Analyzing the Performance of Double Spiral Tube Ground Heat Exchangers in a Zero-Energy Building Using Measurement Data

Abstract

A ground-source heat pump (GSHP) system is a renewable energy technology that effectively reduces greenhouse gas emissions and consequently mitigates the progression of global warming. The thermal efficiency of ground heat exchangers (GHEs) is a critical component in the GSHP system that must be accurately estimated for its long-term operationality. Therefore, in this study, the thermal performance of double-spiral GHEs incorporated within the thermal piles of a zero-energy building in Sapporo, Japan, was investigated using the actual measured data obtained from the site and a novel metric, namely, the coefficient of heat extraction/injection, for a more precise evaluation. Moreover, this study assessed the coefficient of performance (COP) of the GSHP units during various periods of cooling or heating. The temperature of the circulating fluid remained within an ideal operational range over an operational period of 2 years, and the COP calculations indicated a high operational efficiency. The results derived in this study substantially exceeded those of traditional U-tube GHEs, indicating the enhanced efficiency and superior performance of large-diameter thermal piles with augmented thermal capacity. Our findings suggest that GSHP systems with double-spiral-tube GHEs have superior efficiency than conventional GHEs.

Keywords

• ground source heat pump
• ground heat exchanger
• zero energy building
• thermal efficiency
• sustainability
• climate change