Underground energy sources are becoming increasingly popular and now geothermal heat pumps are frequently used to heat/cool different types of buildings, including for solar passive houses. This article aims at giving a contribution in the development of the thermal modelling of borehole heat storage systems, investigating the possibility of a GSHP (ground source heat pump) implementation with vertical boreholes in a solar passive house. A case study analysing a residential solar passive house is presented as a suitable modelling tool for the estimation of the thermal behaviour of GSHP systems by combining the outcome from different modelling programs. The software DesignBuilder, Earth Energy Designer and a sizing method for borehole’s length are used for producing the numerical results. The results highlight that the length of the borehole, a major index in estimating the system’s cost, is directly influenced by fundamental variables like thermal conductivity of grout or soil. Additionally, correlations between these parameters and the coefficient of performance of GSHP were made. Furthermore, the length of borehole is very important as it is responsible for almost half of the total installation cost and triggered a difference in electricity consumption of the GSHP up to 14%.

Abstract:In view of the recent preoccupation at worldwide level, for the integration of the solar systems components within the building skin, we made a numerical investigation in order to assess the opportunity to implement a long string of solar panels along a horizontal or vertical building surface.The study analyses deals with the phenomenon of self-shading, which appears in the case of medium and large solar systems that use solar panels placed one behind the other, along the same row (individual string), but also under the shape of parallel rows (parallel strings). The study creates a mathematical instrument for the evaluation of the shaded surface depending on the location of the panels and the relative position of the Sun. The shading-caused energy loss is analysed along the one-year period, for each of the 12 months, while the panels are considered either placed on a horizontal surface such as a building terrace, or on a vertical surface, such as a building facade. The simulations are made for six Romanian cities located in different climatic zones, characterized by different levels of solar radiation.