Multicriteria decision-making approach for selecting ventilation heat recovery devices based on the attributes of buildings and the preferences of decision makers

Ventilation heat recovery devices have been increasingly used in energy-efficient buildings. Many factors, such as the attributes of buildings and the economic conditions of decision makers, should be considered in the installation of ventilation heat recovery devices. Thus, decision makers experience a multicriteria decision-making problem. This study presented a method of combining Analytical Hierarchy Process with the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution to provide guidance in selecting ventilation heat recovery devices on the basis of the attributes of buildings and preferences of decision makers. By using residential house, small shop, and small public service center as examples, four types of ventilation heat recovery devices (total, plate sensible, integral heat pipe (R32), integral heat pipe (R717) heat exchangers) were recommended and sequenced under different background requirements through the proposed method. Results showed that the total heat exchanger obtained the highest recommended indicator value in small load application scenario, indicating its suitability. The proposed method can completely consider the attributes of buildings and psychological preferences of decision makers and combine the characteristics of different types of ventilation heat recovery devices. This approach provides scientific and reasonable recommended results in selecting heat recovery devices.