1. Relevance of computing freeze-thaw effects for borehole heat exchanger modelling: A comparative case study.
- Author
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Dalla Santa, Giorgia, Farina, Zeno, Anbergen, Hauke, Rühaak, Wolfram, and Galgaro, Antonio
- Subjects
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BOREHOLES , *HEAT exchangers , *MECHANICAL models , *CASE studies - Abstract
Highlights • The underground around a BHE may freeze and thaw due to intensive heat extraction. • Freeze-thaw cycles affect mechanical, thermal and hydraulic properties of sediments. • The thermal plume propagates significantly faster when phase change occurs. • The paper combines experimental input data with benchmarked freeze-thaw simulation. Abstract In closed-loop geothermal systems the underground may freeze and thaw due to intensive heat extraction. Phase change alters the sediments' mechanical and hydraulic properties and their thermal behaviour, thus affecting the thermal plume propagation and the area of potential changes. By means of a finite element model, this paper evaluates the thermal plume in a particular case study in several conditions, comparing the results obtained when considering or disregarding the freeze-thaw processes by applying a benchmarked plug-in. The model is based on experimental input data. The results show that the frost front propagates significantly faster when phase change occurs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2019
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