An analysis of heat flow through a borehole heat exchanger validated model

Georgios A. Florides, Paul Christodoulides and Panayiotis Pouloupatis

Applied Energy, 2012, vol. 92, issue C, 523-533

Abstract: Earth heat exchangers are essential parts of the ground-source heat pumps and the accurate prediction of their performance is of fundamental importance. This paper presents the development and validation of a numerical model for the simulation of energy flows and temperature changes in and around a borehole heat exchanger when a fluid circulates through a U-tube. Based on the time-dependent convection–diffusion equation, the FlexPDE software package is employed to solve the resulting boundary value problem that model a heat exchanger. First, the mathematical model is validated through a comparison with data obtained from experiments with real borehole set-ups in Cyprus. Then the validated model is used to study the heat flow and the temperature variation in the heat-exchanger. Finally conclusions are extracted on how various parameters like the U-tube diameter, the variation of the ground thermal conductivity and specific heat and the borehole filling material affect the temperature of the inlet and outlet fluid.

Keywords: Earth heat exchanger; Numerical model; U-tube; Borehole; FlexPDE (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (26)

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DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2011.11.064

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