Numerical investigation on the capacity and efficiency of a deep enhanced U-tube borehole heat exchanger system for building heating

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Chaofan Chen - , Chair of Applied Environmental Systems Analysis, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (Author)
  • Wanlong Cai - , Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Xi'an Jiaotong University (Author)
  • Dmitri Naumov - , Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Freiberg University of Mining and Technology (Author)
  • Kun Tu - , University of California at Riverside, China University of Mining & Technology, Beijing (Author)
  • Hongwei Zhou - , China University of Mining & Technology, Beijing (Author)
  • Yuping Zhang - , Xi'an Jiaotong University, Ministry of Natural Resources of the People's Republic of China (Author)
  • Olaf Kolditz - , Chair of Applied Environmental Systems Analysis, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (Author)
  • Haibing Shao - , Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (Author)

Abstract

Deep geothermal energy has become widely exploited in recent years through the use of closed loop systems for building heating. Intended to meet high heating demand in densely populated neighbourhoods, an enhanced U-tube borehole heat exchanger (EUBHE) system, in which a deviated deep borehole is connected with another vertical one to form a closed loop, is introduced in this work. For capacity and efficiency analysis of applying EUBHE systems to extract deep geothermal energy, a 3D numerical model is implemented and established based on the OpenGeoSys software. Through evaluation by thermal performance tests and thermal response tests on the EUBHE system, the maximum sustainable heat extraction rate is found to be 1.2 MW in a single heating season and 1.1 MW in 10 years, which can provide heating to more than 35,000 m2 of residential buildings located in northern China. Moreover, the 10-year system thermal performance and efficiency are evaluated when coupled with a ground source heat pump (GSHP), and compared with the two deep borehole heat exchanger (2-DBHE) array system that has the same total borehole length as the EUBHE system. Results show that GSHP-coupled EUBHE system is more efficient than the 2-DBHE array system, as it consumes 27% less electricity.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)557-572
Number of pages16
JournalRenewable energy
Volume169
Publication statusPublished - May 2021
Peer-reviewedYes

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • Building heating, Efficiency, Enhanced U-tube borehole heat exchanger, Geothermal energy, Long-term thermal performance