TECHNICAL FEATURE

TECHNICAL FEATURE

This article was published in ASHRAE Journal, September 2013. Copyright 2013 ASHRAE. Posted at www.ashrae.org. This article may not be copied and/or
distributed electronically or in paper form without permission of ASHRAE. For more information about ASHRAE Journal, visit www.ashrae.org.

Energy Recovery in Lab

Air-Handling Systems
BY BARRY BARNET, P.E.

Energy recovery in laboratories has some special concerns because of the

possibility of cross contamination between the supply and exhaust streams.
This article illustrates two methods of improving energy recovery in laboratory air-handling systems (with 100% outside air), where fume hoods
and similar exhaust are considered to be hazardous (as defined by the
International Mechanical Code [IMC]) and the energy recovery system is
designed to preclude the possibility of cross-contamination between supply
and exhaust. With both methods of recovery, the air-handling system
supplies air at a neutral air temperature using dual energy recovery.
For the purpose of revealing the improvement in
energy recovery with the neutral air concept, both
methods of recovery are also compared to a more traditional air-handling unit supplying air at a temperature
of 55F (13C).
The results show that with the neutral air approach
it is possible to achieve efficient energy recovery
even where the general exhaust used for recovery
is only 40% of the total supply air, while still precluding the possibility of cross-contamination and
complying with the IMC requirements for hazardous
exhaust.

Recovery and Air-Handling Systems

The first energy recovery method uses an energy
wheel. The second recovery method uses glycol
runaround.
Under the first air-handling system, the traditional
unit serves as a combined ventilating, makeup, humidity control, and cooling system (in a sense a jack of all
trades), producing leaving air at a temperature of 55F
(13C). Energy recovery in this case is single stage using
only one energy wheel or a single glycol coil.
With the second air-handling system (neutral air),
the unit provides only ventilation, makeup air, and

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Barry Barnet, P.E., is a senior professional associate and senior mechanical engineer at HDR in Princeton, N.J.
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TECHNICAL FEATURE

Sensible Wheel

Enthalpy Wheel

humidity control using dual-energy

FIGURE 1 Recovery with wheels.
recovery, and produces a leavingair temperature in the range of
Bleed Air
Exhaust Stack
approximately 63F to 70F (17C
Pre-Conditioning Coil
to 21C). This system is combined
Cooling/De-Humid Coil
Roof
with air recirculating supplemental
ERU
cooling devices: typically fan coil
Wheel
Wheel
units, chilled beams, or other simi(With
Neutral
To General
lar devices. In hood intensive rooms
System
Exhaust
care should be exercised to avoid
Only)
C
Louver
P
interference between these devices
From
C
C
Outside Air/
and proper hood performance.2
Louver
AHU
Dual energy recovery consists of two
Supply
energy wheels, one enthalpy and
Hazardous Exhaust
General Exhaust
one sensible, for the first recovery
Dedicated Shafts for Each Floor Area
method. Under the second recovery
Supply
Hazardous Exhaust
method, two glycol coils are substiGeneral Exhaust
tuted for the wheels. The two glycol
Shaft Bottom (typ)
Fire/Smoke Dampers (typ)
coils in this case can be described as a
wraparound/runaround system. The
glycol flows in series from the second
exhaust. In this case, the exhaust must comply with
coil, where the supply air is heated up to neutral condiSection 510. In accordance with this section, hazardtions, then wraps around the chilled water coil (providous exhaust systems shall comply with the following
ing dehumidification) to the first glycol coil (serving to
requirements:
precondition the outside air).
1. Under Subsection 510.4, hazardous exhaust systems
Based on the previous variations, there are a total of
shall not share common shafts with other duct systems,
four different combinations, with two energy recovery
except where such systems are hazardous exhaust sysmethods each applied to two different air-handling
tems originating in the same fire area.
systems:
1. Energy wheel method of recovery with a traditional
2. Exception 2 requires that hazardous exhaust
system (Figure 1; with first wheel only);
ductwork manifolded together within the occupied space
2. Energy wheel method of recovery with a neutral air must originate within the same fire area.
3. Subsection 510.5.7 requires that hazardous exhaust
system (Figure 1; with dual wheels);
3. Glycol coil method of recovery with a traditional sys- duct systems extend directly to the exterior of the buildtem (Figure 4; with first glycol coil only); and
ing.
4. Glycol coil method of recovery with a neutral air sys4. Finally, 510.6.1 prohibits the use of fire and smoke
tem (Figure 4; with dual coils).
dampers.
A method of recovery using heat pipes is not examined
These requirements are illustrated in Figures 1 and 4.
as this system is expected to have characteristics similar A design using wheels for energy recovery, and taking
to glycol runaround but with slightly higher recovery
the hazardous exhaust through the wheels for recovery
effectiveness, due to the higher heat content of refriger- purposes, could violate code if the AHU/ERU are located
ant verses a glycol solution.
in the penthouse instead of on the roof (or exterior of
the building). Similarly, a design using glycol for energy
Code Considerations
recovery, and taking the hazardous exhaust through
For the mechanical designs proposed in this article, the the coils for recovery purposes, could violate code if the
fume hoods and similar exhaust follow the International ERU are located in the penthouse. If a proposed design
Building Code and International Mechanical Code
approach does not treat the fume hood exhaust as haz(IMC-2009 as example) classification for hazardous
ardous, it is recommended that the engineer obtain
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21

