The energy recovery in most cases interested only in the sensible heat (temperature transfer from one flow to the other), but may also relate to the total heat, that is in addition to the sensible heat also the latent (transfer and recovery of temperature and humidity)
The enthalpy heat exchanger allows to recover the sensible and latent energy from the air without transferring vapors and odors: the temperature is transferred from the flow with highest value to the lowest value, and also the humidity is transferred sub-form of water vapor from the flow with higher vapor pressure to the one with lower pressure.
Latest heat exchangers have solved the limits of the first enthalpy exchangers, which were made in treated cards, with possible problems related to hygiene.
They are now made of permeable polymer membrane (synthetic material) with a special coating that prevents the formation of mold and bacteria.
The point of condensation in the heat exchanger is lower and it is not necessary to drain condensate. Routine maintenance is like a normal exchanger and you can wash with water.
Ideal for cold weather because heating the air introduced in the rooms we tend to make more dry, and so could have a dry indoor environment (no enthalpy exchanger);
In summer, the enthalpy exchanger removes humidity from the outside air renewal, transferring it to the recovery of air flow from the environment and then ejected.
Slightly less efficient than the traditional exchanger (sensible), but with better overall performance (sensible + latent).
