A Performance Model for U-Tube Ground-Coupled Heat Exchanger

Abstract

Because of the great advantages of savings for installation costs and areas of the ground, the ground source heat pump (GSHP) system combined with the ground-coupled heat exchanger with structural member is becoming more and more popular such as energy pile foundation etc.. However, the calculation method especially on the perspective of plate-type ground-coupled heat exchanger (PGHE) has not been established. This paper reports a study on a mathematical model developed to analyze the heat transfer of U-tube plate-type ground-coupled heat exchanger (UPGHE) which combined with structural member and an analytical solution is revealed. The results show that there are clear ‘heat submerge’ for the leg with lower temperature of UPGHE and it is more sensible to arrange one leg apart from another. The results also show that the spacing of pipes have obvious impact on the performance of UPGHE and the temperature difference between two legs have no important effect on the total performance of UPGHE.