Theoretical Study on Arrangement Depth of U-Tube Heat Exchanger under Building Foundation

Abstract

In recent years, ground-coupled heat pump system has been widely used in engineering practice. For saving the area, arrangement of buried pipes under building foundation began to attract public attention. However, under the influence about the alternation of soil temperature field and the base compression, the overall strength and stability of the foundation is weakened, the foundation is settled again with the use of the building, which may affect the use of the building structure. In this paper, the settlement has been analyzed with the effect by porosity and temperature field. The best placement depth of U-tube under the foundation is also explored. The results are as follow. The settlements of cold and heat accumulation are consistent with the characteristics of soil thermal expansion and contraction. Until the settlements of buildings whose foundation have cold accumulation don’t satisfy the standard requirements, the depth of the U-tube heat exchanger need to be buried under the depth of settlement calculation regardless without the effects of temperature.