Heat and mass transfer model of a ground heat exchanger: validation and sensitivity analysis

Validation of ground heat exchanger (GHE) model is presented using the experimental data obtained for both single and double pipe horizontal GHE. Sensitivity analysis of the GHE model shows the influence of the variation in the soil thermal conductivity, specific heat and density on the thermal performance of a GHE. Finally, the thermal performance of a GHE is analysed using both heat and mass transfer models, and conduction only model, as well as the influence of the initial soil moisture content on the thermal performance of a GHE. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.