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An Experimental Facility to Validate Ground Source Heat Pump Optimisation Models for the Australian Climate

Author

Listed:
  • Yuanshen Lu

    (Queensland Geothermal Energy Centre of Excellence, School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Queensland, Australia)

  • Kamel Hooman

    (Queensland Geothermal Energy Centre of Excellence, School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Queensland, Australia)

  • Aleks D. Atrens

    (Queensland Geothermal Energy Centre of Excellence, School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Queensland, Australia)

  • Hugh Russell

    (Queensland Geothermal Energy Centre of Excellence, School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Queensland, Australia)

Abstract

Ground source heat pumps (GSHPs) are one of the most widespread forms of geothermal energy technology. They utilise the near-constant temperature of the ground below the frost line to achieve energy-efficiencies two or three times that of conventional air-conditioners, consequently allowing a significant offset in electricity demand for space heating and cooling. Relatively mature GSHP markets are established in Europe and North America. GSHP implementation in Australia, however, is limited, due to high capital price, uncertainties regarding optimum designs for the Australian climate, and limited consumer confidence in the technology. Existing GSHP design standards developed in the Northern Hemisphere are likely to lead to suboptimal performance in Australia where demand might be much more cooling-dominated. There is an urgent need to develop Australia’s own GSHP system optimisation principles on top of the industry standards to provide confidence to bring the GSHP market out of its infancy. To assist in this, the Queensland Geothermal Energy Centre of Excellence (QGECE) has commissioned a fully instrumented GSHP experimental facility in Gatton, Australia, as a publically-accessible demonstration of the technology and a platform for systematic studies of GSHPs, including optimisation of design and operations. This paper presents a brief review on current GSHP use in Australia, the technical details of the Gatton GSHP facility, and an analysis on the observed cooling performance of this facility to date.

Suggested Citation

  • Yuanshen Lu & Kamel Hooman & Aleks D. Atrens & Hugh Russell, 2017. "An Experimental Facility to Validate Ground Source Heat Pump Optimisation Models for the Australian Climate," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-15, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:10:y:2017:i:1:p:138-:d:88510
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Rosiek, Sabina & Batlles, Francisco Javier, 2013. "Renewable energy solutions for building cooling, heating and power system installed in an institutional building: Case study in southern Spain," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 26(C), pages 147-168.
    2. Li, Min & Lai, Alvin C.K., 2015. "Review of analytical models for heat transfer by vertical ground heat exchangers (GHEs): A perspective of time and space scales," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 151(C), pages 178-191.
    3. Soni, Suresh Kumar & Pandey, Mukesh & Bartaria, Vishvendra Nath, 2015. "Ground coupled heat exchangers: A review and applications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 83-92.
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    Cited by:

    1. Rachana Vidhi, 2018. "A Review of Underground Soil and Night Sky as Passive Heat Sink: Design Configurations and Models," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-24, October.
    2. Hongkyo Kim & Yujin Nam & Sangmu Bae & Jae Sang Choi & Sang Bum Kim, 2020. "A Study on the Effect of Performance Factor on GSHP System through Real-Scale Experiments in Korea," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-18, January.
    3. Shogo Tomita & Hasan Celik & Moghtada Mobedi, 2021. "Thermal Analysis of Solid/Liquid Phase Change in a Cavity with One Wall at Periodic Temperature," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-18, September.

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