A　new　heat　pipe　heat　exchanger　is　designed　for　recovering　sensible　heat　and　it　can　be　used　in　room　ventilation　systems　in　which　inlet　and　exhaust　air　are　not　mixed.　The　objective　of　this　study　is　to　investigate　the　thermal　performance　and　effectiveness　of　heat　pipe　heat　exchanger　for　heat　recovery　in　ventilation　applications.　The　experimental　apparatus　consists　of　two　air　ducts,　two　shell-and-tube　heat　exchangers,　and　one　finned　tubes　heat　pipe　heat　exchanger,　all　of　them　are　connected　together.　The　air　flow　rates　for　exhaust　air　and　fresh　air　are　the　same.　The　heat　recovery　effectiveness　of　this　heat　pipe　heat　exchanger　at　different　air　flow　rate　and　different　temperature　difference　is　measured.　The　experimental　results　show　that,　at　the　same　flow　rate,　the　effectiveness　increases　with　the　increase　of　temperature　differences　between　fresh　air　and　exhaust.　The　temperature　change　increases　with　the　increase　of　the　inlet　fresh　air　temperature　in　summer,　and　decreases　with　the　increase　of　the　inlet　fresh　air　temperature　in　winter.　The　maximum　heat　recovery　efficiency　is　59%　in　winter　and　57%　in　summer.　The　energy　consumption　increases　with　the　increase　of　the　inlet　fresh　air　temperature　in　summer,　and　decreases　with　the　increase　of　the　inlet　fresh　air　temperature　in　winter.　The　saved-energy　reaches　440W　in　summer　and　395W　in　winter.　The　maximum　pressure　loss　is　only　15.7Pa.　Obviously,　the　energy　conservation　effect　of　this　heat　pipe　heat　exchanger　is　prominent.　Copyright　©　2009　by　ASME.