Analysis of Heat Exchange Rate for Low-Depth Modular Ground Heat Exchanger through Real-Scale Experiment

Kwonye Kim, Jaemin Kim, Yujin Nam, Euyjoon Lee, Eunchul Kang and Evgueniy Entchev
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Kwonye Kim: Department of Architectural Engineering, Pusan National University, 2 Busandaehak-ro 63, Geomjeong-gu, Busan 46241, Korea
Jaemin Kim: Department of Architectural Engineering, Pusan National University, 2 Busandaehak-ro 63, Geomjeong-gu, Busan 46241, Korea
Yujin Nam: Department of Architectural Engineering, Pusan National University, 2 Busandaehak-ro 63, Geomjeong-gu, Busan 46241, Korea
Euyjoon Lee: Energy Efficiency Research Division, Korea Institute of Energy Research, 152, Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34129, Korea
Eunchul Kang: Energy Efficiency Research Division, Korea Institute of Energy Research, 152, Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34129, Korea
Evgueniy Entchev: Natural Resources Canada, Canada, CanmetENERGY, 1 Haanel Drive, Ottawa, ON K1A 1M1, Canada

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 7, 1-13

Abstract: A ground source heat pump system is a high-performance technology used for maintaining a stable underground temperature all year-round. However, the high costs for installation, such as for boring and drilling, is a drawback that prevents the system to be rapidly introduced into the market. This study proposes a modular ground heat exchanger (GHX) that can compensate for the disadvantages (such as high-boring/drilling costs) of the conventional vertical GHX. Through a real-scale experiment, a modular GHX was manufactured and buried at a depth of 4 m below ground level; the heat exchange rate and the change in underground temperatures during the GHX operation were tracked and calculated. The average heat exchanges rate was 78.98 W/m and 88.83 W/m during heating and cooling periods, respectively; the underground temperature decreased by 1.2 °C during heat extraction and increased by 4.4 °C during heat emission, with the heat pump (HP) working. The study showed that the modular GHX is a cost-effective alternative to the vertical GHX; further research is needed for application to actual small buildings.

Keywords: low-depth modular GHX; ground heat exchanger; heat exchanger rate; real-scale experiment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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