Analysis on Thermal Performance of Ground Heat Exchanger According to Design Type Based on Thermal Response Test

Sang Mu Bae, Yujin Nam, Jong Min Choi, Kwang Ho Lee and Jae Sang Choi
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Sang Mu Bae: 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
Jong Min Choi: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Hanbat National University, 125 Dongseo-daero, Yuseong-Gu, Daejeon 34158, Korea
Kwang Ho Lee: Department of Architectural Engineering, Hanbat National University, 125 Dongseo-daero, Yuseong-Gu, Daejeon 34158, Korea
Jae Sang Choi: Kajin Engineering Company Limited, 184 Gasan digital 2-ro, Geumcheon-gu, Seoul 08501, Korea

Energies, 2019, vol. 12, issue 4, 1-16

Abstract: A ground source heat pump (GSHP) system has higher performance than air source heat pump system due to the use of more efficient ground heat source. However, the GSHP system performance depends on ground thermal properties and groundwater conditions. There are many studies on the improvement of GSHP system by developing ground heat exchanger (GHX) and heat exchange method. Several studies have suggested methods to improve heat exchange rate for the development of GHX. However, few real-scale experimental studies have quantitatively analyzed their performance using the same ground conditions. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the thermal performance of various pipe types of GHX by the thermal response test (TRT) under the same field and test conditions. Four kinds of GHX (HDPE type, HDPE-nano type, spiral fin type, and coaxial type) were constructed in the same site. Inlet and outlet temperatures of GHXs and effective thermal conductivity were measured through the TRT. In addition, the borehole thermal resistance was calculated to comparatively analyze the correlation of the heat exchange performance with each GHX. Result of the TRT revealed that averages effective thermal conductivities of HDPE type, HDPE-nano, spiral fin type, and coaxial type GHX were 2.25 W/m·K, 2.34 W/m·K, 2.55 W/m·K, and 2.16 W/m·K, respectively. In the result, it was found that the average borehole thermal resistance can be an important factor in TRT, but the effect of increased thermal conductivity of pipe material itself was not significant.

Keywords: ground source heat pump (GSHP) system; ground heat exchanger (GHX); thermal response test (TRT); thermal performance; effective thermal conductivity; borehole thermal resistance (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 references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (13)

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