Thermal Performance Analysis of Biskra’s Earth-to-Air Heat Exchanger (EAHE)

Abstract

This paper deals with the experimental effect of air mass flow and operating time on the thermal performance of horizontal earth-to-air heat exchanger (EAHE). The set up is installed in Biskra region (34°47’N - 005°43’E) characterized by semi-arid and hot climate. The results showed that the first twenty meters, the quantity of heat transferred is about seventy percent (70%) of the total heat exchange. Moreover, the energy efficiency and performance coefficient decreased by 30 % and 43% respectively when the air mass flow ranged between 0.038 and 0.054 kg/s. Likewise, a reduction of 22% in efficiency for six hours of continuous functioning for air mass flow equal to 0.038 kg/s.