Ventilation heat recovery, also called mechanical ventilation heat recovery, essentially is an air-source recovery ventilation system that functions between two external sources at slightly different temperatures. Heat recovery ventilation is a system that is increasingly being used in buildings to lower the cooling and heating costs of commercial properties. These ventilation systems operate on the principle that the temperature outside the building should be cooler than the inside temperature, therefore the ventilation should take in more air, and the cold air should return to the building, thereby reducing the heated air output. They are designed to be used in small offices and residential spaces where high-efficiency systems are not available.
The ventilation used in buildings is very different from the natural ventilation provided by the ventilation of the air moving through the roof of a building. Natural ventilation helps to keep air movement going through the structure of the building, the movement of which can reduce the heated air output significantly. This is because the natural ventilation provided by the roof of a building slows the air movement and also traps some of the heated air within the structure of the building. Where ventilation is poor, the heated air is unable to move out and reach the outside. In fact, some experts believe that ventilation provides the greatest impact when it comes to keeping the building warm.
The ventilation systems used in buildings are often complicated. In order to keep the heated air inside the building, it must be moved into the rooms that are most likely to have problems with heating and cooling. The more the air has to travel through a building in order to reach the rooms that need cooling, the higher the energy consumption will be. For this reason, energy consumption is one of the major contributing factors to the increase in heating costs across the UK. Heat recovery ventilation systems work by drawing in fresh air heat pump from the outside through the roof space of the building, thereby replacing the need for fresh air vents in the rooms of the building that may not have adequate ventilation.
The long description above may not make much sense to someone who has no idea what a heat recovery ventilator actually does. So, here is a short description of how heat recovery ventilation works in an industry typical situation. A ventilation system removes heat from a room through an air movement mechanism, usually via a tube or pipe. As the air moves into the room, it warms up and enters the space. As the warm air travels through the ductwork, fresh air is introduced into the area, helping to maintain a constant room temperature.
There are three components of heat recovery ventilation: the air movement mechanism, the heat recovery ventilator, and the heat treatment unit. The air movement mechanism is responsible for drawing in the air from the outdoors. The heat recovery ventilator then delivers the indoor air to the rooms that require cooling. Finally, the heat treatment unit distributes the indoor air to the rooms that require heating.
When people think of heat recovery ventilation, they usually picture a cooling system for commercial buildings or hot water heaters. This is true, but heat recovery air conditioning is also very valuable to industrial, agricultural, and manufacturing operations. Industrial operations tend to generate high levels of heat, due to the large amount of work that must be performed within a short period of time. In such cases, heating equipment is employed, such as blowers and ventilation heat recovery systems.
When an industrial operation requires cooling, there are two different types of ventilation systems that are commonly used: forced air and vented gases. Forced air ventilation systems draw in outdoor air through a series of ducts that are connected to the exterior of a building. The air is pulled in using a high-pressurized fan and directed toward the locations that need to be cooled. On the other hand, vented gas ventilation systems are used in industrial facilities where high levels of heat are required, but the employees or materials are protected from the hazardous elements of the gases. These venting systems draw in air from the outside, which is then directed inside the facility, where it can be dispersed into various usable areas.
Both types of ventilation have their advantages and disadvantages. Forced air ventilation fans can cost up to five times more than a venting system for heating and cooling. Also, since it is more difficult to install, it may not always be the best option. On the other hand, the venting system for the gas-fired furnace is highly efficient. Even with the additional costs, the savings on HVAC bills is often well worth it, when you consider what you will save on energy and water bills!
