Heat Pipe Heat Exchanger Selection: When Passive Recovery Wins

目次

heat pipe is a sealed tube with a working fluid that transfers heat by evaporation and condensation - no moving parts, no power, no cross-flow. In HVAC, banks of heat pipes sit in the airstream to pre-cool (or pre-heat) incoming air using the exhaust stream. It is the most passive form of air-to-air recovery.

  • Zero cross-contamination - supply and exhaust never mix, ideal for cleanrooms and hospitals.
  • No frost, no defrost - the thermal diode effect and gravity-assisted designs avoid the icing problems of wheels (see frost protection).
  • Maintenance-free - no motor, belt, or seals to service.

  • Orientation - gravity-assisted pipes need a slight tilt; capillary (arterial) pipes work in any position.
  • Effectiveness - typically 0.50-0.70, lower than a rotary wheel but with none of its carryover.
  • Temperature range - pick the working fluid (water, ammonia, refrigerants) for the operating band.

Compare with plate, rotary, and run-around coils in our plate vs rotary vs heat pipe guide. Heat pipes suit moderate airflows where reliability and separation beat peak effectiveness. Size using the method in efficiency metrics.

関連投稿

検索語を上に入力し、 Enter キーを押して検索します。キャンセルするには ESC を押してください。

トップに戻る