Ceramic heat exchangers: properties, advantages, and applications in Vents wall-mounted heat recovery units

Ceramic heat exchangers have become a key technological solution in modern wall-mounted heat recovery units—ventilation devices that are installed in the exterior wall and provide constant air circulation while retaining heat. Thanks to its thermal properties, compact size, low aerodynamic drag, resilience when exposed to environment, and durability, ceramic significantly outperforms other materials typically used in heat exchange elements.

A ceramic heat exchanger is a porous or cellular element made of special types of technical ceramics with high thermal conductivity and heat capacity. Its structure allows it to effectively accumulate the thermal energy of warm air leaving the room and then transfer it to the cold supply flow. This makes ceramic heat exchangers the optimal solution for residential heat recovery units.

Advantages of ceramic heat exchangers

Various types of heat exchangers made of materials that ensure efficient heat transfer and long-term operation are used in residential heat recovery units. Today, well-known types include polymer plate heat exchangers, which are lightweight and corrosion-resistant; aluminum ones, which have high thermal conductivity and strength; copper ones, which are distinguished by high thermal conductivity and corrosion resistance, and others. However, the most common today are ceramic heat exchangers. For example, popular models of Vents heat recovery units contain ceramic heat exchangers. These models include Breezy Eco and TwinFresh Atmo.

So, what are the advantages of ceramics and why are ceramic heat recovery units considered the most optimal solution for use in residential premises today?

1. High heat recovery coefficient (up to 90–97%). Ceramics have high heat capacity and can quickly accumulate and release heat. This makes heat recovery in residential heat recovery units with ceramic heat exchangers more efficient than in other similar units.

2. Durability and wear resistance. Ceramics virtually do not age, are not susceptible to corrosion, do not deform under temperature fluctuations, and maintain stable operating properties for years. Unlike aluminum sections or polymer plates, ceramic heat exchangers do not get out of the shape and are not damaged by moisture.

3. Eco-friendliness and safety. Ceramic heat exchangers are made from natural materials (clay, mineral components) that do not emit harmful substances when heated or cooled. The heat exchanger is treated with a hydrophobic solution that prevents moisture from entering the material and inhibits the growth of fungi and bacteria on its surface. All this makes ceramic heat exchangers completely safe for residential spaces.

4. Stable operation at low temperatures. Ceramics do not freeze at sub-zero temperatures, which makes such heat exchangers particularly effective for countries with cold climates.

5. No condensation and moisture retention during the cold season. A heat recovery unit with a ceramic heat exchanger recovers part of the humidity (up to 50%) into the room along with the supply air. This does not require a significant amount of condensate to be removed to the outside and creates comfortable conditions in winter.

6. Resilience to soiling and easy maintenance. Thanks to their smooth internal structure and heat resistance, ceramic elements are easy to clean. Most manufacturers recommend periodically rinsing ceramic heat exchangers with clean water without using any special chemicals.

It is thanks to these benefits that most modern high-end and mid-range single-room heat recovery units use ceramics.

Comparison of heat exchangers made from different materials

Heat exchanger type	Efficiency	Durability	Humidity resistance	Eco-friendliness	Need for maintenance
Ceramic	Very high	Very high	High	High	Minimum
Plastic (polymer)	Medium	Medium	Medium	High	Medium
Aluminium	Medium – high	High	Medium	High	Medium
Copper	Medium – high	High	Medium	High	Medium

Ceramic heat exchangers in Vents product range

Ceramic heat exchangers are widely used in residential heat recovery units, primarily with reversible air flow. Such devices are an effective and quite popular solution for ensuring energy-efficient ventilation in apartment buildings, private homes, and cottages, as well as in schools, kindergartens, and other institutions.

The Vents range of decentralized ventilation devices includes a wide range of residential heat recovery units with ceramic heat exchangers, which have one of the highest heat recovery efficiency ratings on the market thanks to their hexagonal channel structure. These heat exchangers are treated with a protective hydrophobic solution to minimise moisture penetration into the ceramic and prevent the spread of fungi and bacteria. This also maintains balanced humidity in winter when the relative humidity in the room is low, as some of the humidity is immediately returned to the room along with the heat.

Breezy Eco

This is a compact household heat recovery unit with a high level of noise insulation, which provides balanced supply and exhaust air flows of up to 48 m³/h. In “supply” and “extraction” modes, the device's performance reaches 80 m³/h. Thanks to the ceramic heat exchanger, the device retains up to 90% of the heat in the room, and modern brushless fans ensure virtually noise-free operation (from 5 dBA) and the lowest power use among similar devices – up to 8 W.

The ceramic heat exchanger has a very low proportion of condensation, so the Breezy Eco has a version with no heater and works reliably in winter down to –20 °C. The Breezy Eco 160-E model is better adapted to cold climates (operates down to –25 °C), as it has a heater that maintains a comfortable supply air temperature and prevents the external fan from freezing.

Settings and modes can be changed using a remote control or a smartphone app via Wi-Fi. The device can be controlled remotely via a cloud service. It can also be connected to a smart home system and a BMS via Wi-Fi.

TwinFresh Atmo

This is a modern residential heat recovery unit with an air flow of up to 50 m³/h. The device contains a ceramic regenerator with a recovery efficiency of up to 88% and has a compact casing (250x250x60 mm) with a stylish indoor unit design that will fit seamlessly into any interior. The sound pressure level, depending on the operating mode, is only 11 to 27 dB(A).

unique design feature is the use of removable colored textile covers on the front panel of the device, which makes it possible to choose the optimal color of the indoor unit to match the color scheme of the interior. Covers are available in black, grey, silver, navy blue, beige-pink, light cream, and violet.

The TwinFresh Atmo heat recovery unit is controlled using a remote control or smartphone (optional). Any number of devices can be connected to a single network. The operation of heat recovery units in a network ensures balanced ventilation.

Ceramic heat exchangers are created using technology that significantly increases the efficiency and reliability of modern ventilation systems. Thanks to their unique advantages, heat recovery units with ceramic heat exchangers ensure minimal heat loss, energy savings, a stable and comfortable indoor climate, and a long service life with no need for complex maintenance.