TECHNICAL FEATURE

approval from the owner and the

environmental health and safety
officer.

FIGURE 2A Summer. Recovery with wheel/air-handling system: traditional.

Lab Exhaust
(45,000 cfm)

Cross-Contamination

Hazardous
Exhaust

85F/72F
(36 Btu/lb)

Enthalpy Wheel

Enthalpy Wheel

AHU/
(75F/62.5F)
Cross-contamination can be
(28.4 Btu/lb)
ERU
Wheel
General Exhaust
Room Exhaust
a major concern for labora(90F)
(40,000 cfm)
tory buildings depending on the
52F/51.5F
Off
(21.5 Btu/lb)
chemicals or biological samples
P
C
H
Room Supply
55F
(85,000 cfm)
involved in the actual research.
C
C
C
(55F75F
3F Increase from Friction
With the energy wheel method
Typical VAV Box
& Duct Heat Gain
Outside Air
(Provides
92F/76F
of recovery, the Manufacturers
43F
Reheat As FCU
(39.5 Btu/lb)
58F
Required)
projected cross-contamination
Three-Way
MEP Spaces
Chiller
Diverting
through wheels, when using a 3
Valve (typ)
CT
Angstrom molecular sieve design,
is expected to be negligible due
HX
to absorption into the desiccant.1
Energy Recovery Effectiveness at
Enthalpy Wheel
However, there are other condi39.5 Btu/lb36 Btu/lb
=32%
tions that might still result in
39.5 Btu/lb28.4 Btu/lb
Water Economizer for
some degree of cross-contamiShoulder Season
nation. These conditions range
from wheel deflection, failure or
FIGURE 2B Winter. Recovery with wheel/air-handling system: traditional.
improper installation or set-up,
leakage past the seals, malfuncLab Exhaust
Hazardous
tioning purge, etc.
(45,000 cfm)
Exhaust
Malfunctioning purge could
P/C Provides Preheat as Required
And Frost Protection for Wheel
result in cross-contamination
AHU/ERU
70F
Wheel
despite the positive pressure difGeneral Exhaust
Room Exhaust
(27.5F)
(40,000
cfm)
ferential normally maintained
25F
from the supply to exhaust sides
50F C 45F
H
P 0F
Room Supply
53F
of the wheel. Due to these con(85,000 cfm)
C
C
(53F70F) C
3F Increase from Friction
cerns, a design approach that
Typical VAV Box & Duct Heat Gain
Two Recovery
Outside Air
(Provides
allows fume hood or similar
Devices Operating
(0F)
50F
Final Heating FCU
exhaust to pass through an energy
as Required)
MEP Spaces
Three-Way
60F
wheel is typically avoided and
Chiller
Diverting
Valve (typ)
CT
Energy Recovery Effectiveness
should have approval from the
(45F25F) (Wheel) + (50F45F) (C/C)
owner and the environmental
=36%
70F Room0F Outside Air
HX
health and safety officer before
being implemented.
Modified Efficiency
(45F25F) (Wheel) + (50F45F) (C/C) =45%
It is assumed that the first energy
55F Supply0F Outside Air
recovery method using wheels
Chilled Water Coil
Water Economizer for
Recovery Mode (450 MBH)
Shoulder Season
does not allow this exhaust to
pass through the wheels, instead
together) for energy recovery usage. Although this
allowing only general building exhaust to be used for
may seem like a significant unfair advantage for the
energy recovery. In contrast to this assumption, with
glycol runaround approach, this is being treated here
the energy recovery method using glycol (hydronic
as an integral characteristic of each type of energy
runaround) it is assumed that general exhaust is
recovery system.
combined with hazardous exhaust (manifolded
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TECHNICAL FEATURE

