Effect of different earth surface treatments on the thermal performance of a room coupled to an earth-air tunnel

Abstract

The thermal performance of a normal size room (4 m × 3 m × 3 m) connected to an idealized earth-air tunnel has been analysed interms of heating degree-hours (base 18°C) and cooling degree-hours (base 30°C). The effects of various earth-air tunnel parameters on the heating degree-hours and cooling degree-hours have been studied. The effects of various treatments of the earth surface over the tunnel have been analysed for three different climates (namely hot-dry, hot-humid and cold-dry) prevalant in India. The earth-surface treatments for hot-dry and hot-humid climates include shading and wetting of the earth surface, and for the cold-dry climate, the surface treatments considered are blackening and glazing of the earth surface.