Transient heat transfer simulation, analysis and thermal performance study of double U-tube borehole heat exchanger based on numerical heat transfer model

Abstract

This paper proposes numerical unsteady heat transfer model that predicts the transient heat transfer in the double U-tube borehole heat exchanger (BHE) where the U-tubes can operate with either different or equal mass flow rate and inlet fluid temperature. The implicit numerical method applied on heat transfer equations, obtained from energy balance on fluid, grout and ground nodes, was utilized to get the solution. The profile of the borehole loading as well as the net heat exchange on each leg of the U-tube along the borehole depth were obtained for simultaneous charging, discharging, and charging-discharging conditions. Axial variation of the mean fluid temperature, grout and borehole wall average temperature for charging and discharging cases were investigated. The model is extended to consider the axial and radial variation of ground temperature outside the borehole. Dynamic simulation was performed for different operating conditions to investigate various temperature response, borehole thermal resistance as well as thermal performance of the BHE. The proposed model was verified with the previously published experimental results. The performed modeling, simulation and analysis are important for the vertical BHE system optimization, efficiency testing as well as for the quick investigation of the impact of the borehole parameters and thermal properties on the overall performance of the BHE. The model is crucial in the design, optimization and performance study of ground source heat pump and borehole thermal energy storage systems.