A simplified design tool for calculating foundation heat gain for coolers is presented. The design tool is based on the analytical results of interzone temperature profile estimation (ITPE) solutions. The proposed design tool is easy to use and requires straightforward input parameters with continuously variable values including slab size, insulation R-values, soil thermal properties, and indoor and outdoor temperatures. Three insulation configurations are considered: uniform horizontal insulation, partial horizontal perimeter insulation, and partial vertical perimeter insulation. The simplified method provides a set of equations that are suitable for estimating the design and the annual total foundation heat gain/loss as a function of a wide range of variables. The simplified method predictions are tested against ITPE results. The agreement between the correlations and the ITPE method is found to be within 13% for the annual mean and amplitude of total building heat gain.

Units: Dual