Here’s the deal: No matter the product, no matter its reliability, at some point in time it’s going to need to be replaced. And the same goes for energy recovery wheels even the most reliable in the HVAC system.
Debris can damage wheels, they’re often not maintained properly, and ultimately they simply reach their max lifespan. Again, this is the case for everything in the world but when it comes to the energy recovery wheel, users need to be aware. Why? Because if users use the right energy recovery wheel, they can reduce the costs significantly when a wheel needs to be serviced or even replaced.
polymer
At the core of that concept is the polymer, truly segmented energy recovery wheel. Don’t worry, this isn’t a product pitch but since it’s the only polymer wheel on the market and the most reliable, it’s a great example to work with.
The common ways a wheel can “fail” are if it’s too dirty to allow proper airflow, one of its parts (a belt, for instance) breaks, the desiccant begins to degrade, or if the wheel is damaged. What? Those things never happen, right? Well, of course, they do, but users can significantly reduce the risk and save money when they need to replace a wheel if users make a few savvy upfront decisions.
All Air isn't clean air
The dirtier a wheel, the less air that can flow through it, increasing the pressure drop
Energy recovery wheels get dirty. That’s inevitable. Of course, it happens faster in some industries and applications, such as manufacturing and casinos, but ultimately, it’s an issue for everyone.
The primary concern is that as a wheel becomes dirty, it affects performance. The dirtier a wheel, the less air that can flow through it, increasing pressure drop across the wheel, thus making it less effective.
Non-segmented wheel
With a non-segmented wheel, users' options are pretty limited. If they are lucky, they can take the entire wheel out and scrub it or vacuum it. But most metal wheels aren’t easy to remove and most have to be cut out with a reciprocating saw or heavy machinery and replaced.
A situation such as that means users have to hire workers, take the HVAC unit offline, and likely buy a new wheel. That quickly gets pricey.
Segmented wheel
The better option is to use a truly segmented wheel. The polymer wheels are the only truly segmented and washable wheels on the market.
That means users can remove one segment or “piece of the pie” at a time. Users clean that section put it back in, and repeat, it’s as easy as the instructions on the shampoo bottle. Downtime is as little as 15 minutes and rarely needs more than one person to complete the job.
All desiccants aren't created equal
If users can wash a metal wheel, that process may help air flow for small periods, but it further strips desiccant
That’s right, on a metal wheel desiccant slowly degrades because it’s applied using an adhesive. That’s a big deal because desiccant is the magical compound that makes energy recovery wheels work.
Also, if users can wash a metal wheel, that process may help air flow for small periods, but it further strips desiccant from the wheel’s media, breaking down the adhesive.
High performance
On the polymer wheel, the desiccant is “permanently bonded” into the media, using a patented manufacturing process.
This ensures the desiccant doesn’t degrade over time or from cleaning and maintenance, and performance levels remain high. Having to replace a wheel-less often is a simple economic benefit: Fewer capital expenditures mean more money stays in the business.
Damaged wheels are a bummer
With a segmented polymer wheel, users can pull out the damaged section and order a replacement
Believe it or not, energy recovery wheels can get damaged, even when installed inside a contained HVAC cabinet. All it takes is one piece of rogue debris making its way inside to tear up the corrugated surface of a wheel.
When that happens, users are likely going to have to replace a metal wheel to reclaim performance. But if the wheel is truly segmented, users are in luck. With a segmented polymer wheel, users can pull out the damaged section(s) often in only a few minutes and order a replacement. It’s cheaper, faster, and more effective.
Easy to maintain system
Belts, on the other hand, can wear out. It takes a while but it does happen. That’s normal, though. All belts eventually need to be replaced. And this is why users designed the wheels with an easy-to-maintain system.
Due to the continuous link belt on most of the cassettes, all that’s required is to remove a link or two, take off the old belt, and unlink the new belt to install the new one.