Experimental and Hybrid Numerical Analytical Approach of an Earth-to-Air Heat Exchanger

Abstract The primary goal of this paper is to assess the thermal behaviour of Earth-to-Air Heat Exchanger (EAHE) under continuous operation mode during the cooling period in warm climatic conditions. An experimental setup was conducted in Biskra University (Algeria) to test the ability to use EAHE as an alternative solution to conventional air conditioning systems. Besides, a transient numerical approach for the flowing air within the EAHE was developed using energy balance equations, discretised by the implicit finite differences method and solved by Thomas method. Furthermore, the transient temperature profile of the soil around the EAHE was investigated in order to determine the adiabatic radius of the soil as a function of the duration of operation. In this context, a transient semi-analytical model was integrated to the air model to estimate the transient EAHE’s performance deterioration. This deterioration is produced by the thermal saturation of the soil, which is influenced by the heat released from the air inside the pipe. Results showed that continuous operation for a duration of four days has minimal impact on the outlet air temperatures due to the implementation of night purging. Furthermore, the design and thermal efficiency of the EAHE are impacted by factors such as higher air velocity and reduced soil thermal conductivity.