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Three-dimensional simulation of earth air heat exchanger for cooling application and its validation using an experimental test rig

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Abstract

In this study, the performance of the Earth air heat exchanger system for cooling applications has been investigated computationally using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software, and the results have been compared to experimental results. According to the simulation results, the temperature of moving air drops continuously as pipe length increases. The temperature drops more slowly in larger diametric pipes than in smaller ones, and the drop in temperature reduces slightly as air velocity rises. The proposed computational fluid dynamics model has been validated by building an indoor experimental test rig with the same parameters used in the simulation for variable diameter sets. As a result, an experimental test rig was constructed and built at NIT Patna, India, for the climatic and soil conditions of Patna. This fabricated and demonstrated experimental set up may be used in any climate and soil type. This is very concise and portable for transport. In the experimental and 3D simulation results, the maximum deviation in the Nusselt number for 0.0285 m, 0.038 m, and 0.0485 m pipes varies by 9.5%, 10.9%, and 7.72%, respectively. Similarly, in experimental and 3D simulation results, the maximum deviation in friction factor for 0.0285 m, 0.038 m, and 0.0485 m pipes varies by 6.21%, 11.22%, and 9.45%, respectively. The maximum deviation in heat transfer rate and effectiveness between simulated results and experimental observations for 0.0285 m, 0.038 m, and 0.0485 m diametric pipes are 6.76%, 9.96% and 9.58% respectively. The cooling capacity (heat transfer rate) increases as the air velocity increases; however, the effectiveness reduces as the air velocity increases.

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Availability of data and material

(data transparency): Data analysed in this study were a re-analysis of existing data, which are openly available at locations cited in the reference section.

Code availability

Not applicable.

Abbreviations

R:

-Calculated results

W:

-Uncertainties

X:

-Independent variables

\(\Delta \mathrm{T}\) :

-Temperature difference, °C

T:

-Temperature, °C

V:

-Velocity, m/s

Qc :

-Cooling capacity, W

Cp :

-Specific heat, W/kg.K

di :

-Inner diameter, m

n:

-Number of measurements

\(\Delta {x}_{j}\) :

-Accuracy of the measuring instruments

\(\Delta {x}_{s,j}\) :

-Absolute systematic uncertainties

\(\Delta {x}_{R,j}\) :

-Absolute random uncertainties

\(\Delta {x}_{G,j}\) :

-Absolute general uncertainties

\(\delta {x}_{G,j}\) :

-Relative general uncertainties

i:

-Inlet

o:

-Outlet

g:

-Ground

R:

-Result

\(\epsilon\) :

-Effectiveness

ρ:

-Density

EAHE:

-Earth-to-air heat exchanger

GHG:

Greenhouse gas

CFD:

Computational fluid dynamics

HVAC:

Heating, ventilation and air conditioning

MS:

Mild steel

PVC:

Polyvinyl chloride

3D:

Three dimensional

EAHE:

-Earth-to-air heat exchanger

GHG:

Greenhouse gas

CFD:

Computational fluid dynamics

HVAC:

Heating, ventilation and air conditioning

MS:

Mild steel

PVC:

Polyvinyl chloride

3D:

Three dimensional

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Scholar, Mechanical Engineering Department, National Institute of Technology, Patna, 800005, India

    Saif Nawaz Ahmad

  2. Professor, Mechanical Engineering Department, National Institute of Technology Patna, Patna, 800005, India

    Om Prakash

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Correspondence to Saif Nawaz Ahmad.

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Ahmad, S.N., Prakash, O. Three-dimensional simulation of earth air heat exchanger for cooling application and its validation using an experimental test rig. Heat Mass Transfer 59, 1277–1292 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00231-022-03334-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00231-022-03334-8

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