Seasonal cooling performance of a ground-coupled heat pump system in a hot and arid climate

The goal of the present study is to validate the cooling performance of a ground-coupled heat pump system established in Fırat University, Elazığ (38.41°N, 39.14°E), Turkey. The cooling load of the test room was 3.1 kW at design conditions. The experimental results were obtained from June to September in cooling season of 2003. The ground heat exchanger was used, and it was buried with in 2 m depth trench. The average cooling performance coefficient of the system (COP_overall) was obtained to be 2.01. The results obtained from experimental measurement showed that these systems could be used safely, reliably and efficiently at the lowest possible cost for Elazığ, Turkey climatic conditions. Especially, the seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) of this system is moderate at longer-term testing.     

土壤蓄热与土壤源热泵集成系统的数值模拟

结合土壤源热泵技术推广中存在的问题和地下蓄能技术的优点,提出了土壤蓄热与土壤源热泵集成系统及其地下管群换热器的布置方式。并在能量平衡的基础上建立了地下管群换热器蓄热、释热和停止运行的数学模型。通过数值模拟,分析了埋管间距对蓄热与释热的运行特性的影响。     

Research and development of the hybrid ground-coupled heat pump technology in China

The hybrid ground-coupled heat pump (HGCHP) systems with supplemental heat rejecter/supplier can effectively solve heat imbalance problems in the subsurface, and consequently improve the operation performance of the geothermal systems. For example, solar energy and/or industrial waste heat may be used as stable heat sources for underground heat storage in northern China with higher heating load, and cooling towers are installed to release heat into the air in southern China, where more cooling demand is needed. This paper reviews and discusses different HGCHP systems, which have been applied in China. And based on the heat transfer model of vertical borehole heat exchangers (BHE) for HGCHP systems, physical and mathematical models of multistage series circuits are developed to illustrate the heat transfer process of the underground thermal storage. A set of parameters, such as borehole spacing, heat recharging rate fractions and thermal properties of soils, which affect the thermal performance of the ground heat exchangers are analyzed, and the optimal solutions are discussed for engineering application.     

Optimizing the design of large-scale ground-coupled heat pump systems using groundwater and heat transport modeling

In order to predict the long-term performance of large-scale ground-coupled heat pump (GCHP) systems, it is necessary to take into consideration well-to-well interference, especially in the presence of groundwater flow. A mass and heat transport model was developed to simulate the behavior of this type of system in the Akita Plain, northern Japan. The model was used to investigate different operational schemes and to maximize the heat extraction rate from the GCHP system.     

Vertical-borehole ground-coupled heat pumps: A review of models and systems

A large number of ground-coupled heat pump (GCHP) systems have been used in residential and commercial buildings throughout the world due to the attractive advantages of high efficiency and environmental friendliness. This paper gives a detailed literature review of the research and developments of the vertical-borehole GCHP technology for applications in air-conditioning. A general introduction on the ground source heat pump system and its development is briefly presented first. Then, the most typical simulation models of the vertical ground heat exchangers currently available are summarized in detail including the heat transfer processes outside and inside the boreholes. The various design/simulation programs for vertical GCHP systems primarily based on the typical simulation models are also reviewed in this paper. Finally, the various hybrid GCHP systems for cooling or heating-dominated buildings are well described. It is found that the GCHP technology can be used both in cold and hot weather areas and the energy saving potential is significant.     

Temperature distributions in boreholes of a vertical ground-coupled heat pump system

The objective of this study is to show the temperature distribution development in the borehole of the ground-coupled heat pump systems (GCHPs) with time. The time interval for the study is 48 h. The vertical GCHP system using R-22 as refrigerant has a three single U-tube ground heat exchanger (GHE) made of polyethylene pipe with a 40 mm outside diameter. The GHE was placed in a vertical borehole (VB) with 30 (VB1), 60 (VB2) and 90 (VB3) m depths and 150 mm diameters. The experimental results were obtained in cooling and heating seasons of 2006–2007. A two-dimensional finite element model (FEM) was developed to simulate temperature distribution development in the soil surrounding the GHEs of GCHPs operating in the cooling and the heating modes. The finite element modelling of the GCHP system was performed using the ANSYS code. The FEM incorporated pipes, the grout and the surrounding formation. From the cases studied, this approach appears to be the most promising for estimation the temperature distribution response of GHEs to thermal loading.     

