Diseño de sistema integrado entre unidades HVAC con calentadores de agua utilizando intercambiadores de calor

Abstract

This project focuses on the design of a heat exchanger to integrate heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems with domestic hot water (DHW) systems for residential applications, aiming to improve energy efficiency and reduce electrical consumption. The project hypothesizes that recovering residual heat from the refrigeration cycle reduces overall energy demand without affecting thermal comfort, which is justified by the high energy consumption of the residential sector in Ecuador. The project was developed through the selection of commercially available HVAC units and water heaters, the thermal and mechanical design of a shell-and-tube heat exchanger, and the application of analytical and empirical design methods in compliance with ASHRAE, ASME, TEMA and NEC standards. System performance was evaluated using DWSIM and SolidWorks Flow Simulation. The results showed that the designed heat exchanger efficiently transferred heat from the refrigerant to domestic water, leading to a reduction in the total energy consumption of the system. It is concluded that HVAC – DHW integration through heat recovery is a technically feasible and energy-efficient solution for residential buildings. Keywords: heat exchanger, energy efficiency, heat recovery, HVAC – DHW systems