Methodology Allying Standard Penetration Test and Era-Interim Data Set for Numerical Simulations of Earth-Air Heat Exchangers

Abstract

Earth-Air Heat Exchangers are devices installed on buildings to reduce electrical energy consumption with air conditioner systems. They consist of buried ducts where the air is blown and induces heat exchange with the surrounding soil. Aiming to develop a consistent numerical simulation approach to study its behavior, this research allies the usage of Standard Penetration Test (SPT) and Era-Interim as part of the computational methodology. The results indicate that the proposed methodology can be adequately adopted, allowing the soil properties assignment from SPT reports, the prescription of inlet air temperature, and soil surface temperature from ERA/Interim data.