I decided to make a recuperator with my own hands. What is the best heat exchanger design for this?

Quite recently, when I heard something about a "recuperator", I imagined something hi-tech and incomprehensible. And now, not only did I decide to make it myself, I also choose among various designs. Where else will this squabble lead me ??? 😎

Friends, a big hello to everyone. Everyone knows a proverb "the devil is not so terrible as he is painted", this is an accurate reflection of my entire construction site. Almost all the work that I managed to do by this time was an absolute unknown for me.

Well, of course, I theoretically imagined what the result would be, but in 99% of cases, everything did not go according to plan. But, in spite of everything, I am still in business 💪👌😁.

Now any unknown is a new challenge, which you approach not with fear, but with interest.

Recuperator in the ventilation system. Dealing with a new task.

How I came to the conclusion that a forced ventilation system with heat recovery is needed in my house, I already wrote in one of my previous articles (go to the canal, you will find there).

Well, as a true self-builder, I simply have to do everything with my own hands. Moreover, there are many examples of the execution of various designs on the Internet.

But what to choose ???

❗❗❗ In order not to get confused in terms, I will call recuperator the whole system is assembled, and heat exchanger - an element directly responsible for heat transfer. I make a reservation, since in fact they are one and the same, but not the same 😁.

✔ Pipe in pipe. This is the easiest option to perform.

The 160th sewer pipe is taken, a corrugated aluminum ventilation duct is passed through it. Inside this ventilation duct there is an inflow (cold air), and outside, but within the limits of the sewer pipe, there is an exhaust. In this case, the flows move in opposite directions, due to this, heat exchange occurs.

But for a normal result, the dimensions of such a recuperator should be quite impressive (at least four meters). And it's not very convenient to place all this in my small house.

✔ Recuperator on aluminum tubes. This is a more compact option. Here, instead of one internal, corrugated channel, a plurality of aluminum tubes are used.

Due to this, the heat exchange area is significantly increased, and, accordingly, the result is improved. But here you will have to tinker specifically with the manufacture.

At the same time, all the same, you will have to make a separate recuperator for each room (making a single structure for the house is still cumbersome, and it becomes even more difficult).

✔ Rotary heat exchanger. This is already a factory version. But to be honest, I have not found a single example of a homemade construction of this type. And, to be honest, I was initially strained by some kind of complexity of the system.

Although everything is clear and logical, but how to implement it all is unclear

✔ Plate heat exchanger. This is the most popular option, both factory and home-made designs. The most interesting thing that can be done from different materials

• Plastic. I saw examples of a heat exchanger made of honeycomb polypropylene sheets.
• Paper. For me, it was generally a surprise that it worked, but even some factory models are made from it.
• Foil. It was this option that I liked the most.

After all, the main task of a heat exchanger is heat exchange. And what if not metal will cope with this best?

The only negative is the labor intensity... And I have already fully learned this in practice.

Diligence is off scale here, but I hope the result will pay off.

There will certainly be details on the process itself, the nuances of execution, and the costs for such a heat exchanger design. But all this is in the following articles.

Friends, be sure subscribe to the channel, and like it 👍. I am waiting for your opinion, and advice in the comments, it is always useful...