The heat exchange process in a vertical ground-loop heat exchanger was numerically
investigated. Among the three initial configurations (U-tube, concentric and spiral), the
U-tube configuration yields the highest fluid temperature rise i.e. highest heat transfer rate
while the concentric pipe configuration has the lowest fluid temperature rise. Despite
lower performance, concentric pipe may be practically more feasible for integration into
micropile foundation construction, especially when hollow bars are used as the reinforcing
element. The performance of a concentric pipe in an energy pile was also simulated. Two
distinct regions of temperature increase are observed. Higher temperature rise in the
annular section than