Regenerative heat exchanger
In a regenerative heat exchanger heat is exchanged from, for example a liquid to gas via temporary storage or a heat sink. The heat or coolth from one substance is absorbed by a heat sink and then passed to the next substance via that heat sink without coming in contact with the other substance.
Regenerative heat exchangers normally increase in efficiency with the time allowed for the temperature exchange to occur and so can run at lower temperatures. A recouperator heat exchanger normally requires a higher temperature metallic or plastic heat exchanger but can be more effective over shorter exchange periods.
In the design and operation of buildings, single room heat recovery units are often regenerative heat exchangers, for example used as bathroom extracts that regenerate some of the heat that is extracted from showers or baths.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
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