FIGURE 3A Summer. Recovery with dual wheels/air-handling system: neutral air.

Lab Exhaust
(45,000 cfm)

3F Increase from
Friction & Duct Heat Gain
(62/57.5F) Neutral Air

65F
C
Typical VAV Box Supplemental Cooling
CB
(Provides
Minimal Reheat FCU
As Required)
MEP Spaces

C
C

General Exhaust
(90F)

Off
P
C

43F

Outside Air
92F/76F
(39.5 Btu/lb)
Three-Way
Diverting
Valve (typ)

58F
Chiller

CT

Advertisement formerly in this space.

Wheel
Enthalpy Wheel

Room Supply
(75,000 cfm)
(65F75F)

Wheel 57F/47F
Sensible Wheel

Room Exhaust
(30,000 cfm)
(40%)

55F/54.5F 79F/69F
23.5 Btu/lb 33.5 Btu/lb

AHU/
ERU

75/62.5F
28.4 Btu/lb

Hazardous
Exhaust

HX

Energy Recovery Effectiveness

at Enthalpy Wheel
39.5 Btu/lb33.5 Btu/lb
=54%
39.5 Btu/lb28.4 Btu/lb

Water Economizer for

Shoulder Season

*80,250 cfm with additional purge due to two wheels vs. one in traditional design.

FIGURE 3B Winter. Recovery with dual wheel/air-handling system: neutral air.

Lab Exhaust
(45,000 cfm)

Hazardous
Exhaust
P/C Provides Preheat as Required
And Frost Protection for Wheel

3F Increase from Friction

55F
& Duct Heat Gain

58F
C
Supplemental Cooling
Typical VAV Box CB
(Provides
Final Heating FCU
As Required)
MEP Spaces

Off

55F
C

50F
60F

(40F20F) (Wheel) + (55F40F) (C/C) =50%

70F Room0F Outside Air

General Exhaust
(21F)

20F
P

0F

Two Recovery
Devices Operating

CT

Energy Recovery Effectiveness

C 40F

Wheel

Enthalpy

70F

Wheel

Sensible

Room Supply
(75,000 cfm)
(58F70F

AHU/ERU

(70F)

Room Exhaust
(30,000 cfm)
(40%)

Outside Air
0F
Three-Way
Diverting
Valve (typ)

Chiller

HX

Modified Recovery Efficiency

(40F20F) (Wheel) + (55F40F) (C/C) =50%
70F Supply0F Outside Air

Chilled Water Coil

Recovery Mode (1,200 MBH)

