Validation of a model for two horizontal ground coupled heat exchangers based on field testing

dc.contributor.authorPlatts, A.B.
dc.contributor.authorCameron, D.A.
dc.contributor.authorWard, J.
dc.date.issued2017
dc.description.abstractHorizontal Ground Coupled Heat Exchangers (HGCHEs) moderate the extremes of temperature of the heat sink during the cooling or heating demand periods when air conditioners are required to be used. High (cooling) or low (heating) heat sink temperatures used by heat pumps result in increased demand for electricity. Generally, HGCHEs installed in unsaturated soils of low thermal conductivity and diffusivity require long lengths of pipe run in order to dissipate their heat. An experimental analysis was undertaken to try to validate, a new concept HGCHE ‘Membrane Conduction Augmentation System’ (MCAS) against that of a CFD two horizon simulation. The simulation used, measured thermo-physical properties extracted directly (where possible) from the exposed (upon excavation) site material. Measured and logged data of water temperatures entering the Direct Burial (DB) and MCAS experiments were used in the model inputs for the model simulations. The uniformly distributed transects of instruments collecting temperature data for both the DB and the MCAS showed good agreement between the experimental and modelled outcomes with high coefficients of determination (r²) of 0.96 for the DB and 0.94 for the MCAS. With such good agreement between the model and field experiments, the model has been sufficiently validated and can be extended to analyses of other scenarios.
dc.identifier.citationEnergy and Buildings, 2017; 138:11-25
dc.identifier.doi10.1016/j.enbuild.2016.12.007
dc.identifier.issn0378-7788
dc.identifier.issn1872-6178
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/11541.2/124625
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherElsevier
dc.rightsCopyright 2016 Elsevier
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2016.12.007
dc.subjectdry soils
dc.subjectground temperature wave
dc.subjectpassive cooling
dc.subjectsoil thermal conductivity
dc.subjectANSYS-CFX
dc.titleValidation of a model for two horizontal ground coupled heat exchangers based on field testing
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished
ror.mmsid9916108396501831

Files

Collections