Assessing the performance of geothermal pavement constructed using demolition wastes by experimental and CFD simulation techniques

Abstract

This paper studies the possibility of harnessing renewable thermal energy from road pavement constructed using construction and demolition (C&D) materials in Australia. This research study aims to evaluate the efficiency and heat gain capacity of geothermal pavement system with constant inlet water temperature and closed-loop approach. An experimental model was developed using copper pipe and C&D materials as pavement structure and the tests were conducted during summer-time in Melbourne, Australia. Numerical computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulation was used to study the capacity of simulation in modeling heat transfer and the temperature field in the geothermal pavement. The results sho..