Numerical Investigation of a Coupled Passive Cooling System Earth to Air Heat Exchange and Solar Chimney in Hot Arid Zone

Abstract

The papers present a theoretical work on coupled passive cooling system, earth-to air heat exchange and high inertia well insulated solar chimney attached to the building south wall with direct outlet. The system was supposed to be used for summer cooling in hot arid zone in Ghardaia city in the south of Algeria. An investigation on the effects of the systems variable parameters on the cooling efficiency were carried out for hot summer days, these variable parameters were; Pipe: buried depth, cross section, length, disposition, number, and inlet outlet cross sections. Chimney: top and bottom sections, orientation, height, inlet outlet sections and positions, chimney wall insulation and thermal inertia. A numerical simulation carried out during summer days for two similar well insulated buildings, the first one with the above mentioned passive cooling system and the second without any passive features as a reference building, the buildings were assumed located in Ghardaia hot arid climate in the south of Algeria, in order to optimize the above cited variable parameters for the two coupled passive systems.