Novel Experimental Device to Monitor the Ground Thermal Exchange in a Borehole Heat Exchanger

Cristina Sáez Blázquez, Laura Piedelobo, Jesús Fernández-Hernández, Ignacio Martín Nieto, Arturo Farfán Martín, Susana Lagüela and Diego González-Aguilera
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Cristina Sáez Blázquez: Department of Cartographic and Land Engineering, University of Salamanca, Higher Polytechnic School of Avila, Hornos Caleros 50, 05003 Avila, Spain
Laura Piedelobo: Department of Cartographic and Land Engineering, University of Salamanca, Higher Polytechnic School of Avila, Hornos Caleros 50, 05003 Avila, Spain
Jesús Fernández-Hernández: Department of Cartographic and Land Engineering, University of Salamanca, Higher Polytechnic School of Avila, Hornos Caleros 50, 05003 Avila, Spain
Ignacio Martín Nieto: Department of Cartographic and Land Engineering, University of Salamanca, Higher Polytechnic School of Avila, Hornos Caleros 50, 05003 Avila, Spain
Arturo Farfán Martín: Department of Cartographic and Land Engineering, University of Salamanca, Higher Polytechnic School of Avila, Hornos Caleros 50, 05003 Avila, Spain
Susana Lagüela: Department of Cartographic and Land Engineering, University of Salamanca, Higher Polytechnic School of Avila, Hornos Caleros 50, 05003 Avila, Spain
Diego González-Aguilera: Department of Cartographic and Land Engineering, University of Salamanca, Higher Polytechnic School of Avila, Hornos Caleros 50, 05003 Avila, Spain

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 5, 1-22

Abstract: Ground source heat pump (GSHP) systems are becoming popular in space heating and cooling applications. Despite this fact, in most countries, the role of this energy is not as important as it should be nowadays according to its capabilities for energy generation without CO 2 emissions, mainly due to the lack of technical knowledge about GSHP performance. The analysis of the physical processes that take part in the geothermal exchanges is necessary to allow the optimal exploitation of the geothermal resources. For all the above, an experimental geothermal device was built in the laboratory to control the phenomena that take place in a borehole heat exchanger (BHE). A 1-m high single-U heat exchanger was inserted in the center of a polyethylene container which also included granular material (surrounding ground) and the grouting material. Temperature sensors were situated in different positions of the experimental setup. Physical processes are evaluated to finally validate the model. Numerous applications can be developed from the experimental BHE. In this research, the determination of the thermal conductivity of the material used as medium was carried out. Results of this parameter were also compared with the ones obtained from the use of the KD2 Pro device.

Keywords: ground source heat pump systems; experimental geothermal device; single-U heat exchanger; thermal conductivity; KD2 Pro device (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: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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