1. Hoda Barzegar Ganji/PhD Student, Architecture
Dr. Kevin Renken/Faculty, Mechanical Engineering
D. Michael Utzinger/Faculty, Architecture
Kyle Talbott/Faculty, Architecture
Sensible Cooling Performance Assessment of a Horizontal Earth Tube System
April 2018

2. Aldo Leopold Foundation
Architects: The Kubala Washatko Architects, Inc.
Environmental Consultant: D. Michael Utzinger
Year: 2007
Location: Baraboo, WI
Area: 1,100 m2 (11,900 ft2)

3. Data Collection (1)

4. Data Collection (2)

5. CFD Analysis

7. Soil Specifications Density-Kg/m^3 Thermal Conductivity-W/mK
Specific Heat-J/kgK
Thermal Diffusivity- m^2/s
Thermal Diffusivity-m^2/day
Wet sand - Given
3.165
1260
0.1034
Dry soil - measured
1373
0.35 -
Sandy loam soil, 12.6% water content, 1360 Kg/m^3 density
1360
0.7
(Abu-Hamdeh, 2001)
1200
(Alnefaie & Abu-Hamdeh, 2013)
0.0371

10. Considering 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. as the work hours, the HETS has reduced the sensible cooling load by a monthly average of 165 kWh during June, July, and August.
A parametric model is being developed which not only generates the geometry of tubes, but also estimates the saved cooling and heating loads based on user inputs. This would be helpful in different ways.
It could cause a huge time saving. It is a matter of seconds to see if this system works or not; and if not, replace it with another system.
The model is in the same software that many architects use to provide two and three-dimensional drawings. Hence, it is also easy to see how the tubes might affect the building properties such as footprint, foundation, orientation, etc.
Conflicts show up much sooner and can be treated much faster.
Conclusions