Application of heat pipe heat exchangers in heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems

A literature review on the studies and applications of heat pipe heat exchanger in air conditioning systems in recent years is conducted. The related papers were grouped into two main categories and a summary of experimental and theoretical studies is presented. Based on this investigation, the application of a heat pipe heat exchanger or a thermosyphon heat exchanger in the conventional air conditioning systems is recommended as an efficient means for energy savings and dehumidification enhancement to maintain acceptable room conditions. This review shows that the literature on the application of heat pipe heat exchangers in air conditioning systems is very limited. Therefore, much more research is needed to understanding the advantages of these systems for energy saving.   Key words: Heat pipe heat exchanger, dehumidification, energy saving, room sensible heat factor, thermosyphon heat exchanger.