AR40215

Building Energy System and Auditing

Semester-VI, B.Arch
Energy Efficient Techniques
Low Energy Cooling Techniques - I

Dr. Shankha Pratim Bhattacharya

Associate Professor
Department of Architecture and Regional Planning
IIT Kharagpur
 Earth Air Tube Concept

Earth Air Tubes (EAT) are low technology, sustainable passive cooling-heating systems utilized mostly
heat-storing capacity of earth.

Air is either cooled or heated by circulating underground in horizontally buried pipes at a specified depth.
Around the year, soil temperature at a depth four meter below surface remains almost constant.
Temperature values remain usually in the comfort level range (15-27 °C).

This constant temperature is potentially useful in providing buildings with air-conditioning.

Outside air at ambient temperature is pumped in the buried pipes.
The heat transfer occurs in the Earth Air Tube and the temperature of outside air reaches close to the soil
temperature.
Earth Air Tube Concept

Drop in Air temperature reduce

the cooling Energy requirement
Ambient Air
( High Temperature)

Ambient Air Suction Point Centralized AC Unit Building

EAT Air
( Low Temperature)

Earth Air Tubes (EAT) Collection Manhole

Heat Exchange

6’ to 12’ below ground level : Constant Temperature:

 Earth Air Tube Schematic Layout Plan

Building

Centralized AC Unit

Collection Manhole
Earth Air Tubes (EAT)

Ambient Air Suction Point Ambient Air Suction Point

 Application of Earth Air Tube

EAT system can be used both cooling and heating during the summer and winter respectively. The
tunnels would be especially useful for large buildings with ample surrounding ground.
The EAT system can not be cost effective for small individual residential buildings.
EAT can be used in a vast variety of buildings:
Commercial Buildings:
Offices, showrooms, cinema halls etc.
Large scale housing
University Campuses
Hospitals
 Effectiveness of an EAT system

The effectiveness of an EAT system is mainly related to the following parameters:

•Ground temperature at depth of the installed exchanger
•Tube Depth, Length and Diameter
•Tube Arrangement
•Thermal diffusivity of soil
•Inlet air temperature
•Thermal conductivity of pipes
•Air velocity and flow rate inside the pipe
•System Efficiency
Heat Transfer Process in between EAT and surround soil is depend upon:

Surface area of Pipe: Higher surface area increase the rate of heat transfer
Contact Time of air flow: Higher the contact time higher the total heat transfer
Tube Material: High value of thermal conductivity increase the rate of heat transfer

Therefore, optimization in tube length is required for

economy of the project and performance efficiency.

After a certain length, rate of heat transfer gets constant.

Increased length also results in increased pressure drop and hence increases fan energy.
 Efficiency of the EAT System

𝑇𝑖 − 𝑇𝑜
𝐸𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑦 =
𝑇𝑖 − 𝑇𝑠

Ti = Inlet Air Temperature ( Outside air Temperature)

To = Outlet Air Temperature ( Final EAT air Temperature)
Ts = Soil Temperature

𝑄
𝐶𝑂𝑃 =
𝑊

COP = Coefficient of Performance

Q = Thermal benefit, Energy saving etc.
Q= Heat or Energy gain from the system
W= energy used to operating the system like Fan, pump etc.
W = Work done to run the system

If Q>W…… COP>1.0….. Efficient System

If Q<W…… COP<1.0 …..Inefficient System
Numerical Problem on EAT
An Lecture hall of dimension 25m X 15m X 4m is proposed to install EAT based cooling. The hall needs Six
air exchange per hour. The 50% of the outdoor air is treated through EAT. The cooling system will work 8
hours per day
Outdoor air ambient Temperature is 38°C
Indoor temperature to be kept at 25°C
A 5°C temperature drop is archived through EAT system.
The soil temperature is 27°C
Volumetric Specific heat of air is 1250J/m3 °C
The pipe diameter is 300mm.
To operate the EAT System two Fans of 1400Watt each and one Pump of 3200 Watt is used.

Find:
(i) Coefficient of Performance of the EAT System
(ii) Velocity of air inside the tube
(iii)Efficiency of EAT System
(iv) Daily saving of energy
Solution:
Volume of the hall: (25X15X4) = 1500 m3

Total air exchange rate = (6X1500)/3600 = 2.5 m3 /sec Six air exchange per hour

Flow Rate in EAT System = 1.25m3 /sec 50% air is used from EAT System

Heat Loss by EAT system: 𝑄 = 𝑣𝐴𝜌𝑣 𝑇𝑖 − 𝑇𝑜

Q = Total loss of heat in Watt

v = Velocity of air through tube in m/sec
A = Cross section area of Pipe in m2
ρv = Volumetric Specific heat of air (1250J/m3 °C)
Ti = Inlet Air Temperature ( Outside air Temperature)
To = Outlet Air Temperature ( Final EAT air Temperature)

It can be also written as: 𝑄 = 𝑞𝜌𝑣 𝑇𝑖 − 𝑇𝑜

Where, q = flow rate (m3 /sec)of the air inside tube
Heat Loss by EAT system: Q = 1.25 X 1250 X 5 = 7812.5 Watt
W = Work done by the system = 2 X 1400 + 3200 = 6000 Watt
𝑄
𝐶𝑂𝑃 =
𝑊

