Airxchange®, Inc. specializes in producing energy recovery wheels with capacities ranging from 100 to 60,000 cubic feet per minute (CFM).
These wheels are designed with a segmented energy transfer matrix to enhance energy transfer efficiency. The matrix's construction offers a straightforward approach to optimal performance.
Energy Transfer Media Attributes
Material has demonstrated reliability in comfort HVAC applications for over three decades
The energy transfer media utilized in Airxchange® wheels is manufactured from an innovative and durable polymer material. This material has demonstrated reliability in comfort HVAC applications for over three decades.
The polymer is formed into a matrix that can be segmented for easy maintenance, making these wheels lightweight and service-friendly.
The supporting structure of the wheels, made of welded stainless steel or aluminum, provides independent strength and durability, unlike monolithic wheels that rely on the matrix for structural support.
Long-Lasting Polymer Matrix
For more than 30 years, Airxchange®'s polymer matrix has shown superior durability compared to aluminum, offering heightened resistance to mechanical damage, corrosion, and inertia shifts.
The polymer not only enhances mechanical bonding for the desiccants, allowing them to stay intact without adhesives but also ensures they do not degrade due to normal wear or cleaning processes.
Comparison with Aluminum-Based Wheels
The epoxy adhesive used for securing desiccants often weakens over time, affecting performance
In contrast, aluminum-based energy recovery wheels are constructed from thin aluminum sheets shaped into a monolithic structure.
These require an integrated design with a drain pan for cleaning, as their material is permanently attached, making separation difficult. The epoxy adhesive used for securing desiccants often weakens over time, affecting performance.
Efficient Cleaning and Maintenance
Airxchange® wheels are engineered for easy and quick cleaning, essential for maintaining performance. As rotary energy recovery devices, they naturally mitigate dust accumulation while operating.
However, when exposed to harsher pollutants, contaminants can accumulate, prompting the need for thorough washing. Airxchange®'s patented design allows efficient cleaning by removing and washing matrix segments, preserving performance without risk.
Durability in Extreme Conditions
Easily removable matrix segments can be cleaned externally to protect motor and electrical components
Numerous studies, including those by ADL/TIAX, confirm the robust nature of the Airxchange® energy transfer matrix, which remains effective even after washing.
The design accommodates challenging environments, like saline coastal air and acidic conditions near pools, without requiring additional coatings.
Easily removable matrix segments can be cleaned externally to protect motor and electrical components, avoiding in-unit cleaning's complexities.
Warranty Coverage
Airxchange® energy recovery wheels are backed by a comprehensive 5-year warranty, excluding the motor, which is covered by the manufacturer's separate warranty.
This warranty reflects the long-term reliability and performance capabilities inherent in Airxchange® products.
Airxchange®, Inc. manufactures a variety of energy recovery wheels with outputs ranging from 100 to 60,000 cubic feet per minute (CFM).
Airxchange® wheels feature a segmented energy transfer matrix that provides a simple yet effective means of optimizing energy transfer performance.
Energy transfer media
The energy transfer media of an Airxchange® wheel is:
- Durable and innovative polymer material that has proven to last for over 30 years in comfort HVAC applications.
- Polymer material is formed into a matrix and segmented for easy removal, making Airxchange® wheels both light and serviceable.
- Supporting wheel structure is made of welded stainless steel or aluminum.
- Unlike monolithic wheels, the supporting wheel structure does not depend on the energy transfer matrix for structural integrity, enabling the wheel to independently withstand the rigors of operation for decades.
Airxchange® polymer matrix
For over 30 years, the Airxchange® polymer matrix has proven to be very durable in comparison to other materials, such as aluminum; the polymer matrix has superior resistance to mechanical impact, corrosion, scratches, and shifts in inertia.
The use of polymer media allows the desiccants to be permanently bonded to the matrix without the use of an adhesive. The resultant mechanical bond ensures the desiccant will not rub off from normal wear, washing, or impact.
Aluminum-based energy recovery wheels
Aluminum-based energy recovery wheels are typically made from rolls of 0.003-inch-thick aluminum that are corrugated, wound, and fastened to a wheel frame to form a monolithic energy transfer wheel. Very large aluminum wheels are bolted together in sections to create an integrated wheel and energy transfer structure.
Because the energy transfer material cannot be separated from the wheel structure, sections containing an aluminum wheel should be designed with a drain pan for cleaning in place. The desiccant is secured to the aluminum with epoxy glue, which has a tendency to weaken over time, resulting in a loss of performance.
Lifetime of Factory Performance
When necessary, Airxchange® wheels are designed to make the cleaning process fast and effective. Like coils, all rotary air-to-air energy recovery devices require cleaning over time in order to maintain latent performance. Unlike stationary heat exchangers, rotary energy recovery wheels are self-cleaning from dry dust and dirt as they rotate between two counter-flowing air streams.
In dry conditions, surface dust can be vacuumed from the wheel. When air streams are exposed to harsher compounds like oils, aerosols, or smoke, these contaminants will build on the surface of the matrix over time and reduce its effectiveness. In these cases, Airxchange®’s unique patented design allows for the segments to be easily removed and washed with no risk of losing performance. Independent
Airxchange®’s stainless steel structure
ADL/TIAX studies show that the Airxchange® energy transfer matrix is durable and that the desiccant coating remains intact when washed or soaked, which restores the latent performance of the wheel. Challenging environments are easily handled by Airxchange®’s stainless steel structure and polymer matrix designs. Seacoast (salt air) or pools (corrosive acid condensate) can be handled without special coatings on the transfer matrix.
If necessary, Airxchange® matrix segments are easily removed from the cabinet and can be soaked outside the unit instead of needing to spray a hose inside the unit, which requires special drain pans and places motor and electrical connections at some risk. Airxchange® cassettes have a full 5-year warranty for all but the motor, which has a separate manufacturer’s warranty.
