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In Situ Experiment and Numerical Model Validation of a Borehole Heat Exchanger in Shallow Hard Crystalline Rock

Author

Listed:
  • Mateusz Janiszewski

    (Department of Civil Engineering, School of Engineering, Aalto University, P.O. Box 12100, FI-00076 AALTO, Espoo, Finland)

  • Enrique Caballero Hernández

    (Department of Civil Engineering, School of Engineering, Aalto University, P.O. Box 12100, FI-00076 AALTO, Espoo, Finland)

  • Topias Siren

    (Department of Civil Engineering, School of Engineering, Aalto University, P.O. Box 12100, FI-00076 AALTO, Espoo, Finland)

  • Lauri Uotinen

    (Department of Civil Engineering, School of Engineering, Aalto University, P.O. Box 12100, FI-00076 AALTO, Espoo, Finland)

  • Ilmo Kukkonen

    (Department of Physics, Helsinki University, P.O. Box 68, FI-00014 Helsingin Yliopisto, Helsinki, Finland)

  • Mikael Rinne

    (Department of Civil Engineering, School of Engineering, Aalto University, P.O. Box 12100, FI-00076 AALTO, Espoo, Finland)

Abstract

Accurate and fast numerical modelling of the borehole heat exchanger (BHE) is required for simulation of long-term thermal energy storage in rocks using boreholes. The goal of this study was to conduct an in situ experiment to validate the proposed numerical modelling approach. In the experiment, hot water was circulated for 21 days through a single U-tube BHE installed in an underground research tunnel located at a shallow depth in crystalline rock. The results of the simulations using the proposed model were validated against the measurements. The numerical model simulated the BHE’s behaviour accurately and compared well with two other modelling approaches from the literature. The model is capable of replicating the complex geometrical arrangement of the BHE and is considered to be more appropriate for simulations of BHE systems with complex geometries. The results of the sensitivity analysis of the proposed model have shown that low thermal conductivity, high density, and high heat capacity of rock are essential for maximising the storage efficiency of a borehole thermal energy storage system. Other characteristics of BHEs, such as a high thermal conductivity of the grout, a large radius of the pipe, and a large distance between the pipes, are also preferred for maximising efficiency.

Suggested Citation

  • Mateusz Janiszewski & Enrique Caballero Hernández & Topias Siren & Lauri Uotinen & Ilmo Kukkonen & Mikael Rinne, 2018. "In Situ Experiment and Numerical Model Validation of a Borehole Heat Exchanger in Shallow Hard Crystalline Rock," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-21, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:11:y:2018:i:4:p:963-:d:141664
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Hossein Javadi & Javier F. Urchueguia & Seyed Soheil Mousavi Ajarostaghi & Borja Badenes, 2020. "Numerical Study on the Thermal Performance of a Single U-Tube Borehole Heat Exchanger Using Nano-Enhanced Phase Change Materials," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-30, October.
    2. Elżbieta Hałaj & Leszek Pająk & Bartosz Papiernik, 2020. "Finite Element Modeling of Geothermal Source of Heat Pump in Long-Term Operation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-18, March.
    3. Christopher Vella & Simon Paul Borg & Daniel Micallef, 2020. "The Effect of Shank-Space on the Thermal Performance of Shallow Vertical U-Tube Ground Heat Exchangers," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-16, January.

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