Energy balance study of water ponds and its influence on building energy consumption

This study investigates the energy exchanges occurring in the volume and on the surface of water ponds and their influence on the energy consumption of a building. The mathematical model of water ponds is based on coupling the thermal model of the water pond and the airflow model of the surrounding air. It accounts for the heat transfer by radiation, conduction, convection and the latent heat transfer due to water evaporation. The governing equations are numerically solved by a finite difference method for the thermal model and by a finite volume method for the air flow model. The surface temperature and the spatial profiles of temperature and moisture are presented. The effect of the water pond on the cooling energy consumption is discussed.