Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 8
E
XPERIMENTAL
A
NALYSIS OF A
C
OMBINED
R
ECOVERY
S
YSTEM
R. Herrero Martín
*
Departamento de Ingeniería Térmica y de Fluidos
Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena.
A
BSTRACT
The present work is found in the field of energy recovery in air conditioning systems
to promote energy saving and improve environmental quality. Experimental research has
been carried out whose aim is the characterization of combined recovery equipment,
consisting of a ceramic semi-indirect evaporative cooler and a heat pipe device to recover
energy at low temperature in air conditioning systems. For characterization purposes, a
design of experiment (DOE) and an analysis of variance (ANOVA) were applied with the
aim of better understanding the energy behaviour of the combined device. The combined
system built allows a feasible energy exchange between the supply airstream and the
return one, improving the operation in air-conditioning systems. It is a new alternative
device for use as a recovery system. The configuration chosen (crossed flow) is the most
adequate from an operational point of view. The characterization of the system was
carried out by employing experimental design methodology. A factorial design was
performed by analysing how the factors used affect the characteristics analyzed. The
contributions of the single factors and their interactions were presented by carrying out a
variance analysis. The superiority of the evaporative cooling device under the operating
conditions was clearly shown. An estimation of the energy saved by the combined system
was carried out, showing the possibilities of implementing this solution to save energy
and also to improve the indoor air quality by means of increasing the ventilation rates.
Keywords:
energy recovery, evaporative cooling, heat pipes.
