Numerical Simulation and Comparative Analysis of Earth Air Heat Exchanger Designs

This study compares the performance of serpentine and spiral Earth-Air Heat Exchanger (EAHE) designs using ANSYS Fluent for numerical simulations, under varying inlet temperatures, flow rates, and lengths. The models were validated against experimental data for the serpentine design and numerical results for the spiral design, confirming their accuracy. The simulations focused on outlet temperatures and pressure losses at depths of 2 and 3 meters. Results show that both designs achieve similar thermal performance, with minor differences in outlet temperatures and pressure losses. At a depth of 3 meters, both designs reach outlet temperatures within the comfort range, with the spiral design exhibiting lower pressure losses. For example, at an inlet temperature of 46.1℃ and a flow rate of 130 m3/h, the serpentine EAHE achieves an outlet temperature of 30.21℃ with a pressure loss of 77 Pa, while the spiral EAHE achieves 30.02℃ with 61 Pa. While the serpentine design offers slightly better temperature reduction, it incurs higher pressure losses due to turbulence at 90°bends. These findings underscore the need to consider both thermal performance and pressure losses when selecting the optimal EAHE design, as both configurations demonstrate effectiveness in cooling under the studied conditions. Copyright: ©2024 The authors.