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Determination of Thermal Conductivity Properties of Coastal Soils for GSHPs and Energy Geostructure Applications in Mexico

Author

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  • Norma Patricia López-Acosta

    (Instituto de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico)

  • Alan Igor Zaragoza-Cardiel

    (Instituto de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico)

  • David Francisco Barba-Galdámez

    (Instituto de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico)

Abstract

The thermal conductivity of soils is a fundamental parameter for the design of ground-source heat pump systems (GSHPs) and energy geostructures. This paper presents a comprehensive evaluation of the physical, mineralogical, and thermal characteristics of typical coastal soils from Tabasco, Mexico. Twenty-five soil samples from four different strata were studied using the thermal needle probe method, X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy, and standard geotechnical soil classification tests. The results showed a significant correlation between the dry density and porosity with the thermal conductivity of the studied samples, which ranged between 1.17 and 2.32 W m −1 K −1 . The performed statistical analyses indicated that coarse-grained soils had larger thermal conductivities and higher variability than fine-grained soils. Additionally, the performance of six models to estimate the thermal conductivity of soils was validated against the experimental data. All models provided accurate estimations for fine-grained soils, but only the effective medium theory (EMT) showed an adequate fit for coarse-grained soils. The results represent one of the first datasets for the thermal properties of Mexican soils. They will contribute to the implementation of GSHPs and energy geostructures in the country and locations with similar subsoil conditions, especially where time and resources are not available for their experimental determination.

Suggested Citation

  • Norma Patricia López-Acosta & Alan Igor Zaragoza-Cardiel & David Francisco Barba-Galdámez, 2021. "Determination of Thermal Conductivity Properties of Coastal Soils for GSHPs and Energy Geostructure Applications in Mexico," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-14, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:17:p:5479-:d:627895
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Shim, B.O. & Park, C.-H., 2013. "Ground thermal conductivity for (ground source heat pumps) GSHPs in Korea," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 167-174.
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    3. Rees, S. W. & Adjali, M. H. & Zhou, Z. & Davies, M. & Thomas, H. R., 2000. "Ground heat transfer effects on the thermal performance of earth-contact structures," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 4(3), pages 213-265, September.
    4. Linden Jensen-Page & Fleur Loveridge & Guillermo A. Narsilio, 2019. "Thermal Response Testing of Large Diameter Energy Piles," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-25, July.
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