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Simulation and experimental analysis of optimal buried depth of the vertical U-tube ground heat exchanger for a ground-coupled heat pump system

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  • Chen, Jinhua
  • Xia, Lei
  • Li, Baizhan
  • Mmereki, Daniel

Abstract

This paper presents a numerical heat transfer model for vertical U-tube Ground Heat Exchangers (GHE). This model is uniquely able to take into to account different initial soil temperatures and physical properties at different depths. The model has been validated based on an experimental case study and has been used to simulate the thermal performance of GHEs. The simulation results show that for a 100-m vertical GHE, the first 70 m of the vertically buried GHE has a higher heat transfer capability than its last 30-m section. In addition, the validated model is used to investigate the optimal depth of vertical GHEs in five case studies ranging from 60 to 100 m length. Among them, the simulation results demonstrate that the GHE with buried depth of 70 m is able to provide the highest heat exchange rate per unit depth (54.1 and 47.0 W/m under heat rejection/extraction mode). It consequently results in shortest total GHE length of 11,388 m and the minimum cost of 1.82 million Yuan. However, a larger area is needed for boreholes and GHEs installation. Therefore, the optimal buried depth of the vertical U-tube GHEs for the studied case is 70 m on the condition of allocation of an abundant area to set up the boreholes.

Suggested Citation

  • Chen, Jinhua & Xia, Lei & Li, Baizhan & Mmereki, Daniel, 2015. "Simulation and experimental analysis of optimal buried depth of the vertical U-tube ground heat exchanger for a ground-coupled heat pump system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 46-54.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:73:y:2015:i:c:p:46-54
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2014.06.007
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Zhai, X.Q. & Qu, M. & Yu, X. & Yang, Y. & Wang, R.Z., 2011. "A review for the applications and integrated approaches of ground-coupled heat pump systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 15(6), pages 3133-3140, August.
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    2. Linlin Zhang & Zhonghua Shi & Tianhao Yuan, 2020. "Study on the Coupled Heat Transfer Model Based on Groundwater Advection and Axial Heat Conduction for the Double U-Tube Vertical Borehole Heat Exchanger," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-19, September.
    3. Zhou, Zhihua & Zhang, Zhiming & Chen, Guanyi & Zuo, Jian & Xu, Pan & Meng, Chong & Yu, Zhun, 2016. "Feasibility of ground coupled heat pumps in office buildings: A China study," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 266-277.
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    5. Javadi, Hossein & Mousavi Ajarostaghi, Seyed Soheil & Rosen, Marc A. & Pourfallah, Mohsen, 2019. "Performance of ground heat exchangers: A comprehensive review of recent advances," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 178(C), pages 207-233.
    6. Hu, Jinzhong, 2017. "An improved analytical model for vertical borehole ground heat exchanger with multiple-layer substrates and groundwater flow," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 202(C), pages 537-549.
    7. Kim, Daehoon & Kim, Gyoungman & Kim, Donghui & Baek, Hwanjo, 2017. "Experimental and numerical investigation of thermal properties of cement-based grouts used for vertical ground heat exchanger," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 260-267.
    8. Liang, Jyun-De & Huang, Bo-Hao & Chiang, Yuan-Ching & Chen, Sih-Li, 2020. "Experimental investigation of a liquid desiccant dehumidification system integrated with shallow geothermal energy," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    9. Xiang, Bo & Cao, Xiaoling & Yuan, Yanping & Hasanuzzaman, M. & Zeng, Chao & Ji, Yasheng & Sun, Liangliang, 2018. "A novel hybrid energy system combined with solar-road and soil-regenerator: Sensitivity analysis and optimization," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 129(PA), pages 419-430.
    10. Zhou, Zhihua & Wu, Shengwei & Du, Tao & Chen, Guanyi & Zhang, Zhiming & Zuo, Jian & He, Qing, 2016. "The energy-saving effects of ground-coupled heat pump system integrated with borehole free cooling: A study in China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 182(C), pages 9-19.
    11. Daehoon Kim & Seokhoon Oh, 2018. "Optimizing the Design of a Vertical Ground Heat Exchanger: Measurement of the Thermal Properties of Bentonite-Based Grout and Numerical Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-15, July.
    12. Zhu, Li & Chen, Sarula & Yang, Yang & Tian, Wei & Sun, Yong & Lyu, Mian, 2019. "Global sensitivity analysis on borehole thermal energy storage performances under intermittent operation mode in the first charging phase," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 143(C), pages 183-198.
    13. Yang, Li-Hao & Liang, Jyun-De & Hsu, Chien-Yeh & Yang, Tai-Her & Chen, Sih-Li, 2019. "Enhanced efficiency of photovoltaic panels by integrating a spray cooling system with shallow geothermal energy heat exchanger," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 970-981.
    14. Xia, Lei & Ma, Zhenjun & Kokogiannakis, Georgios & Wang, Shugang & Gong, Xuemei, 2018. "A model-based optimal control strategy for ground source heat pump systems with integrated solar photovoltaic thermal collectors," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 228(C), pages 1399-1412.
    15. Rivera, Jaime A. & Blum, Philipp & Bayer, Peter, 2015. "Analytical simulation of groundwater flow and land surface effects on thermal plumes of borehole heat exchangers," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 421-433.

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