IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/renene/v248y2025ics0960148125008006.html

Comparison of mixed convection effects in summer and winter on the energy efficiency of energy piles

Author

Listed:
  • Fattahian, Makan
  • Sobhdam, Mohammad H.
  • Ahmadi, Mohammad M.
  • Ghasemi-Fare, Omid

Abstract

In recent years, shallow geothermal energy as a renewable energy source has received considerable attention and studying the factors that impact the efficiency of this system, particularly groundwater flow, is crucial. Although previous research has shown that groundwater flow enhances the efficiency of shallow geothermal energy systems, the evaluation of the system performance under the mixed influence of groundwater flow and natural convection is still under investigation. In this study, an energy pile was modeled for a period of 90 days using COMSOL Multiphysics software to examine the effects of mixed convection flow on the energy efficiency of energy piles during different seasons. The finite element model accounts for the circulation of heat carrier fluid inside embedded U-shaped heat exchanger pipes. The developed model was validated by comparing it with experimental results. The results indicate that when both mixed convection and ground surface temperature are considered during the 90 days, natural convection can reduce the output power of the energy pile by 23 % in winter while in the summer the output power increases by 1.4 %, compared to the scenario where natural convection is not considered. Thus, the winter effects of natural convection are significant and should be carefully considered.

Suggested Citation

  • Fattahian, Makan & Sobhdam, Mohammad H. & Ahmadi, Mohammad M. & Ghasemi-Fare, Omid, 2025. "Comparison of mixed convection effects in summer and winter on the energy efficiency of energy piles," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 248(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:248:y:2025:i:c:s0960148125008006
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2025.123138
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148125008006
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.renene.2025.123138?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Zhou, Yang & Wu, Zi-han & Wang, Kang, 2021. "An analytical model for heat transfer outside a single borehole heat exchanger considering convection at ground surface and advection of vertical water flow," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 172(C), pages 1046-1062.
    2. Zhao, Zilong & Lin, Yu-Feng & Stumpf, Andrew & Wang, Xinlei, 2022. "Assessing impacts of groundwater on geothermal heat exchangers: A review of methodology and modeling," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 190(C), pages 121-147.
    3. Cherati, Davood Yazdani & Ghasemi-Fare, Omid, 2021. "Practical approaches for implementation of energy piles in Iran based on the lessons learned from the developed countries experiences," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 140(C).
    4. Najafian Jazi, Fereydoun & Ghasemi-Fare, Omid & Rockaway, Thomas D., 2024. "Understanding the impact of flow mechanisms in unsaturated layer on heat transfer near a partially submerged geothermal heat exchanger," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 235(C).
    5. Amasyali, Kadir & El-Gohary, Nora M., 2018. "A review of data-driven building energy consumption prediction studies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 81(P1), pages 1192-1205.
    6. Sani, Abubakar Kawuwa & Singh, Rao Martand & Amis, Tony & Cavarretta, Ignazio, 2019. "A review on the performance of geothermal energy pile foundation, its design process and applications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 54-78.
    7. Li, Wenxin & Li, Xiangdong & Peng, Yuanling & Wang, Yong & Tu, Jiyuan, 2020. "Experimental and numerical studies on the thermal performance of ground heat exchangers in a layered subsurface with groundwater," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 147(P1), pages 620-629.
    8. Zhou, Yang & Zheng, Zhi-xiang & Zhao, Guang-si, 2022. "Analytical models for heat transfer around a single ground heat exchanger in the presence of both horizontal and vertical groundwater flow considering a convective boundary condition," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 245(C).
    9. Fattahian, Makan & Oliaei, Mohammad & Akbari Garakani, Amir & Kiani Fordoei, Mohammad Amir, 2024. "Numerical modeling of high-velocity groundwater flow influence on the thermal-hydraulic characteristics and energy extraction from energy piles," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 237(PD).
    10. Wenke Zhang & Hongxing Yang & Lin Lu & Zhaohong Fang, 2017. "Investigation on the heat transfer of energy piles with two-dimensional groundwater flow," International Journal of Low-Carbon Technologies, Oxford University Press, vol. 12(1), pages 43-50.
