The cooling and heating potential of an earth tube system in buildings

Kwang Ho Lee; Richard K. Strand

doi:10.1016/j.enbuild.2007.04.003

The cooling and heating potential of an earth tube system in buildings

Kwang Ho Lee, Richard K. Strand

School of Architecture

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

A new module was developed for and implemented in the EnergyPlus program for the simulation of earth tubes. The model was validated against and showed good agreement with both theoretical and experimental data. Using the new module, a parametric analysis was carried out to investigate the effect of pipe radius, pipe length, air flow rate and pipe depth on the overall performance of the earth tube under various conditions during cooling season. Pipe length and pipe depth turned out to affect the overall cooling rate of the earth tube, while pipe radius and air flow rate mainly affect earth tube inlet temperature. The cooling and heating potential of earth tubes in four different locations were also investigated. Whether or not an earth tube is beneficial turned out to be heavily dependent on the climate of the location.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	486-494
Number of pages	9
Journal	Energy and Buildings
Volume	40
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2007.04.003
State	Published - 2008

Keywords

Cooling and heating potential
Earth tube
EnergyPlus
Parametric analysis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Civil and Structural Engineering
Building and Construction
Mechanical Engineering
Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Online availability

10.1016/j.enbuild.2007.04.003

Library availability

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Cite this

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abstract = "A new module was developed for and implemented in the EnergyPlus program for the simulation of earth tubes. The model was validated against and showed good agreement with both theoretical and experimental data. Using the new module, a parametric analysis was carried out to investigate the effect of pipe radius, pipe length, air flow rate and pipe depth on the overall performance of the earth tube under various conditions during cooling season. Pipe length and pipe depth turned out to affect the overall cooling rate of the earth tube, while pipe radius and air flow rate mainly affect earth tube inlet temperature. The cooling and heating potential of earth tubes in four different locations were also investigated. Whether or not an earth tube is beneficial turned out to be heavily dependent on the climate of the location.",

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AU - Strand, Richard K.

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AB - A new module was developed for and implemented in the EnergyPlus program for the simulation of earth tubes. The model was validated against and showed good agreement with both theoretical and experimental data. Using the new module, a parametric analysis was carried out to investigate the effect of pipe radius, pipe length, air flow rate and pipe depth on the overall performance of the earth tube under various conditions during cooling season. Pipe length and pipe depth turned out to affect the overall cooling rate of the earth tube, while pipe radius and air flow rate mainly affect earth tube inlet temperature. The cooling and heating potential of earth tubes in four different locations were also investigated. Whether or not an earth tube is beneficial turned out to be heavily dependent on the climate of the location.

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The cooling and heating potential of an earth tube system in buildings

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Online availability

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