Ground-source heat pump systems: The effect of variable pipe separation in ground heat exchangers

Abstract

Closed loop ground-source heat pump (GSHP) systems use ground heat exchangers (GHEs) to transfer heat to and from the ground and efficiently provide clean and renewable energy for heating and cooling purposes. Vertical GHEs contain pipes with circulating fluid (loops), which transfer thermal energy between the ground and the fluid. One very common assumption made in designing GSHP systems is that, when installed, these loops remain evenly separated along the length of the GHE, something that due to the nature of construction is rarely true. This can result in thermal interference not accounted for in the design, leading to a potential negative impact on the performance of the system. This pa..