Temperature distribution and performance of ground-coupled multi-heat pump systems for a greenhouse

The primary objective of a greenhouse is to produce good plant-growth conditions such as temperature and humidity. One of the hot issues for the greenhouse is to provide an appropriate heating system which can achieve favorable temperature condition and save energy. In this study, the performance of a ground-coupled multi-heat pump system for the greenhouse heating was investigated. The ground-coupled multi-heat pump system was composed of GLHX (ground loop heat exchanger) and multi-heat pump unit which had one outdoor unit and two or more indoor units. The temperature distribution within the greenhouse using the ground-coupled multi-heat pump system was represented relatively uniform comparing to when the conventional heating system and GCHP system were adopted, because the capacity of each indoor unit could be changed linearly according to the variation of load. The temperature difference between the maximum and minimum temperatures and the standard deviation of inside temperature for the greenhouse were 2.1 °C and 1.2 °C, respectively. It is necessary to develop the multi-heat pump unit which can be operated with high performance at relatively low temperature setting conditions. The system COP of the ground-coupled multi-heat pump unit decreased greatly at part load condition due to relatively high power consumption of the ground circulation pump. Therefore, it is suggested that a control algorithm of the ground circulation flow rate has to be developed to maximize energy saving by applying the ground-coupled multi-heat pump system to the greenhouse.     

Potential of autonomous ground-coupled heat pump system installations in Greece

The HVAC systems utilizing renewable energy sources are one of the main contributors towards the fossil fuel dependency reduction. Among these, the ground source heat pump systems, especially those based on vertical ground heat exchanger, are very attractive, due to their high efficiency.     

Simulation and experimental analysis of optimal buried depth of the vertical U-tube ground heat exchanger for a ground-coupled heat pump system

This paper presents a numerical heat transfer model for vertical U-tube Ground Heat Exchangers (GHE). This model is uniquely able to take into to account different initial soil temperatures and physical properties at different depths. The model has been validated based on an experimental case study and has been used to simulate the thermal performance of GHEs. The simulation results show that for a 100-m vertical GHE, the first 70 m of the vertically buried GHE has a higher heat transfer capability than its last 30-m section. In addition, the validated model is used to investigate the optimal depth of vertical GHEs in five case studies ranging from 60 to 100 m length. Among them, the simulation results demonstrate that the GHE with buried depth of 70 m is able to provide the highest heat exchange rate per unit depth (54.1 and 47.0 W/m under heat rejection/extraction mode). It consequently results in shortest total GHE length of 11,388 m and the minimum cost of 1.82 million Yuan. However, a larger area is needed for boreholes and GHEs installation. Therefore, the optimal buried depth of the vertical U-tube GHEs for the studied case is 70 m on the condition of allocation of an abundant area to set up the boreholes.     

Field test of a novel combined system of a high-efficiency heating/cooling heat pump and a clathrate cool storage unit

The Research Laboratory of Kyushu Electric Power Co., Inc. (KEPCO) installed a novel system in March 1992 which is a combination of a super heat pump with about twice the performance of a conventional one and a compact chemical storage-type clathrate cool storage unit. A field test was implemented by integrating these units into an actual air-conditioning system. As a result of the test, system performance was determined and the effectiveness of the system was confirmed. © 1998 Scripta Technica. Heat Trans Jpn Res, 26(6): 410–418, 1997     

Feasibility study on novel hybrid ground coupled heat pump system with nocturnal cooling radiator for cooling load dominated buildings

When the ground coupled heat pump (GCHP) system is utilized for air conditioning in cooling load dominated buildings, the heat rejected into ground will accumulate around the ground heat exchangers (GHE) and results in system performance degradation. A novel hybrid ground coupled heat pump (HGCHP) system with nocturnal cooling radiator (NCR) works as supplemental heat rejecter is proposed in this paper to resolve this problem. The practical analytical model of NCR and novel HGCHP system are established. The computer program based on established model is developed to simulate the system operation performance. The novel HGCHP system is designed and simulated for a sample building located in Hong Kong, and a simple life cycle cost comparisons are carried out between this system and conventional GCHP system. The results indicate that it is feasible to use NCR serves as supplemental heat rejecter of the novel HGCHP system for cooling load dominated buildings even those located in humid subtropical climate areas. This novel HGCHP system provides a new valuable choice for air conditioning in cooling load dominated buildings, and it is especially suitable for buildings with limited surface land areas.     

