An examination of procedures for predicting heat losses from underground structures

Abstract

Numerical predictions for heat losses from two-dimensional underground structures of variable geometry are presented. The calculations include the effects of wind velocity, surface radiation, and deep soil temperature, none of which have been previously explored. Results are compared with calculations made using ASHRAE procedures for predicting such losses. It is demonstrated that the present study results differ from the ASHRAE procedures by 20% depending upon geometry, wind conditions, and deep soil temperature. A limited number of results for the transient heat losses are presented to guide the designer with regard to peak losses and time lags. A new calculation procedure is developed and presented based upon the numerical result. This procedure is simple yet more flexible and allows for the inclusion of variations in wind velocity, surface radiation, soil thermal conductivity, soil temperature at depth in addition to structure geometry.

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