ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF THE SYSTEM, SAVING ON HEATING
REDUCTION OF POSSIBLE HEAT LOSS
OPTIMAL AIR EXCHANGE IN THE HOUSE AND APARTMENT
Why is air recuperation necessary?
For a long time, house ventilation was a natural process. It happened with the help of the airflow that passed through the gaps of the windows or aeration. The air intake was carried out through ventilation ducts. However, nowadays there are issues with this process caused by noise, dust, and other pollution that pass with the air through an open window. Moreover, in the wintertime, cold wind enters the living space causing not only discomfort but also additional load on the heating system. A similar situation happens in summer – hot air coming from the street loads an air conditioning system and causes additional financial charges.
Construction trends are now focused on low energy consumption. With utility prices rising steadily, people are trying to make their homes as energy efficient as possible to reduce heating or cooling costs. One of the main aspects that must be taken into account is the heat loss of the room. It depends on the quality and the amount of glass-covered area, the insulation of the apartment, wall thickness, etc. This factor also depends on the ventilation in the apartment.
Modern ventilation systems can not only ensure proper airflow in the house, remove excess moisture and unwanted odors, but also help to save on heating. For this reason, it is necessary to choose ventilation equipment with a recuperator. Why is a recuperator necessary? Because without it, the ventilation equipment lowers the temperature of the exhaust air and blows cold air which must be heated again. Heat recuperators are installed to avoid such unjustified financial waste.
System recuperation advantages
Air recuperation system in house and apartment has many advantages as listed below:
The ventilation system ensures the supply of clean air without unwanted bacteria and allergens. Most air handling units are equipped with F7 class fine filters. To ensure the long-term operation of the recuperator and prevent clogging, a coarser filter of class G4 is also installed for the exhaust air.
MOISTURE PRESERVATION
The moisture in the room is recovered in the heat exchanger
We use 2 approaches for ventilation design: calculation based on the number of people and calculation based on air quality
When calculating based on the number of people, usually, the average norm of air supply for 1 person is taken at 25 m³/hour. There is also an option of increased comfort at 36 m³/hour. However, this calculation is not always cost-efficient, since people move from room to room and ventilation can operate at full capacity in a room without people.
The calculation based on air quality, specifically the level of CO2 content, is more energy-efficient and effective. In order to control the air quality, CO2 sensors are placed in the rooms, and the ventilation unit is equipped with VAV valves of variable airflow. Sensors control the level of CO2 in the rooms. VAV systems direct airflow into the areas where carbon dioxide levels rise. The active air supply is limited in other rooms. Using this approach, it is possible to achieve high-quality indicators of 550-600 ppm (one ppm, in our case, means the fraction of CO2 in a million particles of the air mixture), that is, 60 m³/person even with the smallest installation size.
RECUPERATORS: TYPES, WORK
What is an air recuperation system?
Recuperation is the return of energy for reuse. In the context of the ventilation system, recuperation is the reuse of heat, which is taken from the intake air and transferred to the supplied air. This process is made with a heat exchanger so-called recuperator.
Below we will explain in further detail what a recuperator is, its types, and operation basics.
WHAT IS A RECUPERATOR?
Let's discuss the air recuperation process and what a recuperator is.
The air recuperation system allows to significantly decrease the air heating cost. During a room ventilation process, the warm air (that was previously heated using energy and financial means) may be lost. Using a recuperator allows to retain and reuse this heat without wasting money.
So, what exactly recuperator is?
A recuperator is a heat exchange device that transfers heat from the exhaust air to the cold supply air. This device helps an already heated air to enter the house or. As a result, there is no need to spend additional energy on heating the air in the rooms.
Recuperated ventilation in a private house or apartment begins with the selection of a suitable device. Here is a list of factors that must be taken into consideration when designing a ventilation system with a recuperator:
Size of living space area
The number of residents
Each recuperator has its efficiency. This indicator is affected by the temperature of the intake air and the level of humidity. The warmer the intake air and the higher the humidity, the more efficient the recuperator is. Therefore, the intake of humid exhaust air from “dirty areas” by means of ventilation units increases the efficiency of the recuperator.