    11. Fadejev, Jevgeni & Simson, Raimo & Kurnitski, Jarek & Haghighat, Fariborz, 2017. "A review on energy piles design, sizing and modelling," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 390-407.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Fattahian, Makan & Oliaei, Mohammad & Akbari Garakani, Amir & Kiani Fordoei, Mohammad Amir, 2024. "Numerical modeling of high-velocity groundwater flow influence on the thermal-hydraulic characteristics and energy extraction from energy piles," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 237(PD).
    2. Cunha, R.P. & Bourne-Webb, P.J., 2022. "A critical review on the current knowledge of geothermal energy piles to sustainably climatize buildings," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    3. Ahmadfard, Mohammadamin & Baniasadi, Ehsan, 2025. "Borehole thermal energy storage systems: A comprehensive review using bibliometric and qualitative tools," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 387(C).
    4. Ai, Zhi Yong & Ye, Jia Ming & Zhao, Yong Zhi, 2022. "The performance analysis of energy piles in cross-anisotropic soils," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 255(C).
    5. Ma, Qijie & Fan, Jianhua & Liu, Hantao, 2023. "Energy pile-based ground source heat pump system with seasonal solar energy storage," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 206(C), pages 1132-1146.
    6. Soltan Mohammadi, Hesam & Ringel, Lisa Maria & Bott, Christoph & Bayer, Peter, 2024. "Adaptive management of borehole heat exchanger fields under transient groundwater flow conditions," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 234(C).
    7. Sihan Zhou & Lijie Zhu & Runan Wan & Tao Zhang & Yongzheng Zhang & Yi Zhan & Fang Wang & Linfeng Zhang & Tian You, 2023. "An Overview of Sandbox Experiment on Ground Heat Exchangers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-39, July.
    8. Zhao, Zilong & Lin, Yu-Feng & Stumpf, Andrew & Wang, Xinlei, 2022. "Assessing impacts of groundwater on geothermal heat exchangers: A review of methodology and modeling," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 190(C), pages 121-147.
    9. Wang, Haoyu & Zhang, Dan & Yang, Bo & Lin, Kai, 2025. "Estimation of groundwater flow rates based on the thermal-hydro response of energy pile: A multi-stage inversion framework with optimisation algorithm," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 341(C).
    10. Tomasz Sliwa & Aneta Sapińska-Śliwa & Tomasz Wysogląd & Tomasz Kowalski & Izabela Konopka, 2021. "Strength Tests of Hardened Cement Slurries for Energy Piles, with the Addition of Graphite and Graphene, in Terms of Increasing the Heat Transfer Efficiency," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-20, February.
    11. Paul Christodoulides & Ana Vieira & Stanislav Lenart & João Maranha & Gregor Vidmar & Rumen Popov & Aleksandar Georgiev & Lazaros Aresti & Georgios Florides, 2020. "Reviewing the Modeling Aspects and Practices of Shallow Geothermal Energy Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-45, August.
    12. Najafian Jazi, Fereydoun & Ghasemi-Fare, Omid & Rockaway, Thomas D., 2024. "Understanding the impact of flow mechanisms in unsaturated layer on heat transfer near a partially submerged geothermal heat exchanger," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 235(C).
    13. 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.
    14. Figueira, João S. & García Gil, Alejandro & Vieira, Ana & Michopoulos, Apostolos K. & Boon, David P. & Loveridge, Fleur & Cecinato, Francesco & Götzl, Gregor & Epting, Jannis & Zosseder, Kai & Bloemen, 2024. "Shallow geothermal energy systems for district heating and cooling networks: Review and technological progression through case studies," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 236(C).
    15. Kong, Gangqiang & Dai, Guohao & Zhou, Yang & Yang, Qing, 2024. "Analytical solution model of heat transfer for energy soldier piles during excavation to backfilling," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 226(C).
    16. Luka Boban & Dino Miše & Stjepan Herceg & Vladimir Soldo, 2021. "Application and Design Aspects of Ground Heat Exchangers," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-31, April.
    17. Hu, Shuaijun & Kong, Gangqiang & Zhang, Changsen & Fu, Jinghui & Li, Shiyao & Yang, Qing, 2024. "Data-driven models for the steady thermal performance prediction of energy piles optimized by metaheuristic algorithms," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 313(C).
    18. Romanov, D. & Leiss, B., 2022. "Geothermal energy at different depths for district heating and cooling of existing and future building stock," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    19. Jinrong Wu & Su Nguyen & Damminda Alahakoon & Daswin De Silva & Nishan Mills & Prabod Rathnayaka & Harsha Moraliyage & Andrew Jennings, 2024. "A Comparative Analysis of Machine Learning-Based Energy Baseline Models across Multiple Building Types," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-18, March.
    20. 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.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:248:y:2025:i:c:s0960148125008006. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/renewable-energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.