ANSVASHRAE 84-1991 (Supersedes ASHRAE 84-1978) ASHRAE STANDARD Method of Testing Air-to-Air Heat Exchangers ‘Approved by the ASHRAE Standards Committee on Oc- tober 5, 1991; by the ASHRAE Board of Directors on De- cember 18, 1994; and by the American National Stan- dards Institute on January 23, 1992. ASHRAE Standards are scheduled fo be updated on a five-year cycle; the date following the standard number is. tho year of ASHRAE Board of Directors approval. The latest copies may be purchased from ASHRAE Customer , 1794 Tullio Circle, NE, Atlanta, GA 30329-2305. [email protected]. Fax: 404-321-8478. Tole- 404-636-8400 (worldwide) or toll free 1-800-527- 4723 (for orders in U.S. and Canada). ©Copyright 1992 American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc. ISSN 1041.2336 \Wnon addenda or interpretations to this standard have been approved, they can be downloaded free of charge from the ASHRAE web site at http:/ixp20 ashrae.org/standards/addenda.him or http:/ixp20.ashrae.org/standards/intpstd.htm, AMERICAN SOCIETY OF HEATING, REFRIGERATING AND AIR-CONDITIONING ENGINEERS, INC. 1791 Tullie Circle, NE © Atlanta, GA 30329ASHRAE STANDARDS PROJECT COMMITTEE 84-1978R Cognizant TC: TC 6.5, Air-to-Alr Energy Recovery ‘Standards Committee Lisison: James E. Woods ‘Water J. Markowskl, Chairman Donald. Fichor ‘J. Ben Austin, J John J. MeGuinness, Je. Keister N. Essen, Jeseph B. O'Brien ‘Aldo F, Fioravant ASHRAE STANDARDS COMMITTEE 1991-92 Donald 6. Cotiver, Chekmen Francois Anglais George Reeves, Vioo-Chalan Carl N. Lawson, IM. Kent Andereon Poul L. Milo, oe Lee W. Burgett, Chairman PPIs Jemes A. Renfone ‘Samuel F. Chilo Hary J Sauer, Je Douglas F. Darby ‘John Mt. Talbott Micheel E. Dil, Chairman iS James E. Woods Donald LGelstrt ‘Thomas P. Wutke, Chairmen SPLS orald H. Howell Billy R. Menning. CO Daniel E. Kramer ohn F. James, BO Jin L. Heldentvand, Manager of Standards SPECIAL NOTE “This National Voluntary Consensus Standard was developed under the auspices ofthe Amatican Soclety of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Condtloning Engineers (ASHRAE). Consensus is defined as “substantial ‘agreement resched by concecned intrceta aocording tothe judgment of @ duly sppeinted authority, after 4 concerted attempt at resolving objections. Consensus implies much mare than the concept ofa single ‘ejay but not necessary unerimity." This definition is according to the American National Standerds Institute (ANSD of which ASHRAE Is © member. ASHRAE obtains consensus through patcipetion of its national and international member, associated ‘socictie, and publ review. 'ASHRAE Standarde ar proparod by a Projest Comittee appointed specifically forthe purpose of ‘writing the Standsrd, The Project Committee Chairman and Vice-Chairman mast be members of ASHRAE: ‘while other committee members may of may nat be ASHRAE members, all must be technically qualified in the subject area of the Standerd. Every effort ia made to balance the concerned interests on all Projct Committees ‘The Manager of Standards of ASHRAE should be contacted for: interpretation ofthe contents of this Standard, participation inthe next review of the Standard, «: offering constructive ertctam for improving the Standard, 4. parmiesion to reprint portions ofthe Standard, ASHRAE INDUSTRIAL ADVERTISING POLICY ON STANDARDS. ASHRAE Standards end Guidelines are established to asst industry and the public by offering @ lniform method of testing for rating purposes, by suggesting safe practices in designing and instaling equipment, by providing proper definkions of this equipment, and by providing other information that may serve to guide the industry. The creation of ASHRAE Standarde end {Guideines is determined by the need for them, and conformance to them is completely voluntary. In referring to this Standard or Guideline and in marking of equipment and in advertising, no claim shall be made, either stated cr implied, thet the product has been approved by ASHRAE. DISCLAIMER ASHRAE uses its best efforts to promulgate Standards and Guidelines forthe benefit of the pubic in tight of avatable information and accepted Industry practices. However, ASHRAE dove not (uarantee, certify, or ascure the safety or performance of any products, componente, or eysteme installed, or operated in accordance with ASHRAE's Standarde or Guidelines or that anyCONTENTS 3, Definitions... 