How does the recuperator work?
Let's take a closer look at how exactly the recuperator works in ventilation equipment
Such devices are gaining more and more popularity among clients. An easy operation fully demonstrates the practicability of purchasing supply and exhaust ventilation equipment with a recuperator for a house and an apartment
Important!
The higher the temperature of the exhaust air, the more it will be possible to heat the supply air.
Installation of a ventilation system with a recuperator reduces possible heat loss without compromising the quality of air exchange
Types of recuperators in vent systems
The recuperators used in ventilation systems in details: they differ in performance characteristics.
The recuperators used in ventilation systems in details: they differ in performance characteristics.
There are two types of ventilation installation:
vertical - placed in technical rooms or integrated into furniture;
horizontal - installed under the ceiling.
Vertical ventilation units with recuperation are mostly installed for domestic use (apartments and houses up to 250 m2) since they are more energy-efficient due to the large surface area of the recuperator.
In order to save resources, for a long time, many countries in Europe and other parts of the world have been using recuperation in ventilation systems for heating homes.
Most often, the following types of heat exchangers are used in ventilation equipment:
Rotary recuperator is a special disc-like heat exchanger, which is filled with corrugated metal sheets closely spaced to each other. The device has an electric motor that drives the recuperator. As they rotate, the heat from the intake air heats these plates. And when the disc enters the supply air zone, the stored heat in the plates is transferred to it, thereby heating it. Rotary heat exchangers are reliable and efficient.
The plate recuperator is designed to divide an airflow by metal plates. It does not have any moving parts, unlike rotary ones. Plate heat exchangers are popular because they are easy to manufacture and have a compact design. When the outside temperature is low, there is a possibility of freezing of the device, therefore condensate drainage is necessary. Plate recuperators can be polypropylene, plastic, metal, and enthalpy.
Enthalpy recuperators - in addition to heat, such recuperators also transfer moisture to the supply air, which eliminates the necessity of drainage. The disadvantage of the enthalpy recuperator is its short duration of use. It is recommended to install it only during the winter period.
Filtration. To ensure the smooth operation of the recuperator, it is important to have air filtration. To avoid contamination of recuperator, a G4 class filter is installed for taking exhaust air is in “dirty zones” - kitchen, bathroom, dressing room.
Since condensation forms on most recuperators, the ingress of dust on its surface can lead to the formation of fungus.
The enthalpy recuperator does not have condensation, but its porous surface can also become contaminated with micro-dust, which adversely affects the efficiency of its operation. Therefore, when using an enthalpy recuperator, it is necessary to strictly control the regular replacement of filters.
Post- and preheating. The temperature is controlled by a pre-heater and a post-heater in low-cost brands with ineffective recuperation. This protects the recuperators from freezing.
For example, in Jablotron ventilation units, the power of the heating element for post-heating is only 300W. In other systems, the heating element is more powerful, which indicates a lower quality of the recuperator.
The best method of heat (and moist) recuperation is through the ventilation system. There are several options available depending on the budget, renovation stage, and operation.
Below we describe the air handling units with heat recuperation, their operation method, and how to choose the necessary equipment for your home (more information is available in the pop-up):
DECENTRALIZED VENTILATION SYSTEM
How does this type of ventilation function, where it can be applied, and what equipment should be chosen? Answers can be found below.
A decentralized air recuperation ventilation system has a local air supply in a separate room. Such systems are easy to install (they can be installed into the wall easily even after the apartment renovation is complete), do not require dilution of air ducts and additional equipment.
However, compared to a centralized system, decentralized ventilation with a heat recuperator is less efficient.
