This paper proposes an optimum operation method for open-loop ground heat exchangers (GHEX) considering the subsurface temperature gradient. A series of thermal response tests and artificial heating/cooling operations was carried out along with monitoring temperatures in the standing column well. The underground temperature naturally increases with depth, but a switch between the cooling and heating modes can alter the temperature distribution. The effect of the mode change was evaluated by performing logarithmic mean temperature difference (LMTD) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analyses for a reduced (or physical) model with the well depth of 150 m. As a result, in the cooling mode, the upstream operation is more efficient than the downstream operation and reduces entering water temperature (EWT) by 2.26°C. On the other hand, in the heating mode, the downstream operation is advantageous over the upstream operation and increases EWT by 3.19°C. According to the results of the LMTD and CFD analysis, the thermal conductivity of the ground formation and the flow direction of water are the most important factors in the open-loop GHEX. Finally, an optimum flow direction with respect to each operation is proposed to enhance its efficiency; thus, a new GHEX system is flexible to a change in the flow direction.

An energy pile encases heat exchange pipes to exchange thermal energy with the surrounding ground formation by circulating working fluid through the pipes. An energy pile has many advantages in terms of economic feasibility and constructability over conventional Ground Heat Exchangers (GHEXs). In this paper, a coil-type PHC energy pile was constructed in a test bed and its thermal performance was experimentally and numerically evaluated to make a preliminary design. An in-situ thermal response test (TRT) was performed on the coil-type PHC energy pile and its results were compared with the solid cylinder source model presented by Man et al. (2010). In addition, a CFD numerical analysis using FLUNET was carried out to back-analyze the thermal conductivity of the ground formation from the TRT result.To study effects of a coil pitch of the coil-type heat exchange pipe, a thermal interference between the heat exchange pipes in PHC energy piles was parametrically studied by performing the CFD numerical analysis, then the effect of the coil pitch on thermal performance and efficiency of heat exchange were evaluated. Finally, an equivalent heat exchange efficiency factor for the coil-type PHC energy pile in comparison with a common multiple U-type PHC energy pile was obtained to facilitate a preliminary design method for the coil-type PHC energy pile by adopting the PILESIM2

This paper proposes an optimum pipe material (PVC vs. PE) design & selection for open loop ground heat exchangers. Heat exchange efficiency and/or workability, and the need for trench insulation were investigated by comparing EWT (cooling mode) of each system. CFD simulations for the PVC and PE pipe with the same inner diameter show similar EWT. This is because the PVC pipe has a small thickness but a low thermal conductivity as compared to the PE pipe, and thus these two properties tend to offset each other. However, a hypothetically insulated pipe led to a meaningful drop of EWT. This means pipe insulation is of importance in performance of ground heat exchangers. From analyzing climate data and system operation, it is not advantageous to insulate trench pipes due to construction difficulties and ground temperature characteristics that are seasonally varied.

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This paper proposes an optimum operation method for open type ground heat exchangers. A series of TRTs and artificial heating/cooling operations were carried out while monitoring temperature in the hole of SCW. The ground temperature naturally increases with depth, but a switch between the cooling/heating mode results in a change in the distribution of ground temperature. The effect of the mode change was evaluated by performing LMTD and COMSOL multiphysics analysis for a reduced model with the depth of 150 m. As a result, in the cooling mode, the upstream operation is more efficient than the downstream operation and reduces EWT by 2.26℃. On the other hand, in the heating mode, the downstream operation is advantageous over the upstream operation and increases EWT by 3.19℃. The merit of the optimum operation will be enhanced for the typical dimension of SCW with a depth of 400~500 m. In the future, an open type ground heat exchanger system adopting the optimum operation with variation in the ground temperature will be used in practice.