Thermal Analysis of Earth Heat Exchanger Using Air as a Medium

Abstract

Thermal energy is the main concept of an earth air tube heat exchanger (EATHE), which uses the thermal energy of the ground for cooling and heating of the fluid medium. Here, air is used as cooling medium. The air cools in summer and gets heated in winter due to the temperature difference between the air and underground surface. However, for the study of the surface heat convection study of model is carried out.Study has been carried out at beginning as a field investigation. But presently software simulation is used for measurement of heat transfer. The software requires complex dimensioning process, such a system which involves optimization of numerous parameters such as the diameter, air flow rate depth, tube length and condensation in the meantime have to be considered. ANSYS Software is being used for simulation and modeling of result,computational fluid dynamics (CFD fluent) workbench under ANSYS software is used as simulation analysis the pipe of 45 m length, 0.004 m thickness and 0.08 m diameter. Air velocity is considered to be1m/s and 5 m depth of pipe from the earth ground. The inlet temperature for a days in June (2016) to May (2017) according the climate of Bhopal, MP. Using fluent heat variationsis being analyzed. It is observed at increasing velocity increases the rate of heat transfer, mid temperature, outlet temperature vary in summer and winter.