Cooling air by running it through underground pipes

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SUMMARY

This discussion focuses on cooling a building by utilizing underground pipes to transfer outside air. The user has calculated a heat transfer coefficient of 21.81 W/(m²·K) for the air inside the pipe using the equations h = x/k and h = (k_w/D_H)Nu, with Nu defined as 0.023·Re^0.8·Pr^0.33. However, the user expresses uncertainty about the next steps, particularly regarding the heat transfer coefficient from the ground to the outside of the pipe, which is crucial for accurate temperature predictions on hot, humid days.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of heat transfer principles, specifically conduction and convection.
  • Familiarity with fluid dynamics, particularly Reynolds number (Re) and Prandtl number (Pr).
  • Knowledge of thermodynamic properties of air, including temperature and humidity effects.
  • Experience with thermal conductivity calculations and heat transfer coefficients.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research methods to calculate the heat transfer coefficient from the ground to the outside of the pipe.
  • Explore the impact of soil type and temperature on heat transfer efficiency.
  • Investigate the use of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations to model air flow and temperature changes.
  • Learn about the design and optimization of earth tubes for passive cooling systems.
USEFUL FOR

Environmental engineers, architects designing passive cooling systems, and anyone interested in sustainable building practices and thermal management techniques.

Sultan of Hel
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An environmentalist friend of mine wants to cool a building on his property (something like a shed or workshop) not with AC, but by blowing air from outside into a pipe underground, running it underground for a distance, and then blowing that air straight up into the building.

I need to find the temperature of the air that comes into the building on a hot, humid day. I have the speed at which the fan pushes the air (can be converted to CFM), the outside air temperature and humidity, the pipe material and thickness, and the soil type and temperature.

I tried combining two equations:

h=\frac{x}{k}
h=\frac{k_w}{D_H}Nu, Nu=0.023\cdot Re^{0.8}\cdot Pr^{0.33}

...and got 21.81 W/(m^2*K)

I'm positive I'm doing something wrong, and even if I'm not, where do I go with that number?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
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That's the heat transfer coefficient to the air inside the pipe. But you also need a value for the heat transfer coefficient from the ground outside the pipe.
 

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