Heat Transfer Performance Factors in a Vertical Ground Heat Exchanger for a Geothermal Heat Pump System

Abstract

Ground heat pump systems (GHPSs) are esteemed for their high efficiency within renewable energy technologies, providing effective solutions for heating and cooling requirements. These GHPSs operate by utilizing the relatively constant temperature of the Earth’s subsurface as a thermal source or sink. This feature allows them to perform greater energy transfer than traditional heating and cooling systems (i.e., heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC)). The GHPSs represent a sustainable and cost-effective temperature-regulating solution in diverse applications. The ground heat exchanger (GHE) technology is well known, with extensive research and development conducted in recent decades significantly advancing its applications. Improving GHE performance factors is vital for enhancing heat transfer efficiency and overall GHPS performance. Therefore, this paper provides a comprehensive review of research on various factors affecting GHE performance, such as soil thermal properties, backfill material properties, borehole depth, spacing, U-tube pipe properties, and heat carrier fluid type and velocity. It also discusses their impact on heat transfer efficiency and proposes optimal solutions for improving GHE performance.

Keywords

• geothermal heat pump system (GHPS)
• ground heat exchanger (GHE)
• vertical ground heat exchanger (VGHE)