Integration of phase-change materials in heat recovery ventilator systems for enhanced thermal performance: Based on in-situ experiments

Abstract

The building sector is responsible for approximately 23 % of global energy consumption and 37 % of worldwide carbon emissions, as reported by the International Energy Agency and the United Nations Environment Programme. In Korea, extreme seasonal temperature fluctuations necessitate enhanced building systems to achieve efficient heat exchange. This study investigates the performance improvement of heat recovery ventilator (HRV) systems through the integration of phase-change materials (PCM), which significantly increase heat exchange efficiency and reduce external air loads by storing and releasing latent heat during phase-change. In-situ experiments were conducted to enhance building energy efficiency by incorporating PCM into ana HRV system. This system was designed not only as part of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning infrastructure but also to directly moderate outdoor air temperatures—lowering them during hot summer months and raising them during cold winter months. This approach facilitates heat exchange at reduced temperature differentials, improving the efficiency of replacing polluted indoor air with fresh outdoor air, thereby delivering comfortable, conditioned supply air. The in-situ experiments were conducted to evaluate the performance of PCM-enhanced HRV systems under extreme seasonal conditions. Results indicated that during summer, the integration of PCM reduced temperatures by up to 9.52 K and increased sensible heat exchange efficiency by approximately 50 % under peak conditions. In winter, the system achieved temperature increases of up to 9.41 K, along with a 4 % improvement in heat exchange efficiency. These findings suggest that PCM-integrated HRV systems represent a promising advancement for enhancing energy-efficient building management.