Mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery.
From the series "Air conditioning, ventilation, heating - trends 2022".
Mechanical ventilation with recuperation in single-family houses and apartments is a solution that more and more private investors are opting for. What should characterize a good recuperation system?
The goal of modern construction is to create buildings that are to be energy efficient, that is, as airtight as possible and with low energy requirements. This is made possible by the use of new technologies and materials in construction. Unfortunately, a side effect of these measures is to prevent the inflow of outside air. This knowledge takes on a whole new meaning when we realize that humans spend an average of 90% of their lives indoors, and that the quality of the indoor air they breathe is crucial to their health and well-being.
Having a mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery is an excellent solution for investors who would like to ensure a healthy indoor climate with high-quality indoor air, while maintaining high thermal efficiency of the building.
Recuperation in a single-family home
© Lindab
Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery - what does it consist of?
A ventilation system equipped with an air handling unit (recuperator) allows full control of the air supplied to the rooms and recovery of heat from the air that is generated inside the building. The main component of the entire system is the air handling unit - recuperator. The main task of the recuperator is to recover heat and use this heat to preheat fresh air. In winter, the external, cool air is drawn through the intake and transported through ventilation ducts to the heat exchanger in the air handling unit. The air is then distributed to individual rooms and supplied through wall or ceiling diffusers and supply grilles. At the same time, contaminated air from utility rooms, such as the bathroom or kitchen, is exhausted using anemostats and exhaust grilles. The contaminated, heated air is transported through a network of exhaust ducts to the recuperator and further discharged to the outside of the building through an exhaust vent. In the summer, the process works the other way and the warm outside air can be cooled with indoor air. Knowing how recuperation works, let's return to the answer to the question: what should a home recuperation system be?
Vent-Axia Kinetic Advance recuperation unit
© Lindab
Tight
Ensuring top-notch airtightness of the ventilation system should start at the stage of selecting components such as plenum boxes, spiro pipes or flexible ducts. The best way to increase the tightness of ventilation system components is to use a gasket. It allows the ducts to be tightly connected, without the use of silicone or adhesive tape. In the case of flexible ducts in a manifold system, the gasket is the only guarantee of tight seating of the duct in the spigot. On the same spigot, another potential threat of leaks awaits - the way the duct is fixed in the spigot. In the Direct Vent brand manifold system manufactured by Lindab, the flexible duct is blocked with a rubber o-ring. Falling into a specially prepared slot, the o-ring securely connects the flexible duct to the box, without the use of additional tools. This is the first such solution on the Polish market.
Year after year, the price difference between fittings with gaskets and fittings without gaskets is getting lower, while labor costs are steadily increasing. Ultimately, the benefits of using fittings with gaskets are enjoyed by all parties in the construction process - from the installer, for whom the benefit is the saving of time needed for installation, to the investor, who consequently gains the optimal cost, while maintaining a healthy building. Due to the not inconsiderable cost of the entire investment associated with recuperation, it is worth approaching the subject consciously.
Energy-efficient
An airtight ventilation system with an efficient recuperation unit significantly reduces the energy consumption needed to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature and eliminates the need to cool the building when ventilating. Operating costs are largely influenced by the air handling unit, which is the heart of the system and consumes energy to prepare air for users. When choosing a unit, pay attention to the energy class - from A to A+. It is also worth choosing those with an intelligent automatic control system. In addition to providing the right amount of air, the tasks of the air handling unit include filtration, heat recovery possibly its heating or cooling. Preparation of air by the air handling unit is a cost that can increase when using a less tight and often cheaper ventilation system, because of which air freely escapes into the ventilated rooms along the way. In such a situation, the air handling unit will have to operate with increased power and will consume more electricity, which will certainly translate into higher bills. All the more reason to look for a device that offers energy-saving solutions. An interesting proposal is the air handling unit of the British company Vent-Axia, model Kinetic Advance, which provides up to 91% heat recovery thanks to the high efficiency of counterflow heat exchangers and energy-saving EC fans.
Vent-Axia Kinetic Advance recessed air handling unit
© Lindab
Safe for health
In a single-family building, the ventilation system, which can be made using either spiro pipes or a manifold system, is insulated or run in a layer of insulation. When the system is leaky, particles of insulation, dust or dust can penetrate the ducts and are later forced into the rooms along with the air. As a result, instead of fresh air, unsuspecting householders inhale air that is harmful to their health.
Quiet
A very important parameter to consider when choosing a ventilation system is the noise level generated by the recuperator. A good recuperation unit is one whose operation is imperceptible to household members, and this parameter is worth paying attention to. This is extremely important, especially in a house or apartment where there is no technical room and the air handling unit is installed, for example, in the kitchen, bathroom or hallway. Vent-Axia Kinetic Advance air handling unit has very good parameters, especially in terms of noise level.
Lindab Airy series ventilator
© Lindab
Aesthetic
Although most elements of the mechanical ventilation system are not visible to the naked eye, there are also those that are visible and with their design and colors can affect the aesthetics and consistency of interior design. We are talking about diffusers , supply/exhaust grilles or anemostats, which are always mounted at the end of the ventilation system, such as in the ceiling or on the wall. The main task of diffusers and supply grilles is to bring clean air to the occupied zones, as well as to equalize the temperature, without creating drafts that negatively affect comfort. Anemostats and exhaust grilles, on the other hand, have the task of removing contaminated air from rooms. The design and shape of such products is now so wide that investors have no problem at all in selecting a design that will match the decor of their apartment or house. At the moment, the designer and aesthetic line of Lindab Airy series of air diffusers, among others, is very popular.
Mechanical ventilation with recuperation is a solution worth considering for those looking for solutions that increase the comfort of homeowners. Comprehensive support in the design of a ventilation system with recuperation, the selection of devices and their purchase is offered by Lindab, which creates the project House in an eco-climate aimed at investors interested in building an ecological house.
For more information, visit the Lindab website.
