IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i7p3234-d1628405.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Research on the Optimized Design of Medium and Deep Ground-Source Heat Pump Systems Considering End-Load Variation

Author

Listed:
  • Jianlin Li

    (Beijing Future Electrochemical Energy Storage System Integration Technology Innovation Center, North China University of Technology, Beijing 100144, China)

  • Xupeng Qi

    (Beijing Future Electrochemical Energy Storage System Integration Technology Innovation Center, North China University of Technology, Beijing 100144, China
    Department of Information, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China)

  • Xiaoli Li

    (Department of Information, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China)

  • Huijie Huang

    (School of Civil Engineering, Liaoning Engineering Technology University, Fuxin 123000, China)

  • Jian Gao

    (School of Resources and Civil Engineering, Liaoning Institute of Science and Technology, Benxi 117004, China)

Abstract

Ground-source heat pump (GSHP) systems with medium-depth and deeply buried pipes in cold regions are highly important for addressing global climate change and the energy crisis because of their efficient, clean, and sustainable energy characteristics. However, unique geological conditions in cold climates pose serious challenges to the heat transfer efficiency, long-term stability, and adaptability of systems. This study comprehensively analyses the effects of various factors, including well depth, inner-to-outer tube diameter ratios, cementing material, the thermal conductivity of the inner tube, the flow rate, and the start–stop ratio, on the performance of a medium-depth coaxial borehole heat exchanger. Field tests, numerical simulations, and sensitivity analyses are combined to determine the full-cycle thermal performance and heat-transfer properties of medium-depth geological formations and their relationships with system performance. The results show that the source water temperature increases by approximately 4 °C and that the heat transfer increases by 50 kW for every 500 m increase in well depth. The optimization of the inner and outer pipe diameter ratios effectively improves the heat-exchange efficiency, and a larger pipe diameter ratio design can significantly reduce the flow resistance and improve system stability. When the thermal conductivity of the cementing cement increases from 1 W/(m·K) to 2 W/(m·K), the outlet water temperature at the source side increases by approximately 1 °C, and the heat transfer increases by 13 kW. However, the improvement effect of further increasing the thermal conductivity on the heat-exchange efficiency gradually decreases. When the flow rate is 0.7 m/s, the heat transfer is stable at approximately 250 kW, and the system economy and heat-transfer efficiency reach a balance. These findings provide a robust scientific basis for promoting medium-deep geothermal energy heating systems in cold regions and offer valuable references for the green and low-carbon transition in building heating systems.

