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Analysis of the Combined Effect of Major Influencing Parameters for Designing High-Performance Single (sBHE) and Double (dBHE) U-Tube Borehole Heat Exchangers

Author

Listed:
  • Esa Dube Kerme

    (Department of Mechanical, Industrial and Mechatronics Engineering, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON M5B 2K3, Canada)

  • Alan S. Fung

    (Department of Mechanical, Industrial and Mechatronics Engineering, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON M5B 2K3, Canada)

  • Wey H. Leong

    (Department of Mechanical, Industrial and Mechatronics Engineering, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON M5B 2K3, Canada)

Abstract

In this paper, a comprehensive analysis of the combined effect of major influencing parameters on heat transfer in a single U-tube BHE (sBHE) and a double U-tube BHE (dBHE) with two independent circuits was performed by using a validated numerical heat transfer model. Geometrical parameters, such as shank spacing (with maximum, average, and minimum values), borehole diameter (large, medium, and small borehole sizes), and borehole depth (shallow, average, and deep borehole depths) as well as the thermal conductivity of soil and grout, which ranges from minimum to high values, were considered. The combined impact of these parameters was included under the following four major cases: (1) the combined effect of borehole depth, borehole size, and shank spacing; (2) the combined effect of borehole depth and soil and grout thermal conductivity; (3) the combined effect of soil and grout thermal conductivity and borehole size; and (4) the combined effect of soil thermal conductivity, borehole size, and shank spacing. Each of these major cases has nine different design options for both sBHEs and dBHEs. A series of results of heat transfer per unit borehole depth were generated for all the considered various cases. With the given parameters, the BHE case that provides the highest heat transfer among the various cases of sBHEs and dBHEs were obtained.

Suggested Citation

  • Esa Dube Kerme & Alan S. Fung & Wey H. Leong, 2024. "Analysis of the Combined Effect of Major Influencing Parameters for Designing High-Performance Single (sBHE) and Double (dBHE) U-Tube Borehole Heat Exchangers," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-52, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:17:y:2024:i:11:p:2525-:d:1400559
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Wang, Xiru & Feng, Guohui & Huang, Kailiang & Lu, Weidong & Liu, Qiaoyu & Cheng, Yuqian, 2026. "Experimental and numerical study on heat storage and extraction characteristics of single and double U-tube borehole heat exchangers for thermal energy storage," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 257(C).
    2. Wang, Jing & Ding, Yuhan & Liang, Guixing & Li, Xinyue & Luo, Yuxin & Hou, Peilin & Li, Yang & Zhao, Jun, 2026. "A review on direct expansion ground heat exchanger: Experimental advancement, system instability, and heat transfer model," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 226(PA).

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