Examples
The first energy recovery method
using wheels is illustrated in Figure
1. As seen in this figure, hazardous
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Water Economizer for

Shoulder Season

exhaust is handled with a separate

system with fans located on the roof
of the building. In this example
the hazardous exhaust from each

TECHNICAL FEATURE

floor, considered as separate conFIGURE 4 Recovery with glycol.

trol areas for chemical storage
Glycol Coil
and usage, travels up a dedicated
Exhaust Stack
Bleed Air
shaft to the roof of the building.
Additionally, a bleed damper on
ERU
Roof
the hazardous exhaust system, or
alternately a variable geometry
Cooling/De-Humid Coil
Pre-Conditioning Glycol Coil
Wraparound
discharge damper (VGDD), works
Glycol Coil
in combination with a variable air
(Neutral Air
H System Only)
P
C
volume system in order to maintain
From
C
stack velocity.
C
C
Outside Air
Figure 2a (Page 22) represents the
Louver
AHU
components of the air-handling sysSupply
Manifolded Exhaust
tem with the first energy recovery
Dedicated Shafts for Each Floor Area
method (wheels) in combination
Supply
with the first air-handling system
Manifolded Exhaust
type (traditional approach) under
peak summer operation.
Shaft Bottom (typ)
Fire/Smoke Dampers (typ)
Figure 2b (Page 22) represents the
same combination under peak winter operation.
Figure 3a (Page 24) represents the components of type (neutral air supply, using dual recovery, with supplethe air-handling system with the first energy recov- mental cooling devices) under peak summer operation.
Figure 6b represents the same combination under
ery method (wheels) in combination with the second
air-handling system type (neutral air supply, using peak winter operation.
dual recovery, with supplemental cooling units in the
Test Model
spaces), under peak summer operation.
Figure 3b (Page 24) represents the same combination
The test model consists of 40,000 ft2 (3700 m2) of
under peak winter operation.
usable space in a Northeast climate with a summer outThe second energy recovery method using glycol
side air design temperature of 92F (33C) DB and 76F
(hydronic) is illustrated in Figure 4. As seen in this figure,
(24C) WB, and a winter outdoor design temperature of
general exhaust and hazardous exhaust are combined
0F (17C). This space breaks down as follows:
20,000 ft2 (1800 m2) of laboratory space;
in the same ducts and pass through the glycol recovery
6,500 ft2 (600 m2) of office, conference, and adminsystem. The energy recovery unit (ERU) is located on the
istrative areas;
roof in order to achieve code compliance for hazardous
8,500 ft2 (790 m2) of lobby and circulation areas;
exhaust. Once again, a bleed damper or VGDD is used on
2,500 ft2 (232 m2) of toilet rooms; and
the exhaust side in combination with a variable air vol 2,500 ft2 (232 m2) of support and mechanical/electriume system.
Figure 5a represents the components of the air-han- cal space not including the penthouse.
dling system with the second energy recovery method
The laboratory areas are a mix of hood-intensive chem(glycol) in combination with the first air-handling sys- istry-type labs and less intensive biology-type labs. The
tem type (traditional approach) under peak summer op- total required airflow for a traditional air-handling syseration.
tem was calculated at approximately 85,000 cfm (40 100
Figure 5b represents the same combination under L/s), and about 75,000 cfm (35 400 L/s) for a neutral airpeak winter operation.
handling system with dual recovery. The airflow quantity
Figure 6a represents the components of the air-han- is reduced in the latter case due to the use of supplemendling system with the second energy recovery method (gly- tal cooling devices, reducing airflow to the load driven
col) in combination with the second air-handling system areas.2
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TECHNICAL FEATURE

FIGURE 5A Summer. Recovery with glycol coils/air-handling-system: traditional.

