Geothermal energy, and especially the use of low enthalpy resources (T<20°C), has a rising importance worldwide; ground-coupled heat pump (GCHP) systems have been used increasingly because they are among the cleanest and most energy efficient air-conditioning systems for buildings. Simulation models can be applied for a more effective use of the subsoil for geothermal purposes. In fact they are useful tools for the design of efficient systems which consider also the need to not create abnormal temperature distributions in soil and aquifers. In the hydrogeology field the Modflow/MT3DMS codes are the most wide spread used programs to face environmental problems and forecast quantity and quality impacts on groundwater resources. Although Modflow/MT3DMS are used to represent open circuit heat pumps, they had never been used to represent borehole heat exchangers (BHE). Aim of this study is to simulate BHEs through Modflow/MT3DMS and compare its results with the analytic solution known as linear source for a case where ground water flow can be neglected
Borehole geothermal exchanger simulation in aquifers: Modflow code performances compared to linear source analytical solution
ALBERTI, LUCA;ANGELOTTI, ADRIANA;ANTELMI, MATTEO;LA LICATA, IVANA
2012-01-01
Abstract
Geothermal energy, and especially the use of low enthalpy resources (T<20°C), has a rising importance worldwide; ground-coupled heat pump (GCHP) systems have been used increasingly because they are among the cleanest and most energy efficient air-conditioning systems for buildings. Simulation models can be applied for a more effective use of the subsoil for geothermal purposes. In fact they are useful tools for the design of efficient systems which consider also the need to not create abnormal temperature distributions in soil and aquifers. In the hydrogeology field the Modflow/MT3DMS codes are the most wide spread used programs to face environmental problems and forecast quantity and quality impacts on groundwater resources. Although Modflow/MT3DMS are used to represent open circuit heat pumps, they had never been used to represent borehole heat exchangers (BHE). Aim of this study is to simulate BHEs through Modflow/MT3DMS and compare its results with the analytic solution known as linear source for a case where ground water flow can be neglectedI documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
