New and Underutilized Technology: Wrap Around Heat Pipes
The following information outlines key deployment considerations for wrap around heat pipes within the Federal sector. This information spans:
Benefits
Where humidity control is critical and performed by overcooling the air to condense out the excess moisture, air is often too cold to supply to the space and must be reheated. Wrap around heat pipes wrap around the cooling coil to pre-cool the outside air before it hits the cooling coil, allowing the cooling coil to do more work condensing out moisture. The heat pipe then re-heats the air on the backside of the cooling coil to eliminate its need to be re-heated with strip heaters or some other means
Application
Wrap around heat pipes are appropriate for housing, service, office, research and development, school, and hospital applications.
Climate and Regional Considerations
Wrap around heat pipes are most cost effective in humid climates.
Ranking Criteria
Federal energy savings, cost-effectiveness, and probability of success are ranked 0-5 with 0 representing the lowest ranking and 5 representing the highest ranking. The weighted score is ranked 0-100 with 0 representing the lowest ranking and 100 representing the highest ranking.
| Federal Energy Savings | Cost Effectiveness | Probability of Success | Weighted Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 | 5.0 | 4.5 | 53 |
Resources
The following resources are available:
-
Economic Assessment of the Benefits of Wraparound Heat Pipes in Ventilation Process for Hot and Humid Climates: International Journal of Low-Carbon Technologies article covering wrap around heat pipes
-
Heat Pipe Impact on Dehumidification, Indoor Air Quality, and Energy Savings: Technical paper written for the 10th Symposium on Improving Building Systems in Hot and Humid Climates (1996).