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An innovative energy pile technology to expand the viability of geothermal bridge deck snow melting for different United States regions: Computational assisted feasibility analyses

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  • Han, Chanjuan
  • Yu, Xiong (Bill)

Abstract

Energy pile provides a sustainable way for snow removal of transportation infrastructure while fulfilling its role in supporting the structural and service loads. In a previous study, the authors have analyzed the potential of conventional energy pile to remove snow on a highway bridge deck, and found that the application is only technically feasible for geographic regions with high underground thermal resources. To further expand its applications, this paper proposes an innovative energy pile technology where the concrete pile is modified with phase change material (PCM) to improve thermal energy extraction. A computational model is constructed to evaluate the performance of this new energy pile technology. The results show that geothermal energy extraction is significantly enhanced by incorporating PCM into concrete pile. Sensitivity analyses are conducted on the use of energy pile modified with different mass fraction PCM for snow melting of a prototype highway bridge deck in 10 different U.S. cities located in different climate regions. The results indicate that the new energy pile technology can potentially significantly expand the geographic regions where energy pile is viable for bridge deck snow removal. Aspects to further improve the economic viability of the new PCM modified energy pile technology are discussed.

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  • Han, Chanjuan & Yu, Xiong (Bill), 2018. "An innovative energy pile technology to expand the viability of geothermal bridge deck snow melting for different United States regions: Computational assisted feasibility analyses," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 417-427.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:123:y:2018:i:c:p:417-427
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2018.02.044
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Panayiotou, G.P. & Kalogirou, S.A. & Tassou, S.A., 2016. "Evaluation of the application of Phase Change Materials (PCM) on the envelope of a typical dwelling in the Mediterranean region," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 24-32.
    2. Navarro, Lidia & de Gracia, Alvaro & Niall, Dervilla & Castell, Albert & Browne, Maria & McCormack, Sarah J. & Griffiths, Philip & Cabeza, Luisa F., 2016. "Thermal energy storage in building integrated thermal systems: A review. Part 2. Integration as passive system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 1334-1356.
    3. Han, Chanjuan & Yu, Xiong (Bill), 2016. "Sensitivity analysis of a vertical geothermal heat pump system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 170(C), pages 148-160.
    4. Han, Chanjuan & Yu, Xiong (Bill), 2017. "Feasibility of geothermal heat exchanger pile-based bridge deck snow melting system: A simulation based analysis," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 214-224.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Yuanlong Cui & Fan Zhang & Yiming Shao & Ssennoga Twaha & Hui Tong, 2022. "Techno-Economic Comprehensive Review of State-of-the-Art Geothermal and Solar Roadway Energy Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-50, September.
    2. Fei, Wenbin & Bandeira Neto, Luis A. & Dai, Sheng & Cortes, Douglas D. & Narsilio, Guillermo A., 2023. "Numerical analyses of energy screw pile filled with phase change materials," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 202(C), pages 865-879.
    3. Hongzhi Cui & Jiaxin Shi & Haixing Li & Xiong Xiao & Peng Peng & Xiaohua Bao, 2023. "Experimental Study on Thermo-Mechanical Behavior of a Novel Energy Pile with Phase Change Materials Using Fiber Bragg Grating Monitoring," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-26, December.
    4. Xia, Changqing & Chen, Guancong & Shi, Jiaxing & Bao, Xiaohua & Cui, Hongzhi, 2025. "Investigation of heat transfer characteristics in steel fiber-reinforced energy piles utilizing steel tubes for PCM encapsulation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 326(C).
    5. Wang, Zhongjin & Jin, Kunquan & Xia, Changqing & Xu, Xiao & Cui, Hongzhi & Chen, Xiangsheng, 2024. "Influence of silicon carbide incorporation on the macroscale and microscale heat transfer characteristics of energy piles," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 237(PB).
    6. Zhou, Yang & Wang, Jinyun & Li, Chong & Kong, Gangqiang & Li, Renrong, 2024. "Thermal interference process between two energy piles in 2D model using transparent soil," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 308(C).
    7. Wang, Xiaozhe & Zhang, Hao & Cui, Lin & Wang, Jingying & Lee, Chunhian & Zhu, Xiaoxuan & Dong, Yong, 2024. "Borehole thermal energy storage for building heating application: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 203(C).
    8. Zhang, Guozhu & Cao, Ziming & Xiao, Suguang & Guo, Yimu & Li, Chenglin, 2022. "A promising technology of cold energy storage using phase change materials to cool tunnels with geothermal hazards," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    9. Bao, Xiaohua & Qi, Xuedong & Cui, Hongzhi & Tang, Waiching & Chen, Xiangsheng, 2022. "Experimental study on thermal response of a PCM energy pile in unsaturated clay," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 185(C), pages 790-803.
    10. Ahmed Khalil & Mousa Attom & Zahid Khan & Philip Virgil Astillo & Oussama M. El-Kadri, 2024. "Recent Advancements in Geothermal Energy Piles Performance and Design," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-17, July.
    11. Cao, Ziming & Zhang, Guozhu & Liu, Yiping & Zhao, Xu & Li, Chenglin, 2022. "Influence of backfilling phase change material on thermal performance of precast high-strength concrete energy pile," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 184(C), pages 374-390.
    12. Jelušič, Primož & Žlender, Bojan, 2020. "Determining optimal designs for conventional and geothermal energy piles," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 147(P2), pages 2633-2642.
    13. Aresti, Lazaros & Alvi, Maria Romana & Cecinato, Francesco & Fan, Tao & Halaj, Elzbieta & Li, Zili & Okhay, Olena & Poulsen, Soren Erbs & Quiroga, Sonia & Suarez, Cristina & Tang, Anh Minh & Valancius, 2024. "Energy geo-structures: A review of their integration with other sources and its limitations," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 230(C).

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