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Energy performance of ground heat exchangers embedded in diaphragm walls: Field observations and optimization by numerical modelling

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  • Sterpi, D.
  • Tomaselli, G.
  • Angelotti, A.

Abstract

Ground immersed structures thermally activated by embedded heat exchangers represent a solution for building climatization, that combines efficiency, sustainability and cost saving. However, the performance of thermally activated diaphragm walls is influenced by key factors that still require insights, such as the layout of the exchanger pipe, the ratio between exposed and fully immersed parts of the wall, and the variable thermal condition at the excavation side. In this paper, these aspects are investigated first with reference to a full scale monitored diaphragm wall. From the field observations a finite element model is set up, validated by sensitivity analyses and calibrated on the monitoring data. The model is then used to attempt an optimization of the exchanger pipe layout. For given structure, ground conditions, thermal inputs and properties, the energy performance can be improved by limiting the thermal interference between pipe branches circulating fluid at different temperatures, and by taking advantage of the fully immersed part of the wall, on both faces in direct contact with the soil. A suggestion is given for enhanced pipe layouts that meet these requirements and lead to up to a 15.8% increase of exchanged heat rate for the studied case.

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  • Sterpi, D. & Tomaselli, G. & Angelotti, A., 2020. "Energy performance of ground heat exchangers embedded in diaphragm walls: Field observations and optimization by numerical modelling," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 147(P2), pages 2748-2760.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:147:y:2020:i:p2:p:2748-2760
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2018.11.102
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    1. Ana Vieira & Maria Alberdi-Pagola & Paul Christodoulides & Saqib Javed & Fleur Loveridge & Frederic Nguyen & Francesco Cecinato & João Maranha & Georgios Florides & Iulia Prodan & Gust Van Lysebetten , 2017. "Characterisation of Ground Thermal and Thermo-Mechanical Behaviour for Shallow Geothermal Energy Applications," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-51, December.
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    3. Meibodi, Saleh S. & Loveridge, Fleur, 2022. "The future role of energy geostructures in fifth generation district heating and cooling networks," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 240(C).
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    5. Wang, Jing & Mao, Jinfeng & Han, Xu & Li, Yong, 2021. "Study on analytical solution model of heat transfer of ground heat exchanger in the protection engineering structure," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 998-1008.
    6. Seokjae Lee & Sangwoo Park & Taek Hee Han & Jongmuk Won & Hangseok Choi, 2023. "Applicability Evaluation of Energy Slabs Installed in an Underground Parking Lot," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-15, February.
    7. Lazaros Aresti & Paul Christodoulides & Gregoris P. Panayiotou & Georgios Florides, 2020. "Residential Buildings’ Foundations as a Ground Heat Exchanger and Comparison among Different Types in a Moderate Climate Country," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-22, November.
    8. Ma, Qijie & Wang, Peijun & Fan, Jianhua & Klar, Assaf, 2022. "Underground solar energy storage via energy piles: An experimental study," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 306(PB).
    9. Taurines, Kevin & Giroux-Julien, Stéphanie & Farid, Mohammed & Ménézo, Christophe, 2021. "Numerical modelling of a building integrated earth-to-air heat exchanger," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 296(C).

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