Cooling of office buildings in cold climates using direct ground-coupled active chilled beams
Journal article, 2021

This study investigates the use of a direct ground cooling system (DGCS) using active chilled beams for the cooling of office buildings in Sweden. The methodology of the study entails laboratory experiments to develop and validate a simulation model of the cooling system. The sensitivity of the input parameters, such as borehole heat exchanger (BHE) length, internal heat gains and room temperature set point, are studied with respect to BHE outlet fluid temperature and room thermal comfort. The results provide a practical insight into designing DGCSs with regard to borehole outlet fluid temperatures. The results also show that the thermal comfort criteria in the room are met by applying the DGCS even under the most critical design conditions of undisturbed ground temperature and internal heat gains. The sensitivity study quantifies the influence of the room temperature setpoint and internal heat gain intensity on the BHE length. The BHE outlet temperature level is more sensitive in shorter BHEs than in the longer ones, and BHE length and room temperature levels are highly correlated. Thus, the sizing of DGCS can benefit from a control system to allow the room temperature to float within a certain range.

Borehole heat exchanger

Active chilled beam

Direct ground cooling system

Design optimisation

High-temperature cooling

Author

Taha Arghand

Chalmers, Architecture and Civil Engineering, Building Services Engineering

Saqib Javed

Chalmers, Architecture and Civil Engineering, Building Services Engineering

Anders Trüschel

Chalmers, Architecture and Civil Engineering, Building Services Engineering

Jan-Olof Dalenbäck

Chalmers, Architecture and Civil Engineering, Building Services Engineering

Renewable Energy

0960-1481 (ISSN) 18790682 (eISSN)

Vol. 164 122-132

Subject Categories

Energy Engineering

Other Civil Engineering

Building Technologies

DOI

10.1016/j.renene.2020.09.066

More information

Latest update

10/16/2020