An in situ thermal response test for borehole heat exchangers of the ground-coupled heat pump system

Thermal response tests (TRTs) are crucial for the estimation of the ground thermal properties and thermal performance of the borehole heat exchanger (BHE) of the ground-coupled heat pump (GCHP) system. In this article, a TRT apparatus was designed and built to measure the temperature response of inlet and outlet sections of BHE in the test borehole, the apparatus can effectively operate under both constant heating flux modes and heat injection and extraction modes with a constant inlet temperature. A TRT for a project of GCHP located in the Jiangsu province of China was carried out by the experimental apparatus. Based on the experimental data, the heat transfer performances of BHE under heating and cooling modes were evaluated, and the ground thermal properties, which include the ground thermal conductivity, ground volumetric specific heat, borehole thermal resistance and effective soil thermal resistance, were determined by the line source model. The results indicate that the experimental device and analysis model proposed in this article can be effectively applied to estimate the ground thermal properties and thermal performance of BHE. During the process of thermal response of ground, the fluid temperatures vary acutely at the start-stage of 8 h, and then tend to be a steady state after 40 h. The test data during the start-stage should be discarded for improving the estimation accuracy of ground thermal properties. At the same time, the effective soil thermal resistance increases continuously with time and a steady-state value would be reached after the start-time, and this steady-state thermal resistance can be used to evaluate the required length of BHE. In addition, the heat transfer rate of the BHE under different operating conditions can be used for the further evaluation on long-term operation performance of GCHPs.     

Study on hybrid ground-coupled heat pump system for air-conditioning in hot-weather areas like Hong Kong

The ground-coupled heat pump (GCHP) system is becoming attractive for air-conditioning in some moderate-weather regions due to its high energy efficiency and reliable operation capability. However, when the technology is used in buildings where there is only cooling load in hot-weather areas like Hong Kong, the heat rejected into the ground by the GCHP systems will accumulate around the ground heat exchangers (GHE). This heat accumulation will result in degradation of system performance and increment of system operating costs. This problem can be resolved by using the hybrid ground-coupled heat pump (HGCHP) system, which uses supplemental heat rejecters to reject the accumulated heat. This paper presents a practical hourly simulation model of the HGCHP system by modeling the heat transfer process of the system’s main components. The computer program based on this hourly simulation model can be used to calculate the hour-by-hour operation data of the HGCHP system. As a case study, both a HGCHP system and a traditional GCHP system are designed for a hypothetic private residential building located in Hong Kong, and the economic comparisons are conducted between these two types of systems. The simulation results show that the HGCHP system can effectively solve the heat accumulation problem and reduce both the initial costs and operating costs of the air-conditioning system in the building.     

Experimental investigation and modeling of a new kind of latent heat storage system—indirect-contact galisol system

A new kind of latent heat storage system, namely, indirect-contact galisol (gaseous–liquid–solid) system, was investigated experimentally and theoretically. A physical model describing the performance of the system is proposed. Through experiments and by our model the performance characteristics of the system and its salient features are clarified. The limitations of the system operation in charging and discharging modes are formulated. There is good agreement between theoretical and experimental results. © 1999 Scripta Technica, Heat Trans Asian Res, 28(2): 115–128, 1999     

R&D of the ground-coupled heat pump technology in China

The ground-coupled heat pump (GCHP) systems have been identified as one of the best sustainable energy technologies for space heating and cooling in residential and commercial buildings. In this paper, research on and development of the GCHP technology in China are summarized. New models are presented for efficient thermal analysis of ground heat exchangers, of which one- and two-dimensional solid cylindrical source models and their analytical solutions are devised to deal with pile ground heat exchangers. Analytical solutions are also derived for vertical and inclined finite line source models as well as for a groundwater advection model. Explicit solutions of a quasi-three-dimensional model can be used to better evaluate the thermal resistance inside boreholes. Studies on hybrid GCHP systems and the thermal response test in China are also commented.     

