Plate vs Heat Pipe vs Rotary: A Selection Cheat-Sheet
Start with one question
Before comparing effectiveness or cost, answer this: must the two airstreams stay completely separate, or may they mix? If they must stay separate, your options are plate, heat pipe, and run-around coil. If they may mix, a rotary wheel is also on the table.
The cheat-sheet
| Application | Recommended | Avoid | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data center free cooling | Plate (IEC) | Rotary wheel | No mixing with cold aisle |
| Mine or tunnel ventilation | Plate or heat pipe | Rotary wheel | Return air is contaminated |
| Grain or food drying | Sensible plate only | Wheel, recirculation | Food safety, moisture stays out |
| Pharma or cleanroom exhaust | Run-around coil, desiccant membrane | Rotary wheel | Containment, no recirculation |
| Comfort HVAC (office, shop) | Rotary wheel or plate | None | Ordinary air both sides |
| Telecom or remote shelter | Heat pipe | None | Passive, no power |
| Contaminated or toxic exhaust | Run-around coil | Wheel, plate if fouling | Separate, no mixing |
Effectiveness versus safety
Wheels reach 70 to 85 percent total effectiveness; plates 60 to 75 percent sensible; run-around coils 50 to 65 percent; heat pipes 50 to 70 percent sensible. Higher effectiveness never justifies mixing when the duty forbids it. Choose safety, then optimise within the allowed technologies.
Matching technology to duty
Large steady volume and easy cleaning: plate. Passive separate-stream recovery with no pump: heat pipe. Comfort air where moisture recovery pays: wheel. Contaminated or contained exhaust: run-around coil or desiccant membrane. Each path is detailed in our guides: plate, heat pipe, rotary, separated.
Bottom line
Separate-stream duty excludes the wheel. Within each allowed technology, pick on volume, access, and cleaning need. For a full walkthrough see our selection guide or call Qiyu at 15753355505.