Experimental Development of the Horizontal Drain Water Heat Recovery Unit
The increase in energy demand, the scarcity of resources, as well as the adverse environmental impact of burning fossil fuels make it necessary to diversify the energy sources used. This also applies to the residential sector, which accounts for a significant proportion of global energy consumption....
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Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-06-01
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Series: | Energies |
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Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/12/4634 |
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author | Sabina Kordana-Obuch Mariusz Starzec |
author_facet | Sabina Kordana-Obuch Mariusz Starzec |
author_sort | Sabina Kordana-Obuch |
collection | DOAJ |
description | The increase in energy demand, the scarcity of resources, as well as the adverse environmental impact of burning fossil fuels make it necessary to diversify the energy sources used. This also applies to the residential sector, which accounts for a significant proportion of global energy consumption. Particular attention should be paid to water heating, as the importance of this process in the energy balance of buildings is steadily increasing. One of the methods used to decrease energy consumption for heating water is to recover heat from greywater. However, commercially available horizontal drain water heat recovery (DWHR) units are characterized by low effectiveness, which creates a need for further research to improve it. The aim of the paper was to evaluate the possibility of improving the effectiveness of a circular horizontal DWHR unit through the use of baffles. Six different baffle models for installation in the greywater section of the heat exchanger were analyzed. The tests were conducted under the assumption of the installation of the DWHR unit on the horizontal shower waste pipe. They showed that the effectiveness of the unit equipped with baffles was higher by several to as much as 40% compared to the DWHR unit without baffles. This is tantamount to an increase in annual financial savings resulting from greywater heat recovery, as well as a reduction in CO<sub>2</sub> emissions into the atmosphere. However, it was not possible to clearly identify the optimum baffle model. In any case, the selection should consider the hydraulic conditions in the heat exchanger before installing the baffles. The results can provide guidance for companies interested in bringing new equipment and technologies to the market. |
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format | Article |
id | doaj.art-f947c033758e41d79735c7f55d986e5c |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 1996-1073 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-03-11T02:32:16Z |
publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
publisher | MDPI AG |
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series | Energies |
spelling | doaj.art-f947c033758e41d79735c7f55d986e5c2023-11-18T10:12:04ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732023-06-011612463410.3390/en16124634Experimental Development of the Horizontal Drain Water Heat Recovery UnitSabina Kordana-Obuch0Mariusz Starzec1Department of Infrastructure and Water Management, Rzeszow University of Technology, al. Powstańców Warszawy 6, 35-959 Rzeszow, PolandDepartment of Infrastructure and Water Management, Rzeszow University of Technology, al. Powstańców Warszawy 6, 35-959 Rzeszow, PolandThe increase in energy demand, the scarcity of resources, as well as the adverse environmental impact of burning fossil fuels make it necessary to diversify the energy sources used. This also applies to the residential sector, which accounts for a significant proportion of global energy consumption. Particular attention should be paid to water heating, as the importance of this process in the energy balance of buildings is steadily increasing. One of the methods used to decrease energy consumption for heating water is to recover heat from greywater. However, commercially available horizontal drain water heat recovery (DWHR) units are characterized by low effectiveness, which creates a need for further research to improve it. The aim of the paper was to evaluate the possibility of improving the effectiveness of a circular horizontal DWHR unit through the use of baffles. Six different baffle models for installation in the greywater section of the heat exchanger were analyzed. The tests were conducted under the assumption of the installation of the DWHR unit on the horizontal shower waste pipe. They showed that the effectiveness of the unit equipped with baffles was higher by several to as much as 40% compared to the DWHR unit without baffles. This is tantamount to an increase in annual financial savings resulting from greywater heat recovery, as well as a reduction in CO<sub>2</sub> emissions into the atmosphere. However, it was not possible to clearly identify the optimum baffle model. In any case, the selection should consider the hydraulic conditions in the heat exchanger before installing the baffles. The results can provide guidance for companies interested in bringing new equipment and technologies to the market.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/12/4634domestic hot watergreywatershowerenergy consumptionCO<sub>2</sub> emissionenergy efficiency |
spellingShingle | Sabina Kordana-Obuch Mariusz Starzec Experimental Development of the Horizontal Drain Water Heat Recovery Unit Energies domestic hot water greywater shower energy consumption CO<sub>2</sub> emission energy efficiency |
title | Experimental Development of the Horizontal Drain Water Heat Recovery Unit |
title_full | Experimental Development of the Horizontal Drain Water Heat Recovery Unit |
title_fullStr | Experimental Development of the Horizontal Drain Water Heat Recovery Unit |
title_full_unstemmed | Experimental Development of the Horizontal Drain Water Heat Recovery Unit |
title_short | Experimental Development of the Horizontal Drain Water Heat Recovery Unit |
title_sort | experimental development of the horizontal drain water heat recovery unit |
topic | domestic hot water greywater shower energy consumption CO<sub>2</sub> emission energy efficiency |
url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/12/4634 |
work_keys_str_mv | AT sabinakordanaobuch experimentaldevelopmentofthehorizontaldrainwaterheatrecoveryunit AT mariuszstarzec experimentaldevelopmentofthehorizontaldrainwaterheatrecoveryunit |