To implement such a system, the equipment from the following manufacturers is the most suitable:
As an example, let’s examine ventilation with a Maico PushPull household recuperator. Most often, they are used in combination with exhaust fans (usually in the kitchen and bathroom). As a standard, these devices work in pairs (two units are located in adjacent rooms): one of them is for air supply, and the second is for discharge, after a certain time they change functionality. When the exhaust fan starts working in the bathroom or the kitchen, the air handling units begin to work on the inflow, compensating for the reclaimed air volume. Air movement around the apartment is implemented by a non-road system.
A decentralized air recuperation system has several disadvantages:
Low efficiency due to the lack of air distribution in the room
At a low temperature, the device may freeze, since it was originally manufactured for countries with a southern climate
Small amount of supplied air
The cost of ventilation with a household recuperator depends on the equipment. An example described above with Maico PushPull will cost around 27000 UAH per room.
Air handling ventilation unit Meltem also deserves attention. It can be used not only as a decentralized ventilation system since a system of air ducts can be installed with it, making it a centralized ventilation system. With the help of air ducts, air will circulate through the room and be distributed through air diffusers. This will make the system perfect for small spaces and more efficient.
The estimated cost of centralized ventilation based on Meltem is 100,000 UAH.
Watch our video for more information about the Meltem ventilation unit:
CENTRALIZED VENTILATION WITH RECUPERATION
Ventilation using one centralized unit, duct system, and constant airflow method.
The centralized ventilation system implies the installation of the ventilation unit with the distribution of air ducts to different rooms. Such a system provides a full-fledged high-quality air exchange: clean air is supplied to living rooms, the so-called "clean zones" - bedrooms, living rooms, children's rooms. At the same time, exhaust air is taken from the “dirty zones” - kitchens, bathrooms, dressing rooms.
Air distribution in the room is performed through diffusers or vents.
In our office, hidden linear diffusers are installed. A demonstration of their work can be viewed in the video.
The design of the recuperator in the Jablotron ventilation unit deserves special attention.
First of all, it allows to keep warmth and moisture inside of a room. Also, the heat exchanger is equipped with 4 moving dampers that change the direction of the airflow. This technology makes the Jablotron air recuperation system highly efficient and protected from freezing.
Moreover, the “air-to-air” heat pump Jablotron CoolBreeze module can be used as an additional function for temperature control. This is an excellent solution for air cooling during the demi-season and at night. However, CoolBreeze cannot replace a full-fledged air conditioning system in the hot season.
To get more information on this topic, we advise reading our article where we analyze the efficiency of the Jablotron and Maico ventilation units in details.
CENTRALIZED VENTILATION SYSTEM WITH JABLOTRON RECUPERATION WITH CO2 SENSORS AND VAV SYSTEM FOR VARIABLE AIR SUPPLY
When it comes to ventilation with recuperation, it is important to pay attention to the automation of the system. Most manufacturers of ventilation systems consider automation as an additional option and are sold separately.
The Jablotron ventilation system has the most convenient automation.
Moreover, Jablotron provides additional functionality - air quality control using CO2 sensors, as well as a VAV system for variable air supply.
How does this work?
CO2 sensors monitor the air quality in rooms. As soon as the sensors record an increase in the amount of carbon dioxide (in case there are people in the room), the system signals the VAV valves to open and forcefully supply clean air to the area. In the rest of the premises, with no people, the system works only to maintain the norm for the indicators. It is important to note that the installation tries to work as efficiently as possible at minimum speed, which ensures smaller energy consumption.
The system ensures that the air will not be “wasted” if people there are no people in the room, and the user does not need to manually control the operation of the ventilation unit. The system controls itself.
The installation of a centralized ventilation system Jablotron, equipped with VAV valves and CO2 sensors, costs about 400,000-450,000 UAH.
