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Utilization of Earth-to-Air Heat Exchanger to Pre-Cool/Heat Ventilation Air and Its Annual Energy Performance Evaluation: A Case Study

Author

Listed:
  • Chong Zhang

    (Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
    Department of Building Services Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China)

  • Jinbo Wang

    (Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China)

  • Liao Li

    (Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China)

  • Feifei Wang

    (Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China)

  • Wenjie Gang

    (Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China)

Abstract

An earth-to-air heat exchanger (EAHE) system utilizes the low-grade thermal energy of underground soil to warm up and cool down the flowing air within an underground buried pipe. Integrating the EAHE system with building ventilation can reduce the energy demand for conditioning ventilation air. The main purposes of this paper are to estimate the year-round energy-saving potential of the EAHE-assisted building ventilation system and provide its design guidelines in a hot-summer and cold-winter climate. A steady-state heat transfer model was proposed to calculate the outlet air temperature of an EAHE and further identify its ability to preheat and precool ventilation air. Influences of depth, length, and diameter of a buried pipe on the year-round thermal performance of the EAHE system were evaluated. The results show that considering the compromise between thermal performance and construction costs of the EAHE system, a depth of 5 m and a length of 80 m are recommended. The EAHE system can provide a mean daily cooling and heating capacity of 19.6 kWh and 19.3 kWh, respectively. Moreover, the utilization of the EAHE system can reduce by 16.0% and 50.1% the energy demand for cooling and heating ventilation air throughout the whole year.

Suggested Citation

  • Chong Zhang & Jinbo Wang & Liao Li & Feifei Wang & Wenjie Gang, 2020. "Utilization of Earth-to-Air Heat Exchanger to Pre-Cool/Heat Ventilation Air and Its Annual Energy Performance Evaluation: A Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-17, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:20:p:8330-:d:425710
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Andrew Zajch & William A. Gough & Giacomo Chiesa, 2020. "Earth–Air Heat Exchanger Geo-Climatic Suitability for Projected Climate Change Scenarios in the Americas," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-28, December.
    3. Nuodi Fu & Moon Keun Kim & Bing Chen & Stephen Sharples, 2021. "Comparative Modelling Analysis of Air Pollutants, PM 2.5 and Energy Efficiency Using Three Ventilation Strategies in a High-Rise Building: A Case Study in Suzhou, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-20, July.

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