ilmankeskilämmönvaihtimia

Ilmankeskilämmönvaihdin, often translated as air-to-air heat exchanger, is a device used to transfer heat between two air streams. This is commonly employed in ventilation systems to preheat or precool incoming fresh air using the outgoing exhaust air. The primary purpose is to reduce the energy required for heating or cooling the building, thereby improving energy efficiency.

There are several types of air-to-air heat exchangers, including rotary heat exchangers, plate heat exchangers, and heat pipes. Rotary heat exchangers consist of a rotating wheel that absorbs heat from the exhaust air and then releases it to the incoming fresh air. Plate heat exchangers use a series of parallel plates to separate the air streams, allowing heat to conduct through the plates. Heat pipes are sealed tubes containing a working fluid that evaporates on the hot side and condenses on the cold side, transferring heat between the air streams.

The effectiveness of an air-to-air heat exchanger is measured by its thermal efficiency, which indicates the percentage of heat that is transferred from the exhaust air to the fresh air. These devices are crucial components in modern energy-efficient buildings, contributing significantly to reducing heating and cooling loads and improving indoor air quality by enabling a higher rate of fresh air supply without a substantial energy penalty. They are widely used in residential, commercial, and industrial applications.