When installing a Jablotron ventilation system equipped with VAV valves, it is recommended to install a Faber kitchen hood. This combination has several significant advantages:
Balance of supply and extract air during operation of the hood. Often, even if a ventilation system is installed, when the kitchen hood is operating, the amount of extract air in is greater than the amount of supplied air. However, when Faber kitchen hood is installed with Jablotron ventilation system as a set such issue does not arise. Jablotron ventilation and Faber kitchen hood are united by common automation. When the hood is activated, the system intensively extracts air from the kitchen in order to prevent the spread of odors throughout the house. At the same time, in the rest of the "dirty areas"(a bathroom, a bathroom, a wardrobe), the VAV valves are automatically closed. If the volume of the intake air exceeds the amount of the supplied air, the unit increases the capacity to compensate the extracted air with the supply air. Thus, there is always a balance and high-quality air exchange in the house, even during intensive cooking.
Accumulation of heat coming from the frying surface. The Faber kitchen hood is connected to a ventilation system, so it does not discharge warm exhaust air on the street through a separate ventilation duct. Recuperator helps the system to retain and reuse the heat of the intake air, also, it transfers heat to the air and supplies already heated air. The Faber hood is equipped with a filtration system that protects the recuperator from various contaminants. Thus, in addition to the energy efficiency of the Jablotron VAV unit itself, the variable air supply VAV system provides the user with the additional benefit of storing and reusing heat from the frying surface. This reduces the load on the heating system in winter.С
Examples of ventilation designs with recuperation from Alter Air
Of course, it is problematic to install a full-fledged centralized supply and exhaust ventilation system when house renovation is complete, since the installation of the air ducts will require repair work.
A decentralized ventilation system based on Meltem, Zehnder, Maico, Mitsubishi Electric, Soler & Palau units is an optimal solution when the renovation work is complete, but creating a healthy microclimate with air recuperation in the apartment is necessary.
Heat recuperation ventilation system with a Maico – PushPull device
The supply and exhaust devices with Maico - PushPull heat recuperator with exhaust fans for the bathroom (usually installed in the kitchen and bathroom) - are an optimal solution when renovation work is complete but creating a healthy microclimate with air recuperation is necessary.As a standard, these devices operate in pairs (two units are located in adjacent rooms): one of them is for air supply, and the second is for air discharge, after a certain time they swap functionality. When the exhaust fan starts working in the bathroom or the kitchen, the air handling units begin to operate on the inflow method, compensating for the reclaimed air volume. Air movement around the apartment is performed using a non-threshold system.
Each unit is wall-mounted and has a maximum capacity of 45 m3/h, which is optimal for two people staying in the room. The built-in heat recuperator with an efficiency of 84% allows to create an optimal air exchange process and save costs on additional heating of the rooms.
The selection of equipment depends on the chosen ventilation system: decentralized or centralized. For decentralized ventilation, it is recommended to use equipment from the following manufacturers: Meltem, Zehnder, Maico, Mitsubishi Electriс.
A centralized ventilation system can be assembled with the following equipment: Jablotron (with CO2 sensors and VAV valves for variable air supply), Meltem, Systemair, Zehnder, Salda, Maico.
An air recuperation system is needed at any time of the year, but it will operate more efficiently in winter due to the difference between the temperature outside and inside the house. Ventilation with a heat recuperator will keep the home warm and reduce the load on the heating system.
Where should the recuperation ventilation system be located?
Heat recuperation ventilation units can be installed vertically and horizontally. Vertical installation involves placing equipment in the technical rooms of the house or integrating it into furniture, for example, in wardrobes.
Horizontal installation involves placing equipment under the ceiling. The disadvantage of the horizontal installation is the complexity of equipment installation in technical rooms. Most often, technical rooms have a small area, therefore it is difficult to properly organize the installation of air ducts within such space. It is impossible to sharply curve the air duct, since this will lead to high noise during air circulation.
The air ventilation is becoming more and more necessary while the modern apartments’ tightness increases. Opening windows cannot provide high-quality ventilation, therefore centralized or decentralized ventilation systems are becoming more demanded. Centralized ventilation systems with heat recuperators are practical engineering solution for houses and apartments. A recuperator for an apartment or a house is selected depending on the system, in most cases, it is integrated directly into the ventilation unit. The return of 90% or more of heat energy together with the supply air reduces the load of the heating system during the cold season. Based on this, air recuperation does not cool the air at home, but retains most of the heat inside it. At the same time, the operation of the air handling unit guarantees a fresh and healthy microclimate in a house. Such a system is cost-efficient but it does not compromise the quality of air exchange in the room in any.
