Temperature measurement correction for the determination of the effectiveness of Fixed-Bed Regenerators (FBRs) for HVAC applications

Air-to-air energy recovery ventilators (ERVs) are used to reduce the energy consumption for ventilation in buildings. Although fixed-bed regenerators (FBRs) have an advantage of a higher ratio of heat transfer area to volume compared to other types of ERVs, research on FBRs for HVAC applications is still limited. This study develops a test facility to quantify the effectiveness of FBR through temperature measurement, which is then compared with a numerical model. The temperature profile from the experimental measurements deviates from the numerical model, and the sensor responses are assumed to be responsible for part of this deviation as at the steady state condition outlet temperature of FBR varies with time. An analytical solution obtained for the sensor response exposed to the exchanger outlet temperature profile proved that the sensor characteristics have a significant effect on the temperature reading and the effectiveness value.