Thermal Evaluation of a Water-to-Air Heat Exchanger Combined with Different Roof Configurations for Passive Cooling
Traditional conservation strategies often prioritize minimizing water use; nevertheless, water can also enhance thermal comfort by incorporating a water-to-air heat exchanger (WAHE) alongside non-direct evaporative and radiant cooling techniques. A WAHE can be installed in features such as ponds, wa...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-03-01
|
| Series: | Buildings |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/7/1098 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849738687377571840 |
|---|---|
| author | José-Manuel Almodóvar-Melendo Pablo La Roche |
| author_facet | José-Manuel Almodóvar-Melendo Pablo La Roche |
| author_sort | José-Manuel Almodóvar-Melendo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Traditional conservation strategies often prioritize minimizing water use; nevertheless, water can also enhance thermal comfort by incorporating a water-to-air heat exchanger (WAHE) alongside non-direct evaporative and radiant cooling techniques. A WAHE can be installed in features such as ponds, water tanks, or rainwater cisterns. This article assesses the cooling potential of two prototypes of roof ponds and a green roof connected to a WAHE, and the results are compared to a baseline unit featuring a roof that meets California’s energy code standards. Several testing units, measuring 1.35 × 1.35 × 1.35 m, with identical heat characteristics, excluding the roof, were constructed and tested. In the first system, the heat that the green roof could not absorb was transferred to a water reservoir and then dissipated to the outside. The first roof pond prototype features a 0.35 m deep water pond topped with a 0.03 m thick insulating panel and a spray system. The second roof pond variant has an aluminum sheet with a 0.10 m air gap above a 0.25 m deep water pond. The results suggest that combining a WAHE with different roof configurations offers promising benefits while keeping water consumption limited. Notably, when the WAHE is operating, the green roof increase its performance by 47%, the insulated roof pond by 22%, and the roof pond with an aluminum sheet by 13%. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-312c13b724844ec5b5ca2cdfe5538f22 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2075-5309 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Buildings |
| spelling | doaj-art-312c13b724844ec5b5ca2cdfe5538f222025-08-20T03:06:29ZengMDPI AGBuildings2075-53092025-03-01157109810.3390/buildings15071098Thermal Evaluation of a Water-to-Air Heat Exchanger Combined with Different Roof Configurations for Passive CoolingJosé-Manuel Almodóvar-Melendo0Pablo La Roche1School of Architecture, University of Seville, Reina Mercedes 2, 41012 Sevilla, SpainDepartment of Architecture, Cal Poly Pomona University, Pomona, CA 91768, USATraditional conservation strategies often prioritize minimizing water use; nevertheless, water can also enhance thermal comfort by incorporating a water-to-air heat exchanger (WAHE) alongside non-direct evaporative and radiant cooling techniques. A WAHE can be installed in features such as ponds, water tanks, or rainwater cisterns. This article assesses the cooling potential of two prototypes of roof ponds and a green roof connected to a WAHE, and the results are compared to a baseline unit featuring a roof that meets California’s energy code standards. Several testing units, measuring 1.35 × 1.35 × 1.35 m, with identical heat characteristics, excluding the roof, were constructed and tested. In the first system, the heat that the green roof could not absorb was transferred to a water reservoir and then dissipated to the outside. The first roof pond prototype features a 0.35 m deep water pond topped with a 0.03 m thick insulating panel and a spray system. The second roof pond variant has an aluminum sheet with a 0.10 m air gap above a 0.25 m deep water pond. The results suggest that combining a WAHE with different roof configurations offers promising benefits while keeping water consumption limited. Notably, when the WAHE is operating, the green roof increase its performance by 47%, the insulated roof pond by 22%, and the roof pond with an aluminum sheet by 13%.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/7/1098energy conservationphysical testing mockupsroof pondgreen roofwater-to-air heat exchangerpassive cooling |
| spellingShingle | José-Manuel Almodóvar-Melendo Pablo La Roche Thermal Evaluation of a Water-to-Air Heat Exchanger Combined with Different Roof Configurations for Passive Cooling Buildings energy conservation physical testing mockups roof pond green roof water-to-air heat exchanger passive cooling |
| title | Thermal Evaluation of a Water-to-Air Heat Exchanger Combined with Different Roof Configurations for Passive Cooling |
| title_full | Thermal Evaluation of a Water-to-Air Heat Exchanger Combined with Different Roof Configurations for Passive Cooling |
| title_fullStr | Thermal Evaluation of a Water-to-Air Heat Exchanger Combined with Different Roof Configurations for Passive Cooling |
| title_full_unstemmed | Thermal Evaluation of a Water-to-Air Heat Exchanger Combined with Different Roof Configurations for Passive Cooling |
| title_short | Thermal Evaluation of a Water-to-Air Heat Exchanger Combined with Different Roof Configurations for Passive Cooling |
| title_sort | thermal evaluation of a water to air heat exchanger combined with different roof configurations for passive cooling |
| topic | energy conservation physical testing mockups roof pond green roof water-to-air heat exchanger passive cooling |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/7/1098 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT josemanuelalmodovarmelendo thermalevaluationofawatertoairheatexchangercombinedwithdifferentroofconfigurationsforpassivecooling AT pablolaroche thermalevaluationofawatertoairheatexchangercombinedwithdifferentroofconfigurationsforpassivecooling |