HW (G) 81F
HW (G) 88F

Heat Source (Off)

(75F/62.5F)
(28.4 Btu/lb)

Room Exhaust
(85,000 cfm)

ERU

Manifolded
Exhaust
(83F)

G
C

AHU 52F/51.5F C 84F/74F

P
H
Room Supply
37.8 Btu/lb
21.5 Btu/lb
55F
(85,000 cfm)
C
C
(55F75F) C
3F Increase from
Typical VAV Box Friction & Duct Heat Gain
(Provides
Reheat As
Required)

43F

FCU
MEP Spaces

58F

Outside Air
92F/76F
(39.5 Btu/lb)
Three-Way
Diverting
Valve (typ)

Chiller
CT
HX

Energy Recovery Effectiveness

Advertisement formerly in this space.

39.5 Btu/lb37.8 Btu/lb =15%

39.5 Btu/lb28.4 Btu/lb

Water Economizer for

Shoulder Season

FIGURE 5B Winter. Recovery with glycol coils/air-handling-system: traditional.

Heat Source Provides

Additional Heating Energy
(+15F) Heat Source
Room Exhaust
(85,000 cfm)

(70F)

HW (G) 60F

ERU

Manifolded
Exhaust
(42F)

AHU
H
Room Supply
53F
(85,000 cfm)
C
(55F70F)
3F Increase from
Typical VAV Box Friction & Duct Heat Gain
(Provides
Final Heating
As Required)

G/C Provides Preheat

Using Energy Recovery
HW (G) 75F
HW (G) 35F*

50F

FCU
MEP Spaces

C
Two Recovery
Devices Operating

60F

Energy Recovery Effectiveness

C
50F

(45F0F) (G/C) 15F(Heat Source)+

(50F45F) (C/C)
=50%
70F Room0F Outside Air

C 45F

CT

Outside Air
0F
Three-Way
Diverting
Valve (typ)

Chiller

HX

Modified Recovery Efficiency

(45F0F) (G/C) 15F(Heat Source)+
(50F45F) (C/C)
=64%
55F Supply0F Outside Air
Chilled Water Coil

Recovery Mode (450 MBH)

Water Economizer for

Shoulder Season

*Minimum HW (G) temperature where indicated limited by frosting considerations.

Due to the hood-intensive nature

of the test model, the amount of
general exhaust used in this analysis is only 40% of the amount of

supply and makeup air. Although

this represents a fairly low percentage of air available for recovery,
it is not an unusual condition for
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TECHNICAL FEATURE

FIGURE 6A Summer. Recovery with dual glycol coils/air-handling system, neutral air.

Room Exhaust
(75,000 cfm)

HW (G) 82F

Heat Source (Off)

(75F/62.5F)
ERU
(28.4 Btu/lb)

3F Increase from
H Friction & Duct Heat Gain AHU
Room Supply
70F
73F
(75,000 cfm)
Neutral Air
C
(75F)
Typical VAV Box Supplemental Cooling
CB
(Provides
Minimal Reheat FCU
As Required)
MEP Spaces

78F

Manifolded
Exhaust
(80F)

G
C
55F/
G
G 54.5F C 70F/69F
23.5
33.5 Btu/lb
C Btu/lb C
HW (G) 65F C
43F

Outside Air
92F/76F
(39.5 Btu/lb)

58F

Three-Way
Diverting
Valve (typ)

Chiller

CT
HX
Energy Recovery Effectiveness

Advertisement formerly in this space.

39.5 Btu/lb33.5 Btu/lb

=54%
39.5 Btu/lb28.4 Btu/lb

Water Economizer for

Shoulder Season

FIGURE 6B Winter. Recovery with dual glycol coils/air-handling system, neutral air.

