SIMULATION MODEL OF EARTH TO AIR HEAT EXCHANGER

Dawood,, Amira E; Taha, , A. T; Amer Eissa, A. H

doi:10.21608/maje.2025.412642.1013

SIMULATION MODEL OF EARTH TO AIR HEAT EXCHANGER

Document Type : original papers

Authors

¹ قسم الهندسة الزراعية والنظم الحيويه - كليه الزراعة - جامعة المنوفيه

² Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Menoufia University, Shibin El-Kom, Egypt.

10.21608/maje.2025.412642.1013

Abstract

This study presents a theoretical investigation into the performance of an Earth-to-Air Heat Exchanger (EAHE) system used for passive greenhouse cooling under Egyptian climatic conditions. A comprehensive mathematical model was developed to simulate the transient heat exchange between the air and the surrounding soil through buried pipes. The model accounts for key parameters such as pipe diameter, pipe length, burial depth, airflow rate, thermal conductivity of the soil, and inlet air temperature. Numerical simulations were conducted to evaluate the impact of these parameters on outlet air temperature, soil temperature distribution, and the thermal damping capacity of the system. This theoretical study provides valuable insights into the optimization of EAHE design for enhanced energy efficiency in agricultural applications, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions like Egypt. The experimental results confirmed the EAHE system's effectiveness in reducing greenhouse air temperatures, demonstrating its potential as a sustainable and energy-efficient cooling solution for agricultural buildings in hot climates. The developed mathematical model accurately predicted the EAHE system's thermal behavior, providing a valuable tool for design optimization and performance forecasting. The average thermal efficiency of the earth-tube heat exchanger was 74%.

Keywords