Performance of a heat recovery ventilator coupled with an air-to-air heat pump for residential suites in Canadian cities

Abstract

Heat recovery ventilation (HRV) technologies are used to satisfy indoor air quality requirements while reducing building energy consumption. In a typical installation, an HRV system is expected to decrease energy demand; however, the actual benefit depends on the mechanical system, climate conditions, and building design. Here, we assess the energy savings from sensible heat recovery in residential apartment buildings across Canada by modeling the building thermal demands and the HVAC system's energy use. We compare the annual performance of a commercial air-to-air heat pump coupled to a balanced ventilation system with and without the HRV. A hypothetical residential suite is modeled under eight different building orientations for fifteen Canadian cities. Results show that HRV use always reduces the annual heating energy consumption; however, energy consumption may increase in cooling seasons.