Everything about the copper heat exchanger of the PRANA recuperator

Recently, ventilation systems with heat recovery have gained many new supporters from different parts of the world. Ease of installation and operation, high efficiency, and environmental friendliness have contributed that such devices have actually become a product of mass consumption.

PRANA recuperators/ decentralised MVHR, designed on the basis of a copper heat exchanger, have long won the favour of the audience and are very popular in more than 42 countries. After all, the philosophy of manufacturing an innovative Ukrainian ventilation system has always been based on maximum comfort and care for the consumer’s health around the world.

Along with that, today the ventilation equipment market offers a wide range of heat exchangers of various types and shapes made of different materials: cellulose, aluminium, ceramic, and copper. So why copper?

We will try to answer the frequently asked questions of customers in this article.

The copper heat exchanger installed in the PRANA recuperator/ dMVHR provides high recuperation efficiency among analogues, keeping up to 96% of heat and coolness in the premise. This is due to the high coefficient of thermal conductivity of copper among other materials, the design of the heat exchanger, the heat exchange area, etc. For example, the coefficient of thermal conductivity of copper is 401 (W/m*K), aluminium – 200-236 (W/m*K).

Such a device ensures efficient operation, and necessary air exchange creates and maintains a healthy microclimate of rooms of various types and purposes.

Along with a high coefficient of thermal conductivity, copper has additional advantages – natural antiseptic properties and preservation of the natural composition of the air. It has been proven that copper has long been famous for its antibacterial properties because the risk of bacteria and viruses multiplying on the copper surface is reduced. It is not for nothing that this material was also used for medical purposes, where there was a danger of the spread of infectious diseases.

An additional advantage of the copper heat exchanger is the high efficiency of recovery of both heat and cold (during indoor air conditioning operation).

The effect of copper on the human body
«Is the copper heat exchanger of the recuperator harmful to human health» – is the most common question among clients of the Ecostream/ PRANA company.

That is why we want to explain in detail how copper affects the human body and what its benefits are.

There is no danger for a person when the copper recuperator is working. During operation, it is not subject to destruction (its particles do not move in the flow of incoming air).

Copper, in Latin, cuprum, is one of the first metals that man was able to master and use in their everyday life. This is evidenced by ancient finds of copper dishes, weapons, and jewellery. Later, people realized the bactericidal properties of the metal and the use of copper began to have a sanitary character. Spoons, doorknobs, and water pipes were made from metal.

Copper against coronavirus
Recent research by scientists at the University of Southampton (Great Britain) has revealed a detrimental effect of copper and copper alloy surfaces on the viability of the human coronavirus (HuCoV-229). This virus is responsible for acute respiratory symptoms (SARS, MERS).

As the experiment showed, copper has a strong inactivating effect that kills the virus within a few minutes. While on other surfaces the pathogen remains viable for up to 5 days. The release of copper ions takes an active part in the inactivation of the HuCoV-229 virus (destroys the virus genome and viral envelope).

In the future, such biocidal surfaces are designed to resist epidemics, reducing the likelihood of viruses spread through touch. They are planned to be used in public places (educational institutions, offices, administrative buildings, and public transport).

The ventilation system based on a copper heat exchanger is recommended for use in rooms with small children and the elderly. The PRANA recuperator/ decentralised MVHR provides effective and safe ventilation of premises, is easy to manage, and does not require additional costs.

Ecostream helps households with air quality improvement through Prana ventilation systems, such as decentralised MVHR and MVHR systems. Our approach ensures the reduction of condensation to prevent mould build up. Get in touch with us today!

Read more about Ecostream: https://ecostream.org.uk/

Read more d-MVHR: https://ecostream.org.uk/d-mvhr/