Design of Groundwater Heat Pump Systems. Principles, Tools, and Strategies for Controlling Gas and Precipitation Problems

Sondre Gjengedal, Lars A. Stenvik, Pål-Tore S. Storli, Randi K. Ramstad, Bernt O. Hilmo and Bjørn S. Frengstad
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Sondre Gjengedal: Department of Geoscience and Petroleum, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7034 Trondheim, Norway
Lars A. Stenvik: Department of Geoscience and Petroleum, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7034 Trondheim, Norway
Pål-Tore S. Storli: Department of Energy and Process Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7034 Trondheim, Norway
Randi K. Ramstad: Department of Geoscience and Petroleum, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7034 Trondheim, Norway
Bernt O. Hilmo: Asplan Viak AS, 7030 Trondheim, Norway
Bjørn S. Frengstad: Department of Geoscience and Petroleum, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7034 Trondheim, Norway

Energies, 2019, vol. 12, issue 19, 1-20

Abstract: The utilization of groundwater heat pump systems is increasing in Norway, which are currently widely employed for heating and cooling applications in the town center of Melhus. The investigations of the Melhus installations are detecting gas exsolution as a possible trigger for precipitation reaction that causes incrustation of iron and manganese compounds in the systems. This paper discusses risks associated with gas exsolution and considers gas exsolution triggers in a typical Norwegian groundwater heat pump (GWHP) system configuration. The concept of the solubility grade line (SGL) is developed and suggested as a tool for optimizing the design. Based on SGL analysis and the intention of avoiding gas exsolution during heat production, an alternative system design in the same aquifer is presented and compared. The analyses show that the traditional system design is predisposed to gas clogging risks and prone to vacuum pressures in parts of the system. The alternative design mediates the risks by adjusting the well and piping configuration and by applying a backpressure technique. The results demonstrate how the groundwater heat pump system design can be customized according to local aquifer conditions to avoid gas exsolution during operation. It is recommended that the presented method of analysis should be utilized in dimensioning of systems and included in the monitoring scheme of the systems.

Keywords: groundwater; groundwater heat pump (GWHP) systems; aquifer; design and control principles; dissolved gases; temperature; pressure; hydraulic grade line; solubility grade line (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: 2019
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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