UNDERGROUND AIR TUNNEL SYSTEMS
An open loop, underground air tunnel system cools
or heats the ambient air passing through it. This air is
then introduced directly into the conditioned space of a
building. In order to reduce the required tunnel length,
a closed loop system may be used. In this system, the
air from the conditioned space, with some ventilation air,
is recirculated through the underground tunnel. Open
and closed loop systems can be useful for air
conditioning agricultural buildings. However, the threat
of air contamination from any possible bacterial growth
Normally, heating and air conditioning systems have
average year-round COPs of about 2.0. However the
COPs of the systems utilizing underground air tunnels
are much higher. For open and closed loop systems, the
COP can be as high as 10. By doubling the COP over
a conventional system, the energy input (energy that one
pays for) is reduced by 50 percent.
In addition to energy conservation, this technique
also increases the capacity of a conventional system.