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Assessing the applicability of thermal response testing to energy piles

Assessing the applicability of thermal response testing to energy piles
Assessing the applicability of thermal response testing to energy piles
Deep foundations are increasingly being used, not just to carry structural loads, but also to act as heat exchangers as part of a ground source heat pump system. Such foundations, often called energy piles, have the potential to make signific ant contributions towards meeting the heating and cooling demands of buildings, thus reducing the overall energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions during their lifespan. To ensure that the available energy from these systems is maximized, it is important to determine the thermal conductivity of the surrounding soils, a key design input parameter. In situ thermal response tests are commonly used to carry out this task for small diameter borehole heat exchangers. However, there has been debate over the applicability of these tests to energy piles due to their larger diameter and the consequent increased influence of the pile thermal properties on the test outcome. This paper examines the results of three thermal response tests carried out on piles of different diameters and thermal properties installed at the same site in Texas. Transient analysis of the test results, combined with comparisons to laboratory testing of soil samples from the site, is used to given an indication of the applicability of the thermal response test over different timescales for the different piles. It is concluded that the test is most suited to smaller diameter piles constructed with lower thermal diffusivity materials. Recommendations are given for the conduction of pile thermal response tests and interpretation of test data.
Loveridge, F.A.
fb5b7ad9-d1b8-40d3-894b-bccedf0e8a77
Brettmann, T.
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Olgun, C.G.
e1ad2ef2-7e65-4c04-8b89-d57826ebcf51
Powrie, W.
600c3f02-00f8-4486-ae4b-b4fc8ec77c3c
Loveridge, F.A.
fb5b7ad9-d1b8-40d3-894b-bccedf0e8a77
Brettmann, T.
6b6b4465-13af-44e1-a237-6f305390995b
Olgun, C.G.
e1ad2ef2-7e65-4c04-8b89-d57826ebcf51
Powrie, W.
600c3f02-00f8-4486-ae4b-b4fc8ec77c3c

Loveridge, F.A., Brettmann, T., Olgun, C.G. and Powrie, W. (2014) Assessing the applicability of thermal response testing to energy piles. Global Perspectives on the Sustainable Execution of Foundations Works, Stockholm, Sweden. 21 - 23 May 2014. 10 pp .

Record type: Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)

Abstract

Deep foundations are increasingly being used, not just to carry structural loads, but also to act as heat exchangers as part of a ground source heat pump system. Such foundations, often called energy piles, have the potential to make signific ant contributions towards meeting the heating and cooling demands of buildings, thus reducing the overall energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions during their lifespan. To ensure that the available energy from these systems is maximized, it is important to determine the thermal conductivity of the surrounding soils, a key design input parameter. In situ thermal response tests are commonly used to carry out this task for small diameter borehole heat exchangers. However, there has been debate over the applicability of these tests to energy piles due to their larger diameter and the consequent increased influence of the pile thermal properties on the test outcome. This paper examines the results of three thermal response tests carried out on piles of different diameters and thermal properties installed at the same site in Texas. Transient analysis of the test results, combined with comparisons to laboratory testing of soil samples from the site, is used to given an indication of the applicability of the thermal response test over different timescales for the different piles. It is concluded that the test is most suited to smaller diameter piles constructed with lower thermal diffusivity materials. Recommendations are given for the conduction of pile thermal response tests and interpretation of test data.

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More information

Published date: May 2014
Venue - Dates: Global Perspectives on the Sustainable Execution of Foundations Works, Stockholm, Sweden, 2014-05-21 - 2014-05-23
Organisations: Infrastructure Group

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 361725
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/361725
PURE UUID: 05a34400-cedd-4930-af5a-8915b48ec882
ORCID for F.A. Loveridge: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-6688-6305
ORCID for W. Powrie: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-2271-0826

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 31 Jan 2014 14:53
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 02:48

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Contributors

Author: F.A. Loveridge ORCID iD
Author: T. Brettmann
Author: C.G. Olgun
Author: W. Powrie ORCID iD

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