A novel tool for the prediction of earth-contact heat transfer: A multi-room simulation

Abstract

Abstract

This paper reports a new simulation method for the prediction of earth-contact heat transfer. The new method claims to be fast, accurate and flexible by means of incorporating elements of the response factor method into a numerical method based on the finite volume technique. More specifically, the development of the method is presented and implemented for a general multi-room structure. Work undertaken so far shows that the current combination of the finite volume and response factor techniques is at its most useful when the new tool is used in a parametric analysis process. Initially, a ‘pre-processing’ procedure is utilized to generate a certain number of simulated hours for use as a time series by the response factor technique in the second stage of the method. Assuming that the earth-contact parameters then remain constant, every subsequent simulation in which the non-earth-contact parameters are varied can incorporate the earth-contact heat transfer efficiently, by the use of the response factor technique, which takes a few seconds. Very good agreement has been achieved between a three-dimensional finite volume model and the present method, for a typical multi-room slab-on-ground floor, coupled with dramatically improved run times which is essential for the rapid parametric analysis of a structure.