Heat Source Provides Additional Heating Energy

G/C Provides Preheat Using Energy Recovery

HW (G) 35F*
HW (G) 60F

(+10F) Heat Source

Room Exhaust
(75,000 cfm)

70F

ERU

HW (G) 75F

Manifoldeded
Exhaust
(40F)

C
3F Increase from
Friction & Duct Heat Gain AHU

H
Room Supply
58F
(75,000 cfm)
Bypassed in Winter (Off)
C
(58F
70F) Typical VAV Box Supplemental Cooling
CB
(Provides
Final Heating FCU
As Required)
MEP Spaces
Energy Recovery Effectiveness
(40F0F) (G/C) 10F(Heat Source)+
(55F40F) (C/C)
=64%
70F Room0F Outside Air

G 55F
C

C 40F
C

HW (G) 75F

Two Recovery
Devices Operating

50F
60F
CT

Outside Air
(0F)
Three-Way
Diverting
Valve (typ)

Chiller

HX

Modified Recovery Efficiency

(40F0F) (G/C) 10F(Heat Source)+
(55F40F) (C/C)
=64%
70F Supply0F Outside Air

Chilled Water Coil Recovery Mode (1,200 MBH)

*Minimum HW (G) temperature where indicated limited by frosting considerations.

an exhaust-intensive laboratory
building.

Chilled-Water Coil Energy Recovery

All four combinations of recovery
methods and air-handling systems
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Water Economizer for

Shoulder Season

in these examples include a chilled

water coil energy recovery feature,
using diverting flow control valves
(three-way valves) in the chilled
water system. Under winter operation, the chilled-water flow leaving

TECHNICAL FEATURE

TABLE 1 Results.
RECOVERY
METHOD

SUMMER RECOVERY
EFFECTIVENESS

ANNUAL
COOLING
(KBTU)

CHILLER
PLANT
(TONS)

WINTER RECOVERY
EFFECTIVENESS

WINTER RECOVERY
MODIFIED
EFFICIENCY

ANNUAL HEATING
(KBTU)

TOTAL
COOLING/
HEATING
(KBTU)

COMMENTS

Traditional

32%

2,616,000

460

36%

45%

1,898,000

4,514,000

See Figures 1,
2A & 2B Single
Recovery1

WHEELS Neutral Air

54%

2,372,000

350

50%

50%

1,446,000

3,818,000

See Figures 1,
3A & 3B Dual
Recovery2

GLYCOL Traditional

15%

3,034,000

520

50%

64%

1,651,000

4,685,000

See Figures 4,
5A & 5B Single
Recovery3

GLYCOL Neutral Air

54%

2,571,000

330

64%

64%

1,250,000

3,821,000

See Figures 4,
6A & 6B Dual
Recovery4

WHEELS

AIR-HANDLING
SYSTEM

1Without chilled water coil recovery, winter modified efficiency falls to 36%; 2Without chilled water coil recovery, winter modified efficiency falls to 29%; 3Without chilled water coil recovery, winter modified
efficiency falls to 55%; 4Without chilled water coil recovery, winter modified efficiency falls to 43%; Tabulated values include chilled water coil recovery for all combinations; Recovery with Wheels is based

on 40% of supply air passing through exhaust side of Wheel (or Wheels) as general exhaust; Tabulated values are based on summer outside air design conditions of 92F DB/76F WB; Tabulated values
are based on winter outside air design condition of 0F; Boiler plant site remains approximately the same in all cases; Annual heating includes summer reheat, winter final heating, winter skin losses, and
winter preheat; Energy simulations are approximate only.

the chilled-water coil is redirected to the supplemental

cooling devices. After leaving these supplemental devices,
the chilled water is recirculated to the chilled-water coils

in the air-handling units, while bypassing the chillers.

The chilled-water coil under this mode of operation is
acting in reverse, producing chilled water at 50F (10C)

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SEPTEM BER 2013 ashrae.org A S H R A E J O U R N A L

31

TECHNICAL FEATURE

while providing additional pre-heating of the outside air.

The direction of water flow is not reversed through the
coil, maintaining efficient heat transfer.
This feature is illustrated in Figures 2a and 2b, Figures 3a
and 3b, Figures 5a and 5b, and Figures 6a and 6b, illustrating
how water is diverted differently between summer and
winter operation.

