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Performance of Conventional and Innovative Single U-Tube Pipe Configuration in Vertical Ground Heat Exchanger (VGHE)

Author

Listed:
  • Adel Eswiasi

    (Mechanical Engineering, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2, Canada)

  • Phalguni Mukhopadhyaya

    (Civil Engineering, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2, Canada)

Abstract

A ground source heat pump system (GSHP) with a ground heat exchanger (GHE) is a renewable and green technology used for heating and cooling residential and commercial buildings. An innovative U-Tube pipe configuration is suggested to enhance the heat transfer rate in the vertical ground heat exchanger (VGHE). Laboratory experiments are conducted to compare the thermal efficiency of VGHEs with two different pipe configurations: (1) an innovative U-Tube pipe configuration (single U-Tube with two outer fins) and (2) a single U-Tube. The results show that the difference between the inlet and outlet temperatures for the innovative U-Tube pipe configuration was 0.7 °C after 60 h, while it was 0.4 °C for the single U-Tube after the same amount of time. The borehole thermal resistance for the innovative U-Tube pipe configuration was 0.680 m·K/W, which is 29.22% lower than that of the single U-Tube. The heat exchange rate in the innovative U-Tube pipe configuration is increased by 57.95% compared to the conventional single U-Tube. Measured ground temperatures indicate that compared to single U-Tube pipe configuration, the innovative U-Tube pipe configuration has superior heat transfer performance. Based on the experimental results presented in this paper, it was concluded that increasing the surface area significantly by introducing external fins to the U-Tube enhances the heat transfer rate, resulting in increased thermal efficiency of the VGHE.

Suggested Citation

  • Adel Eswiasi & Phalguni Mukhopadhyaya, 2021. "Performance of Conventional and Innovative Single U-Tube Pipe Configuration in Vertical Ground Heat Exchanger (VGHE)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-15, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:11:p:6384-:d:568673
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kwonye Kim & Sangmu Bae & Yujin Nam & Euyjoon Lee & Evgueniy Entchev, 2022. "Development of a Low-Depth Modular GHX through a Real-Scale Experiment," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-14, January.
    2. Changlong Wang & Qiang Fu & Han Fang & Jinli Lu, 2022. "Estimation of Ground Thermal Properties of Shallow Coaxial Borehole Heat Exchanger Using an Improved Parameter Estimation Method," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-12, June.

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