Long-Term Performance and Sustainable Operation of Energy Piles
Abstract
Ground temperatures below a depth of about 6 meters (20 feet) remain stable compared to outside air temperatures. This relatively constant temperature and the thermal storage capacity of the ground can be exploited for heating and cooling of buildings. Traditionally, geothermal boreholes have utilized this concept for space heating and cooling. Recently, this ground coupling concept has been expanded from geothermal borehole systems to the use of building foundation elements as heat exchangers. In this hybrid system, geothermal loops are integrated into the deep foundation elements, such as piles, piers, or drilled shafts, that are already in place to provide structural support. The loop is connected to a geothermal heat pump as the heat energy is fed into the ground for cooling in the summer and withdrawn from the ground for heating in the winter. Because geothermal heat pumps use the ground as a constant temperature source which serves as a more favorable baseline compared to the ambient air temperature, these systems work much more efficiently for space heating and cooling compared to air-sourced heat pumps. Sustainable use of the ground as a renewable energy source depends on the seasonal energy load balance. This paper presents the findings on the long-term performance energy piles and their efficiency as heat exchange elements within areas where the demand is non-symmetrical.
Recommended Citation
C. G. Olgun et al., "Long-Term Performance and Sustainable Operation of Energy Piles," Proceedings of the 2012 International Conference on Sustainable Design and Construction (2012, Fort Worth, TX), pp. 534 - 542, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Nov 2013.
The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784412688.064
Meeting Name
2nd Annual International Conference Sustainable Design, Engineering and Construction, ICSDEC 2012 (1212: Nov. 7-9, Fort Worth, TX)
Department(s)
Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering
Keywords and Phrases
Energy Piles; Geothermal Energy; Heat Pumps; Numerical Analysis; Sustainability
International Standard Book Number (ISBN)
978-078441268-8
Document Type
Article - Conference proceedings
Document Version
Citation
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 2013 American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), All rights reserved.
Publication Date
01 Nov 2013