A Pilot Study on Geothermal Heat Pump (GHP) Use for Cooling Operations, and on GHP Site Selection in Tropical Regions Based on a Case Study in Thailand

Sasimook Chokchai, Srilert Chotpantarat, Isao Takashima, Youhei Uchida, Arif Widiatmojo, Kasumi Yasukawa and Punya Charusiri
Additional contact information
Sasimook Chokchai: Department of Geology, Chulalongkorn University, 254 Phayathai Rd., Patumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Srilert Chotpantarat: Department of Geology, Chulalongkorn University, 254 Phayathai Rd., Patumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Isao Takashima: The Mining Museum, Graduate School of Engineering and Resource Science, Akita University, 1-1 Tegatagakuen-machi, Akita 010-8502, Japan
Youhei Uchida: Renewable Energy Research Center, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, 2-2-9 Machiikedai, Koriyama 963-0298, Japan
Arif Widiatmojo: Renewable Energy Research Center, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, 2-2-9 Machiikedai, Koriyama 963-0298, Japan
Kasumi Yasukawa: Renewable Energy Research Center, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, 2-2-9 Machiikedai, Koriyama 963-0298, Japan
Punya Charusiri: Department of Geology, Chulalongkorn University, 254 Phayathai Rd., Patumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand

Energies, 2018, vol. 11, issue 9, 1-17

Abstract: In order to reduce electricity consumption, the vertical loop geothermal heat pump (GHP) system coupled with a normal air conditioner was installed in an experimental room in the Parot Racha Building, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand for a comparative, long-term measurement program. The decrease in electricity consumption was approximately 30%. On the basis of the data derived from our measurements, the underground temperature seemed to be consistent and lower than the average outside air temperature, over two years. The underground system consisted mainly of two 50-m-long drilling wells and pipes with a total length of 170 m. The well performance was not examined, but both soil and groundwater aquifer (Bangkok aquifer) at 25 to 50 m. could be utilized for the cooling operation. Moreover, the major controlling factors of electricity consumption were found to be the outside air temperatures and the underground water circulation temperatures. In addition, we considered the geology, underground temperature, and aquifer of Bangkok concluding that almost all Bangkok areas are suitable for GHP installation, except for those where the subsurface temperature is too high compared with the outside air temperature.

Keywords: Bangkok aquifer; electrical saving; geothermal heat pump (GHP); groundwater; subsurface temperature; tropical regions (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: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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