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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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    1. Esen, Hikmet & Inalli, Mustafa & Esen, Yuksel, 2009. "Temperature distributions in boreholes of a vertical ground-coupled heat pump system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 34(12), pages 2672-2679.
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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.
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    7. 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.
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    12. 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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