The use of a double heat pipe heat exchanger system for reducing energy consumption of treating ventilation air in an operating theatre—A full year energy consumption model simulation

Abstract

In two earlier papers [Y.H. Yau, Application of a heat pipe heat exchanger to dehumidification enhancement in tropical HVAC systems—a baseline performance characteristics study, International Journal of Thermal Sciences 46 (2) (2007) 164–171; Y.H. Yau, The analysis of enthalpy change with and without a heat pipe heat exchanger in a tropical air conditioning system, International Journal of Energy Research 30 (15) (2006) 1251–1263], two series of experiments were conducted under controlled conditions to establish the baseline performance characteristics of the heat pipe heat exchanger (HPHX). In the present paper, a complete empirical transient systems simulation program model is assembled to estimate the air states as well as the entire typical meteorological year energy consumption of an operating theatre located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The current heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems for the operating theatre are found to be inherently energy-inefficient and can be further improved with a double heat pipe heat exchanger system. The impact on actual energy consumption of a custom-built Trane Air Handler Unit 0704 2-2MB is simulated with two 8-row heat pipe heat exchanger installed in the heating, ventilating and air conditioning system compared to the existing without HPHX HVAC system. Based on this investigation, the application of a double heat pipe heat exchanger system (Plant E) in the conventional Air Handler Unit operating in a tropical climate is strongly recommended as an efficient mean for humidity control and energy savings to maintain acceptable room conditions per American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) requirements [ASHRAE, ASHRAE Handbook HVAC Applications SI Edition, ASHRAE, Atlanta, GA, USA, 1995].