Experimental Investigations and Numerical Simulation of Thermal Performance of a Horizontal Slinky-Coil Ground Heat Exchanger

Chengbin Zhang, Weibo Yang, Jingjing Yang, Suchen Wu and Yongping Chen
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Chengbin Zhang: Key Laboratory of Energy Thermal Conversion and Control of Ministry of Education, School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, Jiangsu, China
Weibo Yang: Key Laboratory of Energy Thermal Conversion and Control of Ministry of Education, School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, Jiangsu, China
Jingjing Yang: School of Hydraulic, Energy and Power Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225127, Jiangsu, China
Suchen Wu: Key Laboratory of Energy Thermal Conversion and Control of Ministry of Education, School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, Jiangsu, China
Yongping Chen: Key Laboratory of Energy Thermal Conversion and Control of Ministry of Education, School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, Jiangsu, China

Sustainability, 2017, vol. 9, issue 8, 1-22

Abstract: A model test system of horizontal slinky coil ground heat exchanger (HSCGHE) was established according to the similarity theory. A 2-D mathematical model of HSCGHE was built and experimentally validated. Experimental and numerical investigations of effects of different parameters on the thermal behavior of HSCGHE were undertaken. The results show that the heat release rate of the slinky coil and soil temperature around it increase as the inlet fluid temperature of coil increases. The soil temperature operated in intermittent mode can get a recovery, and thus the heat release rate of the coil can be improved effectively. For a given condition, reducing the coil central interval distance can increase the heat release rate of the HSCGHE, but also results in the decrease of the heat release rate per unit length of the coil. Therefore, the coil central interval distance cannot be decreased without limit. At the same time, the thermal performance of HSCGHE is related to the ground surface wind velocity. The heat release rate in the sandstone is the largest, followed by sand, the lowest for clay. Additionally, with the increase of buried depth of coil, the heat release rate increases, but the increase degree gradually becomes small. Thus, the buried depth cannot be too deep and should be determined by thermal performance, excavation cost and safety requirements.

Keywords: GCHP; horizontal slinky-coil; ground heat exchanger; heat transfer performance; experimental investigation; numerical simulation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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