Suggested Citation

  • Jianlin Li & Xupeng Qi & Xiaoli Li & Huijie Huang & Jian Gao, 2025. "Research on the Optimized Design of Medium and Deep Ground-Source Heat Pump Systems Considering End-Load Variation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-24, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:7:p:3234-:d:1628405
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/7/3234/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/7/3234/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Shangwei Liu & Yang Guo & Fabian Wagner & Hongxun Liu & Ryna Yiyun Cui & Denise L. Mauzerall, 2024. "Diversifying heat sources in China’s urban district heating systems will reduce risk of carbon lock-in," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 9(8), pages 1021-1031, August.
    2. Jan Rosenow & Duncan Gibb & Thomas Nowak & Richard Lowes, 2022. "Heating up the global heat pump market," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 7(10), pages 901-904, October.
    3. Chen, Hongfei & Liu, Hongtao & Yang, Fuxin & Tan, Houzhang & Wang, Bangju, 2023. "Field measurements and numerical investigation on heat transfer characteristics and long-term performance of deep borehole heat exchangers," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 205(C), pages 1125-1136.
    4. Li, Mingqi & Shi, Yan & Chen, Hongxu & Liu, Chengcheng & Li, Hongchao, 2024. "Study on the heat transfer performance of coaxial casing heat exchanger for medium and deep geothermal energy in cold regions," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 237(PB).
    5. Aydin, Mucahit & Pata, Ugur Korkut, 2020. "Are shocks to disaggregated renewable energy consumption permanent or temporary for the USA? Wavelet based unit root test with smooth structural shifts," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 207(C).
    6. Ma, Yongfa & Yang, Fengtian & Zhu, Ruijie & Zhou, Xuejun & Liu, Guang & Yuan, Lijuan & Wang, Xu & Dong, Junling & Lü, Honglin & Li, Chang & Zhan, Tao & Su, Bin & Xu, Siqi, 2024. "A numerical study on the sustainability and efficiency of deep coaxial borehole heat exchanger systems in the cold region of northeast China," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 237(PA).
    7. Beragama Jathunge, Charaka & Darbandi, Amirhossein & Dworkin, Seth B. & Mwesigye, Aggrey, 2024. "Numerical investigation of the long-term thermal performance of a novel thermo-active foundation pile coupled with a ground source heat pump in a cold-climate," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 292(C).
    8. Emmi, Giuseppe & Bottarelli, Michele, 2023. "Enhancement of shallow ground heat exchanger with phase change material," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 206(C), pages 828-837.
    9. Huang, Shuai & Lin, Duotong & Dong, Jiankai & Li, Ji, 2025. "Effects of building load characteristics on heating performance of the medium-deep U-type borehole heat exchanger coupled heat pumps: A coupled dynamic simulation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 377(PA).
    10. Alsaleh, Mohd & Abdul-Rahim, A.S., 2022. "The pathway toward pollution mitigation in EU28 region: Does hydropower growth make a difference?," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 185(C), pages 291-301.
    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. Gabriel Reichert & Sophie Ehrenbrandtner & Robert Fina & Franz Theuretzbacher & Clemens Birklbauer & Christoph Schmidl, 2025. "Different Types of Heat Pump Owners in Austria—Purchase Arguments, User Satisfaction, Operating Habits, and Expectations Regarding Control and Regulation Strategies," Businesses, MDPI, vol. 5(2), pages 1-36, April.
    2. Mohammad Al-Shboul & Aktham Maghyereh, 2023. "Did real economic uncertainty drive risk connectedness in the oil–stock nexus during the COVID-19 outbreak? A partial wavelet coherence analysis," Journal of Economic Structures, Springer;Pan-Pacific Association of Input-Output Studies (PAPAIOS), vol. 12(1), pages 1-23, December.
    3. Fabian Arnold & Amir Ashour Novirdoust & Philipp Theile, 2025. "Environmental Policy Instruments for Investments in Backstop Technologies Under Present Bias - An Application to the Building Sector," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 88(4), pages 1039-1070, April.
    4. Emmi, Giuseppe & Baccega, Eleonora & Cesari, Silvia & Mainardi, Elena & Bottarelli, Michele, 2024. "Energy analysis of multi-source heat pump system: A real case study application," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 221(C).
    5. Akram, Vaseem & Ali, Jabir, 2022. "Do countries converge in natural resources rents? Evidence from club convergence analysis," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    6. Ma, Di & Chen, Qi & Yan, Gang, 2024. "Thermodynamic and economic analysis of a solar-assisted ejector-enhanced flash tank vapor injection heat pump cycle with dual evaporators," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 235(C).
    7. Schneider, Nicolas & Strielkowski, Wadim, 2023. "Modelling the unit root properties of electricity data—A general note on time-domain applications," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 618(C).
    8. Aljundi, K. & Figueiredo, A. & Vieira, A. & Lapa, J. & Cardoso, R., 2024. "Geothermal energy system application: From basic standard performance to sustainability reflection," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 220(C).
    9. David Meyer & Robert Schoetter & Maarten Reeuwijk, 2024. "Energy and environmental impacts of air-to-air heat pumps in a mid-latitude city," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    10. Celik, Ali & Alola, Andrew Adewale, 2024. "Shock persistency to material consumption, renewable and non-renewable energy resources? A (non)linear evidence from the highest carbon emitting countries," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 312(C).
    11. Adedoyin Isola Lawal, 2023. "The Nexus between Economic Growth, Energy Consumption, Agricultural Output, and CO 2 in Africa: Evidence from Frequency Domain Estimates," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-27, January.
    12. Fouz, D.M. & Carballo, R. & López, I. & Iglesias, G., 2022. "A holistic methodology for hydrokinetic energy site selection," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 317(C).
    13. Jakub Sokołowski & Karol Madoń & Jan Frankowski, 2025. "Peer effects and inequalities in technology uptake. Evidence from a large-scale subsidy programme," IBS Working Papers 03/2025, Instytut Badan Strukturalnych.
    14. Ding, Qian & Huang, Jianbai & Chen, Jinyu & Luo, Xianfeng, 2024. "Climate warming, renewable energy consumption and rare earth market: Evidence from the United States," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 290(C).
    15. Zygmunt Lipnicki & Marta Gortych & Daniel Polak, 2024. "The Joint Use of a Phase Heat Accumulator and a Compressor Heat Pump," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(20), pages 1-13, October.
    16. Zhao, Chuandang & Xu, Jiuping & Wang, Fengjuan & Xie, Guo & Tan, Cheng, 2024. "Economic–environmental trade-offs based support policy towards optimal planning of wastewater heat recovery," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 364(C).
    17. Siddique, Muhammad Bilal & Keles, Dogan & Scheller, Fabian & Nielsen, Per Sieverts, 2024. "Dispatch strategies for large-scale heat pump based district heating under high renewable share and risk-aversion: A multistage stochastic optimization approach," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 136(C).
    18. Tobias Brudermueller & Ugne Potthoff & Elgar Fleisch & Felix Wortmann & Thorsten Staake, 2025. "Estimation of energy efficiency of heat pumps in residential buildings using real operation data," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-15, December.
    19. Lucas W. Davis, 2024. "The Economic Determinants of Heat Pump Adoption," Environmental and Energy Policy and the Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 5(1), pages 162-199.
    20. Limpens, Gauthier & Rixhon, Xavier & Contino, Francesco & Jeanmart, Hervé, 2024. "EnergyScope Pathway: An open-source model to optimise the energy transition pathways of a regional whole-energy system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 358(C).

    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:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:7:p:3234-:d:1628405. 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: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    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.