Heat Recovery Systems and Cooling
Four methods of cooling are available to the Starkey line up of Heat Recovery Systems.
Manual Control
On our smallest unit, the HRV1
Fusion unit, the supply fan on the unit can
be switched off. This means that only the extract side of the system continues
to operate. Incoming air is therefore not preheated by the outgoing stale
air. Fresh air is drawn in via the natural voids in the building structure. This
is a manual operation and is done when the outside temperature is cooler
than the inside.
Automatic Summer by Pass
Instead of manual operation as with the Fusion Unit, the MVHR
9 heat recovery series of
units have an automatic summer by pass. This is a mechanism which directs
the flow of incoming air around the heat exchanger when certain criteria
are reached. This normally happens on a summers evening when the outside
temperature is cooler than inside and the inside is higher than is
comfortable.
For an explanation of how the system works, download this Automatic Summer by Pass document
Comfort Cooling
A purpose built cooling unit, the Artic.950,
integrates with the MVHR.950 heat recovery unit
and with an input of 900 watts will produce 2.2KW of cooling. In air
conditioning terms this is not a lot but with the combined reduction
in humidity the cooling effect is very effective. Comfort cooling must
not be confused with air conditioning as it is generally understood.
Air conditioning systems normally just recirculate the air. This system
continues to supply fresh air into the home. If you are looking to
dramatically reduce the temperature of your house, we suggest that
you consider a dedicated air conditioning system restricted to that
part of the house only which you need to have cooled, perhaps one or
two bedrooms and a living room.
Ground to Air Heat Exchanger
This system can be applied to any heat recovery or ventilation system and has a dual benefit of not only precooling incoming air in summer but also preheating the incoming air in winter.
The system uses the principle of utilising the almost constant temperature of the soil at a depth of 1.5 to 2m.
Using conductive antimicrobial pipework, air is drawn through an inlet situated outside at ground level and along an underground loop where it absorbs the ground temperature (approx 10 deg C) prior to passing into the Heat Recovery or ventilation system.
The effect of this is that during the winter months when the air is coldest this process will effectively preheat the air and increase the efficiency of the HR system.
Conversely in the summer when the air temperature is higher this process has the effect of cooling the air before it enters the HR system which eliminates the requirement for any air conditioning, both of which combine to make a saving in the overall energy costs of the dwelling throughout the year and not just at peak times.
Download our information sheets about ground
to air heat exchangers and ground
to air system, typical packages and
call a member of our technical staff to discuss any of the above
options.