A model-scale test setup development to monitor temperature and moisture content variations around energy piles
A model-scale test setup development to monitor temperature and moisture content variations around energy piles
Energy piles, which harness geothermal energy for efficient space heating and cooling, have gained significant popularity as a means of reducing the carbon footprint of buildings. Thermal properties of soil play a pivotal role in accurately predicting heat exchange performance, primarily contingent upon factors such as water content, temperature, and soil porosity. The drastic seasonal temperature shifts attributed to climate change, coupled with cyclic temperature variations induced by heat exchange operations, can profoundly alter soil moisture content, consequently affecting its thermal properties. Hence, it is imperative to account for moisture content variations in soils to precisely forecast the long- term efficacy of energy piles. This study aimed to develop a model setup to investigate the impact of temperature and moisture content variations around energy piles on their long-term geothermal performance. To facilitate this, a moisture content measurement sensor was developed, and a model-scale test setup was designed with several different sensor deployments to monitor changes in soil temperature and moisture content through the application of thermal cycles ranging from 5 to 50°C. The first temperature measurements from the model-scale test are presented in this study.
S. Polat; U. C. Erginag; M. Guner; Ozer Cinicioglu; M. Sutman
18th European Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ECSMGE2024)
E - Environment, water and energy
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