Advances in ground heat exchangers for space heating and cooling: Review and perspectives

Abstract

As a renewable energy source, geothermal energy has been widely used to provide space heating and cooling for buildings. The thermal performance of ground heat exchanger (GHE) is significant for the operating efficiency of the ground source heat pump (GSHP) systems. This paper presents a comprehensive review of developments and advances of three kinds of GHE, including vertical borehole GHE (VBGHE), Pile GHE (PGHE), and deep borehole GHE (DBGHE) which are currently popular in larger GSHP systems. Firstly, analytical models proposed to analyze heat transfer process of VBGHE with different geological conditions are summarized, such as homogenous or heterogeneous ground, with or without groundwater advection. Numerical and short-time step models and measures to improve GHE thermal performance are also reviewed. Secondly, a summary of research advances in PGHE is provided, which includes the heat transfer models of PGHE, the effects of geometric structure, operation modes, pile spacing, use of phase change material (PCM), thermal properties of PCM, thermo-mechanical behavior and/or thermal performance of PGHE. The effects of groundwater flow direction and velocity on PGHE are also summarized in brief. Lastly, models of three kinds of DBGHEs, i.e., deep coaxial GHE (DCGHE), deep U-bend GHE (DUGHE) and super-long gravity heat pipe (SLGHP), are reviewed. The physical bases of the different analytical models are elaborated and also their advantages and disadvantages are described. Advances in numerical modelling and improving numerical model calculation speed of DCBHE, DCBHE array, and DUBHE are summarized. The review provides a meaningful reference for the further study of GHEs.