A heat recovery air handling unit with a thermal wheel operates by transferring heat between incoming and outgoing air streams using a rotating wheel coated with a material that can absorb and release heat. As the wheel rotates, it allows warmer air to transfer its heat to cooler air, improving energy efficiency and reducing heating or cooling loads. thermal wheels can recover anywhere from 50% to 80% depending on the design and specification.
A recuperation air handling unit recovers energy by using a heat exchanger to transfer heat between the incoming and outgoing air streams. This process typically involves passing the two air streams through separate channels within the heat exchanger, allowing thermal energy to transfer from the warmer outgoing air to the cooling incoming air without the two streams mixing. As a result, the incoming air is preheated or precooled depending on the season, reducing the energy required for heating and cooling, thus improving overall energy efficiency. Recuperation units can recover 50% to 80% depending on design and specification.
