Effect of a geothermal heat pump system on cooling residential buildings in a hot, dry climate

Abstract

ABSTRACT In the last century, electricity demand has doubled due to urban expansion, which has contributed to the formation of more urban heat islands (UHI) and the appearance of environmental hazards such as the global climate change phenomenon. Since residential buildings are considered the main electricity consumer sector in Egypt, they consume up to 42% of total energy consumption, which contributes to increasing temperatures and constitutes UHI in cities. In this context, the research aims to examine the effectiveness of using the closed vertical loop geothermal system (GSHPCV) for cooling residential buildings in a hot, dry climate, such as Cairo, Egypt. In addition to determining its effect on carbon emissions and the amount of energy consumed for cooling, this was done using TRNSYS-17 software as a simulation tool to compare the traditional building in a hot, dry climate before and after adding GSHPCV in Cairo, Egypt. The simulation revealed that using GSHPCV in hot, dry climate zones has a significant impact on residential buildings. It reduced the electricity consumption up to 19.7% of the electricity consumed for cooling, and it reduced temperatures indoors for buildings up to 15.8% on the ground floor, up to 11.3% on the first floor, and up to 3.5% on the roof floor. In addition, it reduced up to 19.7% of the carbon emissions and reached human thermal comfort on the ground floor for the study case at peak times during the summer period. Which provide a solution to reduce UHI and environmental hazards such as climate change.