The　heat　pipe　inserted　plate　(HPIP)　type　air-air　heat　exchanger　was　developed　to　recover　energy　from　the　exhaust　air.　The　heat　pipe　was　inserted　through　the　waved　plates,　and　the　two　streams　with　temperature　difference　flowing　opposite　along　both　sides　of　the　plate.　The　prototype　HPIP　heat　exchanger　charging　the　different　refrigerant　in　the　heat　pipes　was　analyzed　experimentally,　and　the　influences　of　the　indoor　and　outdoor　temperature　difference　and　the　type　of　refrigerant　in　the　loop　heat　pipes　on　the　temperature　effectiveness,　heat　transfer　rate,　and　energy　efficiency　ratio　(EER)　of　the　prototype　were　investigated.　Results　showed　that　the　heat　transfer　rate　and　EER　of　the　heat　exchanger　increased　with　the　increase　of　indoor　and　outdoor　temperature　difference　in　winter　and　summer　conditions.　The　maximum　temperature　effectiveness　reached　62%　in　winter　conditions　and　70%　in　summer　conditions.　When　the　loop　heat　pipes　working　medium　was　R32,　the　heat　exchange　performance　of　the　heat　exchanger　in　winter　and　summer　conditions　was　improved.　The　analysis　and　calculation　of　the　average　annual　EER　of　the　heat　exchanger　while　running　in　Harbin,　Beijing,　Shanghai,　and　Guangzhou　(China)　were　12.72,　7.70,　5.75,　and　3.67,　respectively.　(C)　2019　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.