6... 4, Basis of Performance Testing . . 5. Measurements1. PURPOSE 1.1 The purpose of this standard is to (@) establish @ uniform method of testing for obtaining performance dats; () specify data required, calculations to be used, and reporting procedures for testing the performance of an air-to-air heat exchanger; (©) specify types of test equipment for performing such tests, 2. SCOPE 2.1 This standard prescribes methods for testing the performance of certain air-to-air heat exchangers. 2.2 In this standard, an air-to-air heat exchanger is a ‘device utilized to transfer heat from one airstream to another. The types of air-to-air heat exchangers covered by this standard are (@) rotary energy recovery wheels (©) haat pipe exchanger (©) thermosiphon exchanger (@) coil recovery loop exchanger (©) fixed plate exchanger (D_open spray recovery loop exchanger 2.3 This standard is not intended for testing a packaged system, sometimes called a heat recovery ventilator. 3. DEFINITIONS accuracy: the ability of an instrument to indicate or record the true value of a measured quantity. The error of indica- tion, which is the difference between the indicated value and the true value of the measured quantity, expresses the scouracy of an instrument. ‘ir leakage: cfm (m/s). coll recovery loop exchanger: finned-tube water coils with interconnecting piping placed in supply and exhaust airstreams and filled with a circulated liquid heat transfer fluid. crossover: migration between airstream. effectiveness: actual energy transfer divided by the maxi- ‘mum possible transfer. fixed plate exchanger: multiple alternate channels, separat- ‘ed by a wall of metal or other materials, connected to supply and exhaust airstreams. heat pipe exchanger: a tube, placed in side-by-side supply and exhaust sirstreams, fabricated with an internal capillary ‘wick structure and filled with a refrigerant heat transfer fluid, open spray recovery loop exchanger: extended surface contactor towers with iterconneting piping placed in supply and exhaust sirtreams. A ciculfed heat and wass teaofer id is alteraely brought in dtect contact with tach stream. ir quantity gain or loss between airstream in ANSVASHRAE 86-1991 packaged systems: beat recovery devices that combine the exchanger with filters, fans, and controls. precision: closeness of agreement among repeated measure- ‘ments of the same physical quantity by the same method under the same conditions. (Aa instrument may be precise ‘ut inaccurate.) rotary energy recovery wheels: porous discs, fabricated from materials with beat retention capacity, that rotate through internally separate, side-by-side, supply and exhaust arstreams. standard oir (-): dey sis at 70°F and 14.696 psia. Under these conditions, dry air has a muss deasty of 0.075 Ibo? Standard oir (SD: dry sr at 21°C and 101.325 kPa abs Under these conditions, dry air has a mass density of 1.204 kg/m? ‘hermosiphon exchanger: a tube, or coils with intercon- necting piping, placed in supply and exhaust arstreams and filed with a refrigerant beat transfer fluid 4, BASIS OF PERFORMANCE TESTING 4.1 Performance Determinations 441 (@) Determination of the heat transfer effectiveness of the heat exchanger in transferring sensible, latent, and total heat from one airstream to another over the range of the specified operating conditions. (b) Determination of the air fition pressure drop through the unit for both supply and exhaust arstreams. (©) Determination of the crossover operating condi- tions using tracer gas procedures. (@) Determination ofthe sr leakage rate from one air- stream to the other at various manufaturer-reeommended operating conditions using airflow measurement proce- ures, (e) Tests (a) through (d) should be conducted on the same unit with no adjustment tothe unit equipment config~ ration between test 