A quick reference for the standards and terms that appear in heat-recovery specifications: EN 308, AHRI 1060, ASHRAE 84, EN 16798 and GB/T 21087, the effectiveness and leakage definitions, and the formulas used to convert test data into a duty point. Keep it open while reading a manufacturer datasheet or writing a ventilation specification.
The reference sheet engineers reach for: the standards that define performance, the formulas behind every sizing, and the terms you see on a datasheet.
Standards quick-reference
| 規格 | 適用範囲 | What it defines |
|---|---|---|
| EN 308 | EU test method for air-to-air heat recovery devices | Sensible & total heat-transfer rate and effectiveness test setup and procedure. |
| AHRI 1060 | Performance rating of air-to-air exchangers for ERV/HRV equipment | Sensible, latent and enthalpy effectiveness ratings at rated conditions. |
| ASHRAE Std 84 | Method of testing air-to-air heat exchangers | Laboratory procedure for sensible and total effectiveness. |
| EN 13141-4 | Residential ventilation components — performance testing | Field/lab test of heat-recovery ventilation units including effectiveness. |
| Eurovent 6/11 | European certification of air handling & heat-recovery units | Voluntary performance certification and energy labelling. |
| EN 16798 / EPBD | Building energy performance — ventilation requirements | Indoor environment and energy criteria that drive recovery specifications. |
Formulas engineers use
Run the numbers: Unit converter · Frost estimator
Glossary
- 顕熱効率
- Fraction of the temperature difference recovered; heat only, no moisture transfer.
- Total / enthalpy effectiveness
- Fraction of the enthalpy (heat + moisture) difference recovered; defines ERV performance.
- Rotary wheel
- Revolving thermal mass that transfers heat (and moisture, if enthalpy) between streams; highest effectiveness, small carry-over.
- Plate core
- Fixed stack of plates. Counter-flow reaches higher effectiveness than cross-flow; streams stay fully separated.
- ヒートパイプ
- Sealed pipe with phase-change fluid; passive, no motor, compact and freeze-tolerant.
- ランアラウンドコイル
- Two coils linked by a circulating fluid; separates streams by distance with no air mixing.
- Dew point
- Temperature at which air condenses moisture; below it, surfaces wet or (if <0°C) frost.
- Frost / defrost
- Ice forming on the cold side in winter; managed by preheat, bypass or frost-tolerant cores.
- Bypass
- Damper route that lets air skip the core in mild weather or during defrost.
- NTU
- Number of transfer units — dimensionless size of the exchanger; higher NTU means higher effectiveness.
- Face velocity
- Air speed through the core face; higher speeds cut size but raise pressure drop.
- Pressure drop
- Fan energy needed to push air through the core; trades off against effectiveness.
- ERV vs HRV
- HRV = heat only; ERV = heat + moisture. ERV controls humidity load, HRV avoids moisture transfer.
- 交差汚染
- Exhaust leaking into supply; eliminated by separated cores (plate, heat pipe, run-around).
- Balanced flow
- Equal supply and exhaust airflow; unbalanced designs recover on the lower flow.
Translating specs into a build?
Send your duty — airflow, temperatures, humidity and exhaust description — and we will match a core to EN 308 / AHRI 1060 and your pressure budget.
Call: 15753355505
Request a quote →How to use this tool in a specification
These results are a first-pass screening aid. Confirm the duty point against certified test data (EN 308 / AHRI 1060), the applicable energy code, and the manufacturer datasheet before issuing a purchase specification. For a verified sizing, send us your airflow and temperatures.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between ERV and HRV?
HRV (Heat Recovery Ventilation) transfers sensible heat only. ERV (Energy Recovery Ventilation) transfers both sensible heat and moisture (latent/enthalpy). Use HRV where humidity transfer is unwanted or streams are separated; use ERV where controlling indoor humidity load matters (pools, humid climates, shared building air).
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Related: ASHRAE & IECC requirements, seasonal efficiency, Eurovent certification · all heat recovery tools.