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Integrated Underground Analyses as a Key for Seasonal Heat Storage and Smart Urban Areas

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  • Dimitra Rapti

    (Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
    New Energies and Environment, Spin-Off Company, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy)

  • Francesco Tinti

    (Department of Civil, Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering, University of Bologna, 40131 Bologna, Italy)

  • Carlo Antonio Caputo

    (Department of Engineering, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy)

Abstract

The design and performance of a shallow geothermal system is influenced by the geological and hydrogeological context, environmental conditions and thermal demand loads. In order to preserve the natural thermal resource, it is crucial to have a balance between the supply and the demand for the renewable energy. In this context, this article presents a case study where an innovative system is created for the storage of seasonal solar thermal energy underground, exploiting geotechnical micropiles technology. The new geoprobes system (energy micropile; EmP) consists of the installation of coaxial geothermal probes within existing micropiles realized for the seismic requalification of buildings. The underground geothermal system has been realized, starting from the basement of an existing holiday home Condominium, and was installed in dry subsoil, 20 m-deep below the parking floor. The building consists of 140 apartments, with a total area of 5553 m 2 , and is located at an altitude of about 1490 m above sea level. Within the framework of a circular economy, energy saving and the use of renewable sources, the design of the geothermal system was based on geological, hydrogeological and thermophysical analytical studies, in situ measurements (e.g., Lefranc and Lugeon test during drilling; Rock Quality Designation index; thermal response tests; acquisition of temperature data along the borehole), numerical modelling and long-term simulations. Due to the strong energy imbalance of the demand from the building (heating only), and in order to optimize the underground annual balance, both solar thermal storage and geothermal heat extraction/injection to/from a field of 380 EmPs, with a relative distance varying from 1 to 2 m, were adopted. The integrated solution, resulting from this investigation, allowed us to overcome the standard barriers of similar geological settings, such as the lack of groundwater for shallow geothermal energy exploitation, the lack of space for borehole heat exchanger drilling, the waste of solar heat during the warm season, etc., and it can pave the way for similar renewable and low carbon emission hybrid applications as well as contribute to the creation of smart buildings/urban areas.

Suggested Citation

  • Dimitra Rapti & Francesco Tinti & Carlo Antonio Caputo, 2024. "Integrated Underground Analyses as a Key for Seasonal Heat Storage and Smart Urban Areas," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-29, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:17:y:2024:i:11:p:2533-:d:1400971
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Paksoy, H.O & Andersson, O & Abaci, S & Evliya, H & Turgut, B, 2000. "Heating and cooling of a hospital using solar energy coupled with seasonal thermal energy storage in an aquifer," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 19(1), pages 117-122.
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