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32

A S H R A E J O U R N A L ashrae.org SEPTEM BER 2013

Since the heat generated in the spaces is being

transferred from areas requiring cooling into the outside air used for ventilation and makeup, as pre-heat,
this article interprets this feature as a form of energy
recovery. The subsequent results take credit for this
under winter operation.

Internal Cooling
The required peak space sensible
cooling MBH for supplemental cooling devices (during winter operation) was calculated as approximately 450 MBH in the equipment
rooms and mechanical/electrical
areas and 750 MBH in the remaining occupied lab, office, and conference areas. The latter figure is based
on diversified equipment plug loads
of approximately 4 W/ft2 (43 W/m2)
in lab areas, 2 W/ft2 (22 W/m2) in
office areas, and 1 W/ft2 (11 W/m2) in
circulation areas.
For the second system (neutral air
with dual recovery), the pre-heat
gained from winter chilled water
coil energy recovery takes credit for
all the supplemental devices located
throughout the building which are
cooling under winter operation
(1200 MBH in the test model). The
first system (traditional air-handling system) benefits from only the
supplemental cooling units serving
the equipment rooms and mechanical/electrical areas (450 MBH),
typically the only areas served by
supplemental cooling devices under
this system type.
However, occupied areas in a neutral system benefiting from increased
winter pre-heat consequently require
more final heating at the air terminal
units to prevent over-cooling, tending
to cancel out. The real benefit of the
chilled water coil recovery system is
the cooling energy transferred from
equipment rooms and mechanical/
electrical areas.

TECHNICAL FEATURE

Energy Recovery Efficiency

It is not the intent of this article to conduct a life-cycle
analysis, but instead to examine energy recovery efficiency
and the predicted savings in energy usage. The Carrier
Hourly Analysis Program (HAP) in combination with hand
calculations was used to predict cooling and heating energy
usage. This exercise included the following assumptions:
1. All spaces are occupied 11 hours per day, seven days
per week.
2. For a more realistic analysis, fume hood exhaust was
diversified to 60% of design, along with the diversified
plug loads described above under internal cooling.
3. Fan heat gain due to inefficiency of the fan was
excluded. With a blow-through configuration for the
fan relative to the coils and recovery devices, this effect
would be basically the same for all systems and tend to
cancel out in the analysis.
4. However, a 3F (1.7C) temperature rise from duct
heat gain and friction was included.
5. Under summer operation, the energy usage for the
neutral air system using wheels was penalized by an additional 7% of airflow required for the purge effect of

the second wheel (i.e., two wheels operating versus one

wheel with the traditional approach).
It is emphasized that the results for energy savings are
approximate due to limitations of the software.
ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1-2010 defines energy recovery effectiveness under Section 6.5.6 as the change in
the enthalpy of the outdoor air supply expressed as a
percentage of the difference between the outdoor air
enthalpy and the return air enthalpy. Section 6.5.6
grants an exception for laboratory systems meeting
Section 6.5.7.2, which requires a combination of airflow
reduction using a variable air volume design plus energy
recovery effectiveness equal to at least 50%.
Section 6.5.7.2 does not clarify the definition of recovery effectiveness in cases where the system is 100%
outside air with no return. In these cases, it seems reasonable to assume that return air enthalpy and exhaust
air enthalpy can be interchangeable, and this analysis
is based on this assumption. The system effectiveness
should not be confused with individual recovery device
effectiveness, since the two are not necessarily the same
where dual recovery is being used.

