Fresh-Air Energy Recovery in HVAC Systems with Cross-Flow Plate Exchangers
Conditioning outdoor ventilation air is often the largest single load on a commercial HVAC system. Heating or cooling that fresh air from ambient to room setpoint burns energy every hour the system runs. A cross-flow air-to-air heat exchanger built into the air-handling unit recovers energy from the building exhaust and pre-conditions the incoming air.
How it lowers the bill
In winter the warm exhaust pre-heats the cold outdoor air; in summer it pre-cools the hot outdoor air before the coil. The plate transfers heat (and, with a suitable core, some moisture) without mixing the streams, so the fresh air stays hygienic.
Why specifiers choose cross-flow
- Lower coil load: smaller heating and cooling capacity needed for the same comfort.
- Better IAQ: more fresh air is affordable because it costs less to condition.
- Easy to fit: the rectangular cross-flow block drops into rooftop and built-up AHUs.
Matching the unit
We select core size, plate type and pressure drop to the AHU's design airflow and the local climate, balancing first cost against seasonal energy saving. Cross-flow recovery is a proven payback measure for offices, schools, hospitals and factories alike.
Make your fresh-air strategy cheaper and cleaner with a cross-flow core. Reach our engineers to size one for your AHU.