The Optimization of the Thermal Performances of an Earth to Air Heat Exchanger for an Air Conditioning System: A Numerical Study

Adriana Greco and Claudia Masselli
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Adriana Greco: Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Naples Federico II, P.le Tecchio 80, 80125 Napoli, Italy
Claudia Masselli: Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 132, 84084 Fisciano (SA), Italy

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 23, 1-25

Abstract: The aim of this paper is to research the parameters that optimize the thermal performances of a horizontal single-duct Earth to Air Heat eXchanger (EAHX). In this analysis, the EAHX is intended to be installed in the city of Naples (Italy). The study is conducted by varying the most crucial parameters influencing the heat exchange between the air flowing in the duct and the ground. The effect of the geometrical characteristics of the duct (pipe length, diameter, burial depth), and the thermal and flow parameter of humid air (inlet temperature and velocity) has been studied in order to optimize the operation of this geothermal system. The results reveal that the thermal performance increases with length until the saturation distance is reached. Moreover, if the pipe is designed with smaller diameters and slower air flows, if other conditions remain equal, the outlet temperatures come closer to the ground temperature. The combination that optimizes the performance of the system, carried out by forcing the EAHX with the design conditions for cooling and heating, is: D = 0.1 m s −1 ; v = 1.5 m s −1 ; L = 50 m. This solution could also be extended to horizontal multi-tube EAHX systems.

Keywords: geothermal energy; earth-to-air; horizontal pipe; 2D model; air conditioning; renewable energy sources; thermal performances; energy efficiency; parametric study (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: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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