Optimal design and energetic performance of double finned-tube coil energy-recuperators

The energetic behavior of double finned-tube coil recovery-units for energy transfer between the supply and exhaust airstreams of HVAC systems is analyzed through a specifically developed numerical simulation model. The optimal design parameters, i.e. the "hot" and "cold" heat transfer surface areas and the intermediate fluid mass flow rate required to obtain a given heat transfer rate between the two airstreams, as well as the overall energetic performance modifications occurring as the boundary conditions change, are calculated for a wide variety of either the thermodynamic states of both airstreams at inlet and the main characteristics of the recovery system. The results obtained are reported in terms of simple monomial dimensionless correlations.