Not Yet Using Rotary Heat Exchangers? Here’s Why You Should.

Heat exchangers are used to improve the efficiency of HVAC systems in most parts of the world. In regions such as Europe, their use is near-universal, as high energy prices make energy-efficiency not just a “nice to have,” but imperative for profitable operation.

In parts of the world where energy prices aren’t so high, why should you care about providing fresh air efficiently? Because people everywhere are demanding solutions to the climate crisis, governments are responding with targets and regulations, and energy costs are rising as a result. Efficiency is in. It has become business critical.

Heat Exchanger Basics

The main job of a heat exchanger is to reduce the amount of energy a HVAC system uses to condition incoming air. It does this by recovering warm or cool air already inside the building and applying the recovered heat or cold to incoming air – easing the load on energy-intensive conditioning processes. By saving energy in this way, the heat exchanger lowers costs and minimizes environmental impact.

In more technical terms, a heat exchanger works by transferring heat from one airstream to another without the airstreams mixing. It’s important that the airstreams don’t mix because mixing would send stale indoor air back into the building, where fresh air is what’s needed.

During cold winters, for example, a heat exchanger would transfer the heat in warm indoor air being expelled outdoors to the fresh cold air entering the building. This enables the incoming air to reach the desired temperature using less energy, while the outgoing air is expelled outdoors.

The Rotary Advantage

Rotary heat exchangers offer several advantages over traditional crossflow and counter flow designs. They accommodate higher air volumes and facilitate a greater range of applications, making them ideal for diverse operating conditions.

Unlike traditional heat exchangers, the rotary design regulates both heat and moisture, enhancing indoor air quality along with temperature. For environments facing specific humidity challenges, an optional “desiccant” version further tailors the conditioning process to ensure comfort and a healthy indoor climate.

In addition to these benefits, rotary heat exchangers provide superior control capabilities that enable more precise adjustments in response to changing environmental conditions, ensuring continued maximal performance and efficiency.

Prized for their compact design and ease of maintenance, rotary heat exchangers are highly effective in transferring both sensible heat and latent heat, enhancing overall system efficiency.

You, Rotary Heat Exchangers, and OJ Electronics

As demand for efficiency continues to rise, rotary heat exchangers are becoming indispensable. But not all such exchangers are equal – with performance particularly dependent on the drive and control system. This is where OJ Electronics comes in.

Our heat exchanger controllers use custom permanent-magnet motors and variable-speed direct drives, offering a significant upgrade from traditional geared motors. These drives provide a wider, more precisely controlled range of speeds, improving efficiency, reducing maintenance, and lowering noise. Without gears, there's less wear and tear, enhancing durability and reliability.

"We are confident that OJ Electronics rotary heat exchanger solutions can help you step up your game, give customers more of what they want, and leave your competitors behind."

Tap to see our solutions and get in touch with an OJ Electronics sales representative: Kieran Lass or Robert Bielecki