EVALUATION OF CLIMATE CONDITIONS ON ROCK MASS ENERGY BALANCE IN THE VŠB-TU OSTRAVA RESEARCH POLYGONS

Abstract

VŠB – Technical University of Ostrava (VŠB-TU Ostrava) has unique conditions for analysing temperature changes in the rock mass while borehole heat exchangers have been operational for a long time. The Auditory building is heated with a system of heat pumps (borehole heat exchangers). It is one of the largest such objects in the Czech Republic. The heat of the rock mass is provided by a system of technological boreholes. The research boreholes are used for monitoring temperature changes in the rock mass while using the Auditory’s heating system. The system for monitoring boreholes within the area of technological borehole activity is called Large Research Polygon (LRP). Apart from LRP, the university also possesses another research polygon – Small Research Polygon (SRP) located at a distance from the LRP near the Energy Research Centre (ERC). All boreholes performed within both research fields are equipped with sensors monitoring the temperature changes while the Auditory building is being heated (thermal energy is recovered from the rock mass in winter) or cooled (thermal energy is transmitted to the rock mass in summer). The main objective of the research carried out in both research fields is checking the functionality and efficiency of the entire system. Certain aspects of thermal energy recuperation from the rock mass are described. The paper is closed with the results of monitoring and calculation of temperature in the surface layers to about 20 m of depth.