climates?

Use frost-suppression methods such as preheating the supply air, recirculation or bypass of part of the exhaust, or wheel frost-control purging so the leaving-exhaust temperature stays above freezing.

よくある質問

Why is dew point the critical temperature for a recuperator?

When the colder exhaust falls below the incoming air's dew point, moisture condenses on the core; below 0 degrees C it can frost and block the passages, so dew and frost point set the defrost or bypass strategy.

How do you protect a core in freezing climates?

Use frost-suppression methods such as preheating the supply air, recirculation or bypass of part of the exhaust, or wheel frost-control purging so the leaving-exhaust temperature stays above freezing.

適切な熱交換器を選定

当社のエンジニアが風量、温度、圧力損失の予算に合わせてコアを設計し、用途に応じて板式・回転式・ヒートパイプ回収を選定します。以下をお読みください: 熱交換器ガイド 、または仕様についてお問い合わせください。

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関連製品

Air-to-Air Heat Exchanger

HVAC および換気向けの板式・回転式・ヒートパイプ回収。

Plate Heat Exchanger

空気と液体用の大表面積固定コア。

ロータリー熱回収ホイール

大風量向け高効率エネルギー回収。

Heat Pipe Heat Exchanger

清浄用途向けの受動的・完全分離流。

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