5, MEASUREMENTS 5.1 Accuracy and Precision (see Table 1) 5.2 Instrumentation ‘Temperature and humidity measurement instruments, unless noted below, shell be in accordance with ASHRAE Standards 41.1-84 (RA 91) and 41.6-82, respectively. ‘5.2.1 Temperature ‘Temperature measurement shall be made with one or more of the following instruments: (2) Mercury-in-glass thermometers () Platinum resistance thermometers (©) Individually calibrated thermistors (@ Individually calibrated thermocouples 5.2.2 Humidity ‘Humidity measurement shall be made with one or ‘more of the following instruments: (@) Aspirated psychrometerTABLE 1 Measurement Accuracy and Precision Reading Aceursey Pression ‘ir dey bulb temperature 20.2°F (20.160) 2O.1°F (40.050) ‘Air weeulb temperature #0.2°F (30.190) 20:1°F (#0.05°C) ‘Ait Gow point temperature 20.4°F (20.2°0) 20.2°F (20.1°C), Other dr-bulb temperature 06°F (20.3°C) Relative humility 22% Pressure @F £0.008 in. WC (21.28 Pal, ‘Whichever is larger ‘crossover by tracer gos ©) chilled-mirror dew-point sensor (© Individually calibrated Dunmore-type RH sensor 5.2.3 Pressure 5.2.3.1 Units The unit of pressure is either the inch water column, designated ‘in. WC (Pa)," or the inch mercury column, designated ‘in. Hg (kPa)."” The in. WC shall be based on a one-inch columa of distilled water at 68°F (20°C) under standard gravity and a gas column balancing effect based on standard air. The in. He shall be based on a one-inch column of mercury at 32°F (0°C) under standard gravity in vacuum. 5.2.3.2 Pressuremeasuring instruments Pres- ‘sure shall be measured by (2) liquid column manometers or (b) electrical pressure transducers. 5.2.3.3 Calibration Each pressure-measuring instrumeat shall be calibrated at both ends of the scale and atleast nine equally spaced intermediate points, Calibration shall be made with a watersfilled hook gauge of the ‘micrometer type or a precision micromanome 5.2.3.4 Corrections Manometer readings must be corrected for any difference in specific weight of the gauge fluid from standard or any change in length of the Bradusted scale due to temperature. However, corrections may be omitted for temperatures between 58°F (14.4°C) and 78°F (25.6°C), and elevations to 5,000 fest (1,524 m).. 5.2.3.8 Static Pressure '5.2.3.5.1 Static Pressure Taps The static pressure at a point may be sensed with a pressure tap of the proportions shown in Figure 1. The pressure signal can then be transmitted to an indicator. 5.2.3.5.2 Static Pressure Tap Manifolding ‘An individual pressure tap is sensitive only to the pressure in the immediate vicinity of the hole. In order to obtain a2 average, atleast four identical taps shall be manifolded into 4 piezometer ring. The manifold shall have an inside area at least four times that of each tap (see Figure 2). 5.2.3.5.3 Nozle Pressure Tap Location The upstream nozzle static pressure taps, consisting of four laps manifolded into a piezometer ring, shall be located midway between the baffle plate and the nozale plate. The | | —— | soe Fits co He S gure 6 peat peromarte and tracer gt ar sampling device. collecting and transporting air samples to the analyzer. 5.3.2.2 An inert gas shall be injected into the airstream before fan 1, 5.3.2.3 A continuous airstream shall be drawn ‘from each sampling grid. Samples shall be drawn from these streams by a laboratory-approved sampling proce- dure. Extreme care must be maintained to ensure that further dilution of the sample does not occur. 5.3.2.4 No heat or moisture shall be added to the system between Station 2 and Station 3 during tracer gas testing. 5.3.2.5 Tests shall be conducted with equal mass flow rates of Stations 2 and 3. 