Performance of a coupled cooling system with earth-to-air heat exchanger and solar chimney

Buildings represent nearly 40 percent of total energy use in the U.S. and about 50 percent of this energy is used for heating, ventilating, and cooling the space. Conventional heating and cooling systems are having a great impact on security of energy supply and greenhouse gas emissions. Unlike conventional approach, this paper investigates an innovative passive air conditioning system coupling earth-to-air heat exchangers (EAHEs) with solar collector enhanced solar chimneys. By simultaneously utilizing geothermal and solar energy, the system can achieve great energy savings within the building sector and reduce the peak electrical demand in the summer. Experiments were conducted in a test facility in summer to evaluate the performance of such a system. During the test period, the solar chimney drove up to 0.28 m³/s (1000 m³/h) outdoor air into the space. The EAHE provided a maximum 3308 W total cooling capacity during the day time. As a 100 percent outdoor air system, the coupled system maximum cooling capacity was 2582 W that almost covered the building design cooling load. The cooling capacities reached their peak during the day time when the solar radiation intensity was strong. The results show that the coupled system can maintain the indoor thermal environmental comfort conditions at a favorable range that complies with ASHRAE standard for thermal comfort. The findings in this research provide the foundation for design and application of the coupled system.     

Investigations and model validation of a ground-coupled heat pump for the combination with solar collectors

The operation of ground-coupled heat pumps in combination with solar collectors requires comprising knowledge of the heat pump behavior under non-standard conditions. Especially higher temperatures and varying flow rates in comparison to non-solar systems have to be taken into account. Furthermore the dynamic behavior becomes more important.At ISFH, steady-state and dynamic tests of a typical brine/water heat pump have been carried out in order to analyze its behavior under varying operation conditions. It has been shown, that rising source temperatures do only significantly increase the coefficient of performance (COP), if the source temperature is below 10–20 °C, depending on the temperature lift between source and sink. The flow rate, which has been varied both on the source and the sink side, only showed a minor influence on the exergetic efficiency. Additionally a heat pump model for TRNSYS has been validated under non-standard conditions. The results are assessed by means of TRNSYS simulations.     

Thermal performance of a solar-assisted heat pump drying system with thermal energy storage tank and heat recovery unit

Thermal performance parameters for a solar-assisted heat pump (SAHP) drying system with underground thermal energy storage (TES) tank and heat recovery unit (HRU) are investigated in this study. The SAHP drying system is made up of a drying unit, a heat pump, flat plate solar collectors, an underground TES tank, and HRU. An analytical model is developed to obtain the performance parameters of the drying system by using the solution of heat transfer problem around the TES tank and energy expressions for other components of the drying system. These parameters are coefficient of performances for the heat pump (COP) and system (COPs), specific moisture evaporation rate (SMER), temperature of water in the TES tank, and energy fractions for energy charging and extraction from the system. A MATLAB program has been prepared using the expressions for the drying system. The obtained results for COP, COPs, and SMER are 5.55, 5.28, and 9.25, respectively, by using wheat mass flow rate of 100 kg h⁻¹, Carnot efficiency of 40%, collector area of 100 m², and TES tank volume of 300 m³ when the system attains periodic operation duration in fifth year onwards for 10 years of operation. Annual energy saving is 21.4% in comparison with the same system without using HRU for the same input data.     

蓄能互联热泵系统相变装置熔化与凝固过程特性分析

介绍了一种新型的蓄能互联热泵系统。利用数值模拟的方法对填充石蜡C17的球型蓄热单元的熔化与凝固过程进行研究,分析了球壁温度、相变单元尺寸和相变材料初始温度三种影响因素对熔化过程和球壁温度对凝固过程的影响。通过对两个过程对比发现相变单元尺寸对相变过程影响最大,在相同温差条件下完全熔化时间少于完全凝固时间,熔化过程中始终存在的石蜡-壁面与液相石蜡-固相石蜡之间的对流换热过程增加了熔化速率。     

内通流体套管式潜热蓄热器充放热过程的实验分析

通过建立与工业实际相似的加肋同心套管式潜热蓄热器模拟实验台，对潜热蓄热器内通流体时的充热、放热过程进行了实验研究。实验得出了流体的出口温度、充热量和放热量随时间的变化规律。