Coefficient of Performance = 7812.5/6000 = 1.3

Cross section area of the tube = π X (0.30)2 / 4 = 0.07068 m2

v = Flow Velocity of air inside the tube = (q/A) = 1.25/ 0.07068 = 17.68 m/ses

𝑇𝑖 − 𝑇𝑜
𝐸𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑦 =
𝑇𝑖 − 𝑇𝑠

38 − 33 5
𝐸𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑦 = = = 0.45
38 − 27 11
Temperature drop for outdoor air = 38-25 = 13°C
Temperature drop for EAT air = (38-5) -25 = 8°C

If no EAT System is used,

Energy required for daily 8 hours of cooling =
(2 X 1.25 X 1250 X 13 ) X 8 = 325000 Watt-hr = 325 Kw-hr

With EAT System,

Energy required for daily 8 hours of cooling =
[(1.25 X 1250 X 13 ) +(1.25 x 1250 x 8)] X 8 = 262500 Watt-hr = 262.5 Kw-hr

Per day saving in energy = ( Saving in cooling) – ( extra work done by EAT System, i.e. Fan & Pump)
= (325-262.5) – (6X8) = 62.5 -48 = 14.5 Kw-hr
 Radiant Cooling Concept

Radiant cooling systems consist of coils embedded within the structure. These coils carry chilled water
generated through conventional chiller systems. Chilled water in the coils cools down the slab or panels
which in turn act as heat sinks for sensible heat loads of internal spaces.

Types of Radiant Cooling

Chilled Slabs: These deliver cooling through the building structure,

usually slab, and are also known as thermally activated building systems.

Ceiling Panels: These deliver cooling through specialized panels.

 Radiant Cooling Concept

Chiller System Plant Room

Return water to
chillier plant
Chilled water supply
Heat exchange between from chillier plant
chillier coils and concrete slab

Concrete slab
house chilled
water coils Descending cool air from ceiling
Mathematical Modelling of the Radiant Cooling

Chilled water passing through pipes will become hot

Absorb heat from room air

Heat Absorbed by Radiant Cooling System = Q

Room Temperature will decrease.

Room air will loose heat

Heat Loss from the Room by = H

Basic Fundamental Balancing Equilibrium Condition:

Q=H
 Mathematical Modelling of the Radiant Cooling
Heat Absorbed by Radiant Cooling System = Q Area of Pipe = A m2
Velocity of water in the pipe = V m/ses
Q = (AV). ρw . Swater (tout – tin ) [tout > tin ] Density of Water = ρw = 1000 Kg/m3
Specific Heat of Water = Swater = 4187 J/Kg °C
Unit: Jules/sec = Watt Inlet Temperature of Water = tin °C
Outlet Temperature of Water = tout °C

Heat Loss from the Room by = H Room Volume = VR m3

Volumetric Specific Heat of Air = Sair = 1250 J/m3 °C
[tinitial > tfinal ] Initial Room Temperature = tinitial °C
H = VR . Sair (tinitial – tfinal )
Final Room Temperature = tfinal °C
Unit: Jule
Final Heat loss and Heat Absorb Equilibrium Equation:
Let the steady state of temperature reached in T sec
η = Efficiency of the System

(Q . T ). η = H
Numerical Problem on Radiant Cooling
The following data are obtained from a building having Radiant Cooling System:
Diameter of Cooling pipe = 75mm
Flow velocity in cooling pipe = 0.3 m/sec
Inlet water temperature = 12°C
Outlet water temperature = 22°C
Room dimension: 25m X 10m X 4m
Initial room temperature = 40°C
Time to reach steady state = 10 min
Efficiency of the system = 50%
Work done for the cooling = 45 KW
Find:
(i) Final Room Temperature
(ii) Coefficient of Performance
Solution:

𝜋 2
Area of Pipe = A = × 0.075 = 0.0044𝑚2
4

Velocity of water in the pipe = V = 0.3 m/ses

Density of Water = ρw = 1000 Kg/m3
Specific Heat of Water = Swater = 4187 J/Kg °C
Inlet Temperature of Water = tin = 12°C
Inlet Temperature of Water = tout = 22°C

Q = (AV). ρw . Swater (tout – tin )

= 0.0044 X 0.3 X 1000 X 4187 X (22-12) = 55492.8 J/sec = 55.5 Kw

Room Volume = VR = 25 X 10 X 4 = 1000m3
Volumetric Specific Heat of Air = Sair = 1250 J/m3 °C
Initial Room Temperature = tinitial = 40°C
Final Room Temperature = tfinal = ?

H = VR . Sair (tinitial – tfinal ) = 1000 X 1250 X (40 – t) = 1250000 (40-t) J= 1250 (40-t) Kj

Time to reach steady state = 10 min = 600 sec

Efficiency of the system = 50 %

Equating:
(Q . T ). η = H 𝑄
𝐶𝑂𝑃 =
𝑊
55.5 X 600 X 0.5 = 1250 (40-t)
Coefficient of Performance = 55.5/45 = 1.23
Solving: t = 26.68 °C