6. CALCULATIONS 6.1 Airflow Rate (-P) 6.1.1 The airflow rate through a single nozzle shall be caloulated by the following equations: 2, = 1096 CA(P,¥1)°5, ® we te, ® TW, 4, = RaT(l + 1.607804) n F, . ® (1093 - 0.5560 W, -0.24(¢- 1) soar 3) = ons, 6 ?, "0 Ps 2, = measured nozzle flow rate, cfm; c nozale discharge coefficient (see 5.3.1.4); A= nozzle throat area, A P, velocity pressure at nozzle throat or static pressure difference across the nozzle, in, wi = specific volume of air at the nozzle, bm of air water vapor mixture; ¥, = specific volume of air at the nozzle, f2/1bm ary ai W, = humidity ratio of sir at the nozzle, tbm watefibm dry ai R, = gas constant for air, $3.35 ftbfi(lbm-°R); T absolute temperature, °R, in nozle chamber, P, = absolute pressure in nozzle chamber, pss; : dry-bulb temperature,“ “ Wwet-bul temperature, F; Ws = humidity ratio. Ibm water/om dry saturated af wot-bulb temperature; ‘ej saturation vapor pressure at wet-balbtemper- ature, pss P, = abwolute pressure in peychrometric chamber, pala. 6.1.2. Whea more than one nozzle is ued, the total sirflow rat is the sum of te flow rates ofthe individual nozzles calculated in accordance with 6.11. 6.1.3 The low rate of standard air sal be calculated 28 follows: 2 aos, 2, © where 2, = flow rate of standard sic, fim; Q, = measured nozae flow rate, cfm; specific volume of air atthe nozzle, A2/Ibm air water vapor mixture. 62 Airflow Rate (SD 6.2.1 The sirflow rate through a single nozzle shall be caloulated from the following equations: 2, = 1414 C40? o he @ TW, R11 + 1.6078) ° oW, = o.62108_Pe © = measured nozzle flow rte, m/s; = nozzle discharge coefficient (. ‘= nozdle throat sree, m?; velocity pressure’at nozzle throat or static pressure difference across the nozzle, pascal; = specific Volume of ar at the nozzle, m/kg of air water vapor mixture; tn specific volume of air at the nozzle, mkg ary sis W, = humidity ratio of sir at the nozzle, ke wa- techkg dey ai, 42s constant for ir = 287.055 1(ka)(K); absolute temperature in nozzle chamber, Ki; >, = absolute pressure in nozzle chamber, Pa, dry-bulb temperature, at the psychrometric station, °C; v= wettbulb temperature, at the psychrometric station, TW) = hhumidity ratio kg water/kg dry sir saturated at ‘wet-bulb temperature; P'yq saturation vapor pressure at wet-bulbtemper- ature, Pa, F, = absolute pressure in psychrometric chamber, Pa. 6.2.2 When more than one nozzle is used, the total airflow rate is the sum of the flow rates of the individual nozzles calculated in accordance with 6.2.1. 6.2.3 The flow rate of standard air shall be calculated as follows: =, © flow rate of standard air, m/s; measured nozzle flow rate, m/s; specific volume of air at the nozzle, mike air ‘water vapor mixture. 6.3 Effectiveness 6.3.1 The effectiveness of the beat exchanger shall be calculated from the following equation: = te) 0 Fin) = seasible, latent, or total heat effectiveness; ddry-bulb temperature, humidity ratio, or total enthalpy, respectively, at the locations indi- cated in Figure 7; 7h, = mass flow rate of the supply, mass of dry air per unit of time; ANSUASHRAB 841991 mh, = mass flow rate of the exhaust, mass of dry air per unit of time; pin = Tainimum value of either 1h, oF ry. 6.3.2 When operation results in condensation, the effectiveness shall be of the enthalpy exchanged. 6.4 Total Enthalpy The total enthalpy shall be calculated from the follow- ing expression: he 02400+W,h, =P, ® hat+Wyhy (SDs where ‘= specific enthalpy, Btu por Ibm of dry si (-P) or joules per kilogram of dry air (SD) and fy = 1061 + 0.444 a @) hy = 2501 + 1.864 “ and f, W, aro defined in 6.1.1 (LP) or 6.2.1 (SD. For “all temperatures, ig is the enthalpy for dry saturated water vapor and may be obtained from psychro- atric tables. (See Table 2, ‘*Thermodysamic Properties of Water at Saturation,"”” Chapter 6, 1989 ASHRAE Handbook—Fundamentals (ASHRAE 1989). 6.5 The Air Friction Pressure Drop 6.5.1. The air friction pressure drop, AP, shall be presented in the form of either a standardized graph or standardized table where the standard values forthe test ae found by the equations ao where m= tov agent emit 82 V = velocity, fpm (m/s); i ar = ke oo SS ae as Figure 7 Schame of airflow for air-to-air heat ‘exchangers.p= density, tbm/f? (kg/m); = air viscosity, Ibmu/ft-h (kg/m’s); and 5 refers to “standardized.” 