Conference article

After introducing the application status and problems of geothermal air conditioning system in China; a new kind of ground source air-conditioning system (EBCS) is put forward. The system consists of distributed air-conditioners combining heat pipe and vapor compression; fresh air handling unit with large enthalpy difference and ground source water loop. Geothermal energy is transported to the combined air-conditioners for heating and cooling by water loop. The combined air-conditioner can be operated at heat pump condition or heat pipe condition for air conditioning. In winter and transition season; the cooling energy in ground can be directly used for the cooling in inner zone by heat pipe mode; while the recovered heat is used for heating in peripheral zone.

To analyze the performance of proposed system; a commercial building in north China has been taken as the research object; and the annual energy use is simulated. It is shown that the new system can save 21.7% energy compared to the traditional ground source heat pump system; and may be a potential air conditioning system for commercial buildings in north China.

Building energy efficiency; Ground source; Heat pipe; Water loop; fresh air handing unit; air conditioning.