Seasonal Weather Conditions Effect on Energy Consumption and CO2 Emission for Air Conditioning Systems Coupled with Enthalpy Energy Recovery Heat Exchanger

Abstract

Seasonal energy consumption and subsequent CO2 gas emission analysis of an air conditioner coupled with paper based enthalpy energy recovery ventilator has been performed. Results were then compared with a conventional air conditioning system which mixes outdoor fresh air with room return air before cooling and resupplying. Effects of the enthalpy heat exchanger and air mixing system within the air conditioning system were modeled using a modified HPRate software code. Seasonal energy analysis for different weather conditions has shown that enthalpy energy recovery system is superior in the summer season. For a 300m2 office space, a seasonal saving of up to 1.4GJ in energy consumption and 900kg annual reduction of CO2 gas emission could be achieved provided that the membrane enthalpy heat exchanger is utilized instead of a conventional air mixing and conditioning system.