6.5.2 The flow exponent may be found as follows: the air friction pressure drop shall be obtained for a series of face velocities at a fixed temperature, The coefficients a ‘and & will be calculated by fitting the results to the equa- tioa AP = ave, a2, ‘The flow exponent m is thea found from m=2-b. aay 6.5.3 Alternatively, the results may be presented as AP = cv-mpi-mym, aa) c= 4, as) poor where a is also determined in 6.5.2 and p and are ‘evaluated at the test temperature of 6.5.2. 6.6 Supply Air Contamination 6.6.1 The exhaust air transfer ratio is equal to the tracer gas concentration in the supply air st Station 2 divided by the tracer gas concentration in the exhaust air a Station 3. 6.6.2 A minimum of six tracer gas ratios shall be ‘obtained for each pressure differential condition. These six readings will be used to obtain an average value, 7. TEST PREPARATION AND PERFORMANCE 7.1 Test Duct Requirements 7.1.1 Prior to the installation of the equipment to be tested, the ducts across the test section shall be connected and operated under the maximum negative pressure and flow rate that will be encountered under test conditions. Flow rates shall be determined at the four measurement stations (see Figure 4). Any disagreement of flow rates ‘greater than 3% from the four-station average shall be Considered unacceptable. 7.2 Equipment Installation 7.2.1 The equipment to be tested shall be installed in the test section in accordance with the manufacturer's standard installation instructions using his recommended installation procedures and accessories. 72.2 Casing leakage will improve the measured effectiveness of the unit. Casings consequently shall be sealed to prevent any filtrtion of extraneous air. 7.3 Test Operating Procedure 7.3.1 The test duct, measuring equipment, and the equipment under test shall be operated until equilibrium conditions are attained but for not less than one hour. After ‘one hour of operation, data are tobe recorded at 10-minute intervals until equilibrium is indicated. 73.2 The speed of rotary heat exchangers sball be checked before and after each series of test runs. 7.4 Required Test and Operating Procedure 7.4.1 Thermal Effectiveness Total, sensible, and latent thermal effectiveness values shall be determined by Equation 7 in 6.3.1. 7.4.1.2 Mass flow rates used inthe equation shal be those at duct Sections 2 and 3. 7.4.1.3 Thermal effectiveness values shall be etermined at maximum rated flow and at 75%, 50%, and 25% of maxionm rate flow. 7.4.1.4 Thermal effectiveness values shall be determined for ratios Of rina! OF 1.0 to 2.0 in 0.25, increments. This ratio will’be changed by varying tiga, The value f0F tinge shall be held constant at each of the flows specified in 7.4.1.3. 7.4.1.5 Thermal effectiveness values stall be determined for low-temperature heat exchangers (up to 150°F [65°C) for both eating and cooling modes. For the beating modes, the tests shall be performed with a mini- ‘mum supply-exbaust air temperature difference of 54°F (G0°C) and « minioum humidity ratio difference of 0.003 onthe (0.005 g/kg) dry air. Selected conditions for the heating mode shall be such that condensation will ot occur in the exhaust airstream. For the cooling mode, the test shall be performed with @ minimum supply-exhaust air temperature difference of 25°F (14°C) and & minimum humidity ratio difference of 0.007 Ibmvbm (0.007 ke/kg) of dry air. Selected conditions for the cooling mode skall be such that condensation will not occur (ia the supply airstream). High-temperature heat exchangers (above 150°F (65°C) shall be tested with a minimum supply- ‘exhaust air temperature differeace of 100°F (55°C). 7.4.1.6 The supply and exhaust sir temperatures are to be held within £3.0°F (1.7°C) and the humidity ‘atio within 0.001 Iba (0.001 kak of dry air ofthe test conditions selected in conformance with paragraph 7.4.1.5. During one set of readings, the dry-bulb variation shall not exceed £0.4°F (02°C) and the humidity ratio variation shall not exceed 0.004 Ibmvb (0.004 kak). 74.1.7 Thermal effectiveness tests shall be conducted with zero pressure differential between plenums 2and 3. 7.42 Leakage (Plus Purge Flow When Applicable) 7.4.2.1 Leakage tests shall be made with te heat exchanger operating at rated operating speed and/or maximum rated capacity. 