Comparative Study of Rotating Regenerators and Heat-Pipe Heat Exchangers

摘要

A heat wheel was purchased and installed for air to air heat recovery on a Terylene fiber drying and setting oven at ICI Wilton. At the same time a heat pipe heat exchanger was prepared at IRD and tested under controlled conditions. The heat wheel was then replaced by the heat pipe unit. During this procedure measurements were made regularly to monitor the performance of the oven and the heat exchangers. Neither of the heat exchangers attained their rated conditions. It was concluded that recuperative energy conservation is technically and economically feasible, provided that attention is paid to the problems of air flow control and minimizing installation costs. It was also realized that a good saving could be made by paying attention to stray leaks from the oven and by reducing the exhaust air flow from the setting sections. On the question of comparative performance of the two heat exchangers it is not possible to propose that one type is preferable to the other, although the heat wheel created more problems in respect of maintaining airflow.