Heat Recovery Wheel Fins for Higher Transfer With Lower Pressure Drop
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rotary wheel heat recovery ventilators face challenges in wheel effectiveness, pressure drop, material cost, and design complexity, limiting the development of more compact and efficient ventilation systems.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a heat recovery wheel with non-parallel passage fins that extend between the wheel ends, arranged in layers with parting sheets, and can be textured or coated, enhancing thermal energy transfer while maintaining a compact structure and reducing cross-stream mixing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional parallel passage fins are used in the heat recovery wheel, then the design is simpler and material cost is lower, but heat transfer efficiency is limited and wheel effectiveness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The passage fins are configured at non-parallel angles relative to the wheel axis, creating asymmetric flow paths that enhance thermal energy transfer between the first and second airflows. This asymmetric configuration improves heat transfer efficiency while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standardized fin components.
2Temperature
If the wheel length is increased to improve heat transfer efficiency, then thermal energy exchange improves, but the overall system size and material cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The passage fin angle parameter is optimized to enhance heat transfer efficiency within the existing wheel length constraints. By adjusting the fin configuration parameters rather than increasing wheel dimensions, the system achieves improved thermal energy exchange without proportionally increasing size or material costs.
3Temperature
If passage fins are configured to enhance heat transfer, then thermal energy transfer improves, but pressure drop and airflow resistance increase
Solution Approach 1:
The passage fins are configured with specific non-parallel angles in different radial positions to optimize heat transfer locally while managing pressure drop. The fin angle varies to balance thermal energy transfer enhancement with acceptable airflow resistance, achieving improved heat transfer without excessive pressure loss.
4Temperature
If more passage fins are added to improve heat transfer, then thermal energy exchange improves, but material cost and manufacturing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The heat recovery wheel is divided into multiple passage fins that can be manufactured as standardized components and assembled systematically. This segmentation allows for improved heat transfer through increased surface area while maintaining manufacturing efficiency through repetition of standard fin designs and modular assembly processes.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration improves heat transfer efficiency without increasing the wheel length, enhancing performance while reducing material costs and design complexity, and minimizing airflow mixing.
Implementation Method 1
thermal energy exchange between the first airflow and the second airflow
Implementation Method 2
a first airflow and a second airflow are directed through the heat recovery wheel for thermal energy exchange
Data Source
AI summary
A heat recovery wheel for a heat exchanger includes a wheel rim defining an outer perimeter of the heat recovery wheel, and a plurality of wheel passages located between the wheel rim and the wheel axis. The plurality of wheel passages are at least partially defined by one or more passage fins. At least a portion of a passage fin of the plurality of passage fins extends non-parallel to the wheel axis between a first wheel end and a second wheel end. The plurality of wheel passages are configured for flow of a first airflow and a second airflow therethrough for thermal energy exchange between the first airflow and the second airflow.