Simulation numérique des transferts thermiques entre une cavite enterrée et le sol : méthode des fonctions de transfert bidimensionnelles et sous-structuration

Numerical simulation of heat transfer between an earth-sheltered cavity and the soil: two-dimensional transfer functions method and subdivision. This paper describes the use of the two-dimensional transfer functions method for predicting the heat transfer between an earth-sheltered cavity and the surrounding ground. This method is first, applied for the generation of the transfer function coefficients for the system formed by the whole “earth-sheltered cavity–soil”. Then, the latter is decomposed into different layers. Each layer is characterised by its inputs and outputs and by its appropriate transfer functions coefficients. This technique allows a significant reduction in the computation time required to generate the transfer function coefficients of the cavity coupled to the soil. These methods are tested by comparing their results with those of the alternative directions implicit method (ADI) for various situations. The influence of parameters that have large effects on heat transfer such as the cavity depth, the thermal insulation, the nature and the thickness of the cavity walls are studied in typical climates.