Pseudo transient numerical study of an earth-to-air heat exchanger for different climates of México

• Thermal performance of EAHE system was evaluated under three different climates.
• The maximum cooling potential of the EAHE was 17.4 °C.
• The maximum heating potential of the EAHE was 12.5 °C.
• The EAHE worked the whole day in Juárez city either for cooling or heating.

The numerical study of the pseudo transient thermal behavior of an earth-to-air heat exchanger (EAHE) for three cities in México is presented. The climate conditions correspond to the warmest day in summer and the coldest day in winter for: extreme weather (Juárez city, Chihuahua), mild weather (México city, D.F.) and hot weather (Mérida, Yucatán). The simulations of the EAHE were done in an in-house code based on the finite volume method. Hourly simulations were done for four Reynolds numbers (100, 500, 1000, 1500) through one day. In Juárez city, the EAHE worked correctly for cooling and heating purposes during the whole day. For Mérida and México City the EAHE did not work during certain periods. The maximum cooling potential provided by the EAHE was 17.4, 10.2 and 10 °C in Juárez, Mérida and México City, respectively. The maximum heating potential provided by the EAHE was 6.3, 12.5 and 3.2 °C in Juárez, Mérida and México City, respectively. Such cooling and heating effects help to improve the thermal comfort inside a building located in this type of climates.