Numerical Evaluation of the Influence of Different Parameters on the Thermoenergetic Performance of the Earth-Air Heat Exchanger in a Social Housing

Earth-Air Heat Exchanger (EAHE) is a device that cools or heats air as it flows through underground ducts, helping to lower energy usage while ensuring comfortable thermal conditions. This investigation is designed to assess the thermoenergetic performance of an EAHE in Social Housing (SH) when submitted to different operating and constructive parameters and suggest strategies to improve energy efficiency in buildings. The study involves thermal and energy evaluations of a device integrated into SH, exploring varying air velocity, duct length, and duct diameter. Dynamic simulations using EnergyPlus software were employed for these evaluations. The findings show that incorporating the EAHE to the SH enhances the thermoenergetic efficiency of built environments. The system's best performance was achieved by a duct measuring 34 m long and 110 mm in diameter with a 3.3 m/s airflow, striking a balance between thermal and energy considerations. This contributes to providing validated references and parameters for future projects in the pursuit of enhanced efficiency.