7.4.2.2 Leakage tests shall be made with pressure differentials from duct section 2 to duct section 3 of 0.0, 1.0, 2.5, and 5.0 inches WC (0.0, 249, 623, and 1245 pascals), section 3 being atthe lower pressure. 7.4.2.3 Leakage tests shall be made with no heat ‘or moisture being added to the system, 7.4.2.4 Purge flow, when applicable, shall be ‘stblised by the reduction in standard ar volume between Station 1 and Station 2 and a like increase between Station 3 and Station 4, when adjusted for leakage. 7.43 Pressure Drop 7.43.1 Static pressure drop across the heat exchanger shall be determined for flow rates ranging from ANSUASHRAES41991,100% to 20% of rated face velocity, standard sir, in 10% increments. 7.4.3.2 The static pressure drop shall be obtained ‘with the wheel rotating with no heat or moisture being added to or removed from the system. There will be equal supply and exhaust flows and no static pressure difference ‘between plenums 2 and 3. 8. REPORTING RESULTS 8.1 The results of the effectiveness calculation shall be presented as a family of curves as indicated in Figure 8. 8.1.1 Both sensible and total effectiveness readings shall be reported. 8.1.2 The effectiveness values shall be corrected by caleulation of the effect of carryover and leakage, when applicable. 8.2 The results ofthe tracer gas tests shall be presented as a percentage of the concentration existing at Station 2 to that measured at Station 3 over the range of expected ‘operating conditions (Figure 4). 8.3 Leakage and/or purge rates shall be stated as a per- centage calculated from the flow difference at Stations 1 and 2, Figure 4, as adjusted according tothe esults of 7.1, ANSUASHRAE 841991 = prrectiVeness Face VevacrTY ~ SFP Gao) Effectiveness vs. mass flow ratio and face velocity. Figure 8 “Test Duct Requirements,"” over the range of expected ‘operating conditions, 8.4 The air friction pressure drop shall be reported as pressure-velocity curve in terms of standard air over the ‘ange of expected operating conditions.POLICY STATEMENT DEFINING ASHRAE’S CONCERN FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF ITS ACTIVITIES ASHRAE Is concerned with the impact ofits members’ activities on both the indoor and outdoor environment. ASHRAE’s members will strive to minimize any possible deleterious effects on the indoor and outdoor environment of the systems and components in their responsibilty while ‘maximizing the beneficial effects these systems provide, consistent with accepted standards and the practical state of the art. ASHRAE’s short-range goal is to ensure that the systems and components within its scope {do not impact the indoor and outdoor environment to a greater extent than specified by the standards and guidelines as established by itself and other responsible bodies. ‘Asan ongoing goal, ASHRAE wil, through its Standards Committee and extensive technical ‘committee structure, continue to generate up-to-date standards and guidelines where appropriate and adopt, recommend, and promote those new and revised standards developed by other responsible organizations. ‘Through its Hencbook, appropriate chapters will contain up-to-date standards and design Considerations as the material is systematically revised. 'ASHRAE will take the lead with respect to dissemination of environmental information ofits primary interest and will seek out and disseminate information from other responsible organizations that is pertinent, as guides to updating standards and guidelines. “The effects of the design and selection of equipment and systems will be considered within the scope of the system’s intended use and expected misuse. The disposal of hazardous materials, if any, will also be considered 'ASHRAE’s primary concern for environmental impact will be at the site where equipment within ASHRAE’s scope operates. However, energy source selection and the possible environmental impact due to the energy source and energy wansportation will be considered ‘where possible. Recommendations conceming energy source selection shouid be made by its members.86216 PC 1003