Horizontal Air-Ground Heat Exchanger Performance and Humidity Simulation by Computational Fluid Dynamic Analysis

Paolo Maria Congedo, Caterina Lorusso, Maria Grazia De Giorgi, Riccardo Marti and Delia D’Agostino
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Paolo Maria Congedo: Department of Engineering for Innovation, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy
Caterina Lorusso: Department of Engineering for Innovation, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy
Maria Grazia De Giorgi: Department of Engineering for Innovation, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy
Riccardo Marti: Department of Engineering for Innovation, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy
Delia D’Agostino: Energy efficiency and Renewables Unit, Energy, Transport and Climate Institute, Joint Research Centre (JRC)-European Commission, 21027 Ispra, Italy

Energies, 2016, vol. 9, issue 11, 1-14

Abstract: Improving energy efficiency in buildings and promoting renewables are key objectives of European energy policies. Several technological measures are being developed to enhance the energy performance of buildings. Among these, geothermal systems present a huge potential to reduce energy consumption for mechanical ventilation and cooling, but their behavior depending on varying parameters, boundary and climatic conditions is not fully established. In this paper a horizontal air-ground heat exchanger (HAGHE) system is studied by the development of a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model. Summer and winter conditions representative of the Mediterranean climate are analyzed to evaluate operation and thermal performance differences. A particular focus is given to humidity variations as this parameter has a major impact on indoor air quality and comfort. Results show the benefits that HAGHE systems can provide in reducing energy consumption in all seasons, in summer when free-cooling can be implemented avoiding post air treatment using heat pumps.

Keywords: ground source heat pump; ventilation; computational fluid dynamic (CFD); zero energy building (ZEB); ground heat exchanger; efficiency; humidity; heating; cooling (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (9)

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