Ground-coupled cooling in hot, arid regions
Based on results from a computer simulation, the impact of ground-coupling on the cooling loads of desert buildings is evaluated. Detailed two-dimensional thermal networks were devised and analyzed by the computer program SPICE. A series of parametric studies was conducted, first to assess the thermal effects of variation in several parameters and second to derive a ground-coupling design with minimal loads. A detailed comparison of the ground-coupling design with a similar high-mass well-insulated surface building was then made using results of monthly heat balance computations. Results of the parametric studies indicated that the building's annual performance is sensitive to the amount and orientation of fenestration, to the soil depth around the building, and to the amount and location of insulation. However, varying the soils's thermal properties and berming as opposed to burying the building to the same depth had little influence on annual performance. In comparing the above-grade and ground-coupled cases, the reduction in cooling for the latter was 40%, with reduced infiltration and lower heat flows through the wall and floor sharing equally in this decrease. For both the above- and below-grade situations, internal heat generation ranked first among the contributors to the cooling loads with 35% and 58%, respectively.
- Research Organization:
- Solar Energy Research Inst., Golden, CO (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-77CH00178
- OSTI ID:
- 6424019
- Report Number(s):
- SERI/TP-722-1355; ON: DE81028357
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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