Energy Recovery Systems

Nortek Air Solutions offers both air handlers and packaged DX systems with energy recovery technologies. Our innovative Energy Recovery Systems integrate advanced technologies and components into the HVAC system design. These systems help capture the energy in the airstream that would otherwise be exhausted to the atmosphere and use it to either pre-heat or pre-cool the outdoor airstream, depending on the season.
This pre-heating or pre-cooling can lead to significant energy savings and a reduction in the building’s central plant size.

Energy Recovery Systems use the energy in building air that would normally be exhausted to treat the incoming ventilation air. During warmer seasons, the system pre-cools and dehumidifies the incoming ventilation air by sending the rejected heat into the exhaust airstream to cool the condenser coil at a lower temperature. During cooler seasons, the system uses the heat from the exhaust airstream to pre-heat and humidify the incoming ventilation air.

We offer several types of energy recovery technologies:

• Rotary wheels. Our air-to-air energy recovery wheels consist of a rotating cylinder — filled with an air-permeable material — between the ventilation and exhaust airstreams. As the wheel rotates, it draws in heat energy and releases it into the colder airstream. We offer custom units with some of the largest heat wheels available.

• Flat plate exchangers. Flat plate exchangers consist of alternating layers of plates that are separated and sealed with a heat or energy recovery core treating incoming air. Our flat plate exchangers are offered in three substrate material options — aluminum, polypropylene, or heat and moisture.

Heat pipe technologies. Heat pipes are air-to-air heat exchangers consisting of metal tubes charged with a refrigerant (R-134a for most commercial applications). Heat pipe technology offers one of the most robust solutions for difficult applications where high temperatures are encountered, low Exhaust Air Transfer Ratio (EATR) is required, or corrosive and contaminated air may be present with a high risk of fouling.

Our innovative energy recovery systems offer a number of benefits, including:

• Improved indoor air quality. Energy recovery systems supply a steady stream of conditioned fresh air to your building environment, reducing the amount of particulates in your air, thereby improving indoor air quality.

• Energy savings. Energy recovery systems recycle the heating and cooling energy present in your air handling system to reduce costs.

• Moisture control. Energy recovery systems help you maintain a comfortable relative humidity in your indoor environment by transferring the moisture from humid outdoor air to the exhaust airstream or adding moisture to the incoming ventilation air.
• Compliance. Energy recovery systems meet ASHRAE ventilation and energy standards.