Life cycle cost analysis of air preheating systems using wastewater and geothermal energy

Frosting is a common problem in air handling units in buildings in cold climates. Tacklingthis problem is so far achieved by using considerable amount of energy while during thisprocess, the indoor air quality is compromised. This article presents the Life Cycle Cost(LCC) assessment of a preventive solution for frosting using two renewable heat sources.QC 20190802</p

Frost reduction in mechanical balanced ventilation by efficient means of preheating cold supply air

This study has focused on evaluating the financial potential of wastewater and geothermal heat recovery systems in a multi-family building. The recovered heat was used to improve the performance of mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) system during the coldest days in central Sweden. The main issue, which was targeted with these solutions, was to reduce frost formation in the system and hence increase its thermal efficiency. By looking at the life cycle cost over a lifespan of 20 years, the observed systems were being evaluated economically. Furthermore, statistical analyses were carried-out to counter the uncertainty that comes with the calculation. It was found that the studied wastewater systems have a high possibility of generating savings in this period, while the one fed by geothermal energy is less likely to compensate for its high initial cost. All designed systems however, managed to reduce operational cost by 35-45% due to lower energy usage