Air handling units are manufactured with different types of recuperators. Each has a number of advantages, but the most popular are the highly efficient plate-type recuperators. They are designed to transfer as much heat as possible from the exhaust air.
Ventilation with recuperation is a combination of energy-efficient and high-quality air exchange.
Alter Air provides a high-quality consultation on choosing and purchasing a recuperator. Our engineers will advise you on installing recuperation in an apartment or house.
Please call 0-800-33-08-28 or leave a request on the website for a consultation.
Brands we trust
Alter Air projects
See more completed projects with recuperation from our specialists:
Double-slot diffusers from the TROX brand are designed for high-quality air distribution throughout the room. They combine visual aesthetics and high technical potential. Air currents are given in different directions, evenly scattering and avoiding any drafts. Outwardly, only laconic lines on the ceiling remain visible.
A low-pressure internal duct unit Daikin FDXM 35F is installed in the ceiling space of the bathroom - it works to cool the bedroom. It is accessed through hatches. The capacity of the air conditioner is enough to service rooms up to 35 m2, which is optimal for a given room. The lowering of the ceiling in a technical room was 300 mm.
Vertical indirect heating boiler Drazice OKSE 200 l is designed to provide apartment residents with hot water. The inner surface of the tank is covered with high-quality enamel without nickel, which ensures a long operation of the water heater, and there is also an anti-corrosion coating. The temperature inside can be kept between 7 and 77 ℃. The water heating indicator always shows the current temperature on the front of the tank. There is a fast heating function. This is an excellent solution for an apartment, allowing you not to depend on seasonal blackouts and other inconveniences.
Electric boiler Vaillant Ecoblock
An electric boiler Vaillant Ecoblock with a capacity of 6 kW and efficiency of up to 99% works for heating and hot water supply of the entire apartment. It has a wide range of temperature settings for both heating and hot water supply. There are frost protection and 2-level overheating protection. Equipped with eBus data transmission technology. With the help of a capillary thermostat, residents can smoothly regulate the heating temperature in the range from 25 to 85 ℃
The Zilmet expansion tank is designed to compensate extra pressure in the heating system. Works in conjunction with the Vaillant electric boiler above. The special inner lining of the tank prevents the growth of any bacteria, that is, the water does not acquire a metallic taste, does not stagnate or change its properties.
Refiner Ecowater - water softening and filtration system
A modern system for filtering and softening water: cleans water from all kinds of impurities and odors, neutralizes iron, making it soft, pleasant and safe for household appliances, water pipes and human use. The purified water is also suitable for drinking directly from the tap. The refiner does not require changing the carbon filters, and is controlled via WiFi - maximum automation and comfort!
The Jablotron Futura L ventilation unit with heat and moisture recovery ensures high-quality air exchange at the apartment, and also reduces the load on the heating system in the cold season. Thanks to the Alfa wall controller and the MyJablotron mobile app it is easy to operate the unit.
Flexible air ducts Airflex have a high degree of plasticity, which allows air to be supplied even to hard-to-reach areas. Moreover, they are covered with a layer of thermal insulation, which prevents heat loss and absorbs noise characteristics during the operation of the ventilation unit.
Thanks to galvanized steel, the duct does not suffer corrosion and other damaging influences. Thus, the long-term operation of the climate systems is ensured.
The Daikin duct air conditioner provides efficient room cooling. The FBA series has a rather thin body, which makes it easy to place in a ceiling space. The self-diagnosis function ensures a safe operation of the device and indicates problems if any occur.
