Energetic-exergetic analysis of an air handling unit to reduce energy consumption by a novel creative idea

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to simulate the flow and heat transfer through an air handling unit to reduce its energy consumption by a novel creative idea of using an air-to-air heat exchanger.

Design/methodology/approach

To do this, both first and second laws of thermodynamics energy and exergy balance equations were solved numerically by an appropriate developed computer code.

Findings

Using the air-to-air heat exchanger in dry conditions decreases the cooling coil load by 0.9 per cent, whereas the reduction for humid conditions is 27 per cent. Similarly, using air-to-air heat exchanger leads to an increase in the first law of efficiency in dry and humid conditions by 0.9 per cent and 36.8 per cent, respectively.

Originality/value

The second law of efficiency increases by 1.55 per cent and 2.77 per cent in dry and humid conditions, respectively. In other words, the effect of using an air-to-air heat exchanger in humid conditions is more than that in dry conditions.

Citation

Yari, M., Kalbasi, R. and Talebizadehsardari, P. (2019), "Energetic-exergetic analysis of an air handling unit to reduce energy consumption by a novel creative idea", International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, Vol. 29 No. 10, pp. 3959-3975. https://doi.org/10.1108/HFF-09-2018-0524