Abstract This article investigates potential strategies to enhance the performance of exhaust air-to-air heat pumps (EAHP) with plate heat exchangers when operating in cooling mode. A critical issue affecting the performance of these systems is inadequate airflow through the heat pump’s condenser, which is integrated within the air handling unit. This airflow limitation results in operational efficiencies that are often equivalent to, or even lower than, those of traditional air handling units equipped with DX coil connected to compressor-condensing units operating under outdoor air conditions. By exploring various optimization approaches, this review aims to identify key factors influencing performance and propose solutions to address this efficiency gap, in order to optimize the energy performance of EAHPs in cooling mode.
Ivan Dimchev (Fri,) studied this question.