Browsing by Author "Tan, Li Li"

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    A Case Study on the University of Calgary EEEL Building Large Diameter Earth Tube System
    (2012-12-20) Tan, Li Li; Love, Jim
    Building heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems use large amounts of energy. Finding ways to lower that could lead to notable energy savings and reduced emissions. Earth tube (ET) systems preheat/precool ambient air by directing it through the ground to exploit the relatively stable subsurface temperatures. The technology has been applied in several countries in North America, Europe and Asia. A 1.2 m inner diameter two-duct ET system at the University of Calgary was studied. The temperature in soil surrounding the ducts was monitored for twenty months. Data were collected and analyzed to evaluate the temperature change of soil surrounding the ducts. It was initially planned to determine if there is a net drawdown of heat in surrounding ground in very cold climates, or if the heat is largely replenished by inflow. However, due to the reverse airflow problem in the south duct, the research was limited to the stabilization of soil remote from the building effect.