Investigating green infrastructure as potential medium for ground heat exchangers

Abstract

Space heating and cooling comprises a significant portion of the overall energy consumption. Ground heat exchangers (GHE), are a sustainable alternative to conventional, non-renewably powered heating and cooling systems. Space is a scarce resource in densely urbanised areas, allocating dedicated locations to build GHE systems can result in high initial capital costs and an inflexibility in retrofitting. An alternative solution is to utilise existing, multi-benefit and resilient Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) in cities. An investigation into the feasibility of utilising SuDS as sites for potential GHEs requires an understanding of their thermal and hydrological behaviour and boundary conditions. This study utilises a heavily-instrumented, vegetated lysimeter setup, exposed to atmospheric conditions, to test a pilot-scale SuDS heat exchanger. Heat rejection into the substrate of a SuDS has been simulated with the application of heat via voltage-controlled heating cables at a depth of 850 mm for 72-hour durations (at three different power inputs) with 96-hours between each power input. These heat dissipation periods are reflected in measured soil temperature profiles. Volumetric water content, matric suction, soil temperature and heat flux are monitored at various locations in the lysimeter. A finite difference modelling scheme has been developed to simulate the variation in soil temperature due to heat rejection.