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During winter operation energy recovery effectiveness

can be somewhat misleading. Pre-heating outside air up
to room temperature (as if the effectiveness were 100%)
would not have the benefit of cooling the interior and
load driven areas using air at 55F (13C). Consequently,
also included in this analysis is a winter modified energy
recovery efficiency calculated as the amount of pre-heat
energy provided by all devices (wheels or glycol coils,
plus the chilled water coil feature described previously)
relative to the total energy required to heat the air from
outdoor design temperature to the design supply air temperature. To achieve a fair comparison the design supply
temperatures used are based on 55F (13C) and 70F,
respectively, for traditional versus neutral air supply.
Figures 2a and 2b, Figures 3a and 3b, Figures 5a and 5b, and
Figures 6a and 6b show the conditions of the supply and
exhaust airstreams as they pass through their respective
coils and energy recovery devices under the four combinations of recovery methods and air-handling system
types. Vendor equipment selections were utilized to
achieve these results.
Table 1 (Page 31) summarizes the values for summer and
winter energy recovery effectiveness, and winter modified energy recovery efficiency. This table also includes
the estimated annual energy usage for each combination
under summer and winter operation.

Summary and Conclusions

Energy recovery using wheels, in combination with
a traditional approach to the air-handling unit system
and the assumed low percentage of exhaust available
for recovery (only 40% of total supply air being used as
general exhaust for recovery), showed poor effectiveness
under summer operation (only 32%).
Energy recovery with glycol, in combination with a
traditional approach to the air-handling system (i.e.,
runaround loop) showed very poor effectiveness under
summer operation (only 15%), with virtually no latent
pre-conditioning (dehumidification) of the outside air,
despite the fact that the assumed percentage of exhaust
air for recovery purposes is the full amount of supply air.
With the neutral air-handling system approach, using
dual energy recovery, the summer recovery effectiveness
improved dramatically (54% for both methods of recovery).
Under winter operation all four combinations of recovery methods and air-handling system types showed
good winter modified recovery efficiency (45% or better). However, with an air-handling system supplying neutral air (dual energy recovery approach), the
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calculated winter modified recovery efficiency requires

that the chilled-water coil energy recovery feature
be present and accounted for to achieve good values.
Without this feature winter modified efficiency dropped
to 29% with wheels and 43% with glycol. This is due to
the small amount of general exhaust used for recovery
with energy wheels, and the higher air temperature
delivered to the spaces with either method (neutral air
at 70F [21C] versus traditional air at 55F [13C]).
Total annual cooling and heating energy was reduced
by approximately 15% for the neutral air system relative
to the traditional system, when using wheels. This reduction was even greater, approximately 18%, when using
glycol coils, only because the traditional system used more
energy with glycol than wheels. The reduction in energy
usage in each case is mostly due to the following factors:
1. Greatly improved summer energy recovery effectiveness with dual recovery applied to the 100% outside
air system.
2. Reduced chilled water coil cooling energy with a
coil discharge temperature of 55F (13C) (higher under
dry conditions during a shoulder season, since the airhandling unit is dehumidifying only) in comparison to
52F (11C) leaving air temperature with a traditional VAV
system (equates to 55F [13C] supply to room after a 3F
[1.7C] increase in the ductwork).
3. Minimal summer reheat energy with neutral air
supply temperature.
4. Slight reduction in total airflow (75,000 cfm versus
85,000 cfm [35 400 L/s versus 40 100 L/s]). This reduction can be far greater in a less exhaust driven test model,
further reducing energy savings.2
The recovery method using energy wheels avoided
cross-contamination by having separate fans for the
hazardous exhaust, with only 40% of the total supply air passing through the wheels as general exhaust,
while complying with IMC requirements for hazardous
exhaust.
The recovery method using glycol (hydronic) inherently avoided concerns over cross-contamination, with
the full amount of supply air being used for energy
recovery. The IMC code for hazardous exhaust is satisfied, for this combination, by locating the energy recovery units on the roof or exterior of the building.

References
1. Georgia Institute of Technology. 1999. Results of Cross-Contamination Testing of Desiccants. SEMCO, Inc.
2. Barnet, B. 2008. Chilled beams for labs: using dual energy recovery. ASHRAE Journal 50(12):2837.