Private house 220 m2 - a full range of engineering solutions, Riviera Village, Lebedevka
Ventilation and duct air conditioning systems in a 3-room apartment, Kyiv, O. Honchara street
Implementation of general ventilation and duct air conditioning in an apartment, Novopecherski Lypky
Ventilation, air conditioning and heating systems in the interior design - Kiev, RC Novopecherskie Lipki
IMPLEMETATION PROCESS
STAGES OF TURNKEY PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION
MEETING AND CONSULTATION
PRE-DESIGN DOCUMENTATION
DESIGN
SYSTEM INSTALLATION
SERVICE MAINTENANCE
01
Meeting and consultation
The ventilation system with recuperation is calculated and selected based on the individual needs of the client therefore this stage is mandatory. During the first meeting, the client will receive an explanation of the system options, their functionality, and their cost specifically based on the needs of their house or apartment. Experts will answer all questions and show the systems installed in the office in operation.
02
Pre-design documentation
The stage that precedes the project design and includes the development of documents that allows to accurately estimate the needs and capabilities of the site, and also provides a cost estimate of the future system. The pre-design documentation includes:
• calculations for the required amount of air (individually for the site);
• commercial offer in 3 versions that includes the cost of equipment and installation of an air duct system. The cost of the system may change in the process, but within no more than 15%
03
Design
A complete project design follows after the approval of the desired version of the system. Complete project design includes:
• a package of drawings with plans and sections;
• specifications of the ventilation system;
• assignments for related specialists (if necessary);
• feasibility study for the choice of equipment;
An advance payment of 10% of the project cost is a prerequisite for starting the project design.
04
Installation
Alter Air is a company that ensures that the delivery of all components, equipment, and its installation is done by our specialists. A significant advantage of using our company’s services is that our installation teams specialize in climate control systems and know all the nuances of installing a ventilation system.
Of course, our company takes full responsibility for the performance and result of the installation work of the ventilation system.
After the installation is complete, the system is configured tested and the result is presented to the client.
05
Service maintenance
The Alter Air service engineer continues to monitor and support the site even after the system has been commissioned. Our engineer will tell when the filters should be replaced and schedule maintenance of the ventilation system. In case of malfunctions, our engineer will schedule a visit to solve such an issue as soon as possible. Modern ventilation equipment allows to diagnose problems and configure work remotely, so in most cases, the solution to the problem can be immediate and without the need for a visit from our specialists.
ABOUT COMPANY
Do you want to create a healthy and favorable climate in your home? You have come to the right place!
We solve the problem of microclimate in a house, starting from ventilation, air conditioning, heating and ending with humidification and air purification. We make sure that all systems interact productively with each other and at the same time do not consume a lot of energy in order to save your costs. In our work, we are like a family doctor - we treat your home, analyze a problem, offer solutions to it, and not just sell pills like a pharmacist in a pharmacy.
We chose Alter Air to bring our cool engineering project to build our own home. Now the following systems are installed in the house: heating with a heat pump, underfloor heating, supply and exhaust ventilation with heat recovery, which allows you to keep moisture and easily breathe fresh clean air. The house maintains an excellent temperature of + 22 ° C - no stuffiness and dust. Everything is magical!
Evgeniy
House owner
I looked at several companies on the Internet and settled on the Alter Air company. After talking with their specialists, I realized that people are very well versed in their business. They sensibly explained how to implement home heating and ventilation correctly and with minimal cost. During my stay in a new house, I have already experienced the operation of these systems, and especially the ease of control. The temperature in the house is comfortable and kept at a given level. The ventilation works inaudibly, but noticeably - with the windows closed in the morning it breathes freely and easily, there is no dust. I am very pleased with the work of Alter Air and I will recommend you as a good performer who does quality work!
Peter Ivanovich
House owner
Special conditions of cooperation
We are happy to jointly conduct projects with organizations and self-employed specialists, recommend you to our clients and help with the outsourced engineering part. Additionally, we invite you to attend seminars of the "Engineering in Design" series, where we show by examples how to correctly implement engineering systems in the interiors of end customers.
Алексей
Благодарен за информативную статью.
Команда Alter Air
Добрий день, Олексій! Дякуємо за ваш відгук, дуже раді, що вам сподобалась наша стаття!