Feasibility of using ground-coupled condensers in A/C systems

The feasibility of using ground-coupled condensers for air-conditioning (A/C) systems in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been investigated. Temperatures and soil properties required for the performance analysis of one of these condensers were determined experimentally. Thermal response tests were conducted to evaluate the effective thermal conductivity of the ground. The measurements required the installation of a closed loop vertical ground heat exchanger. The results indicated a significant difference between the ambient air and ground temperatures, which would result in an increase in the coefficient of performance and in a reduction in the energy consumption of an A/C unit using a vertical ground heat exchanger rather than an air-cooled condenser. The cost analysis indicated that the use of ground-source heat pumps in Saudi Arabia is not economical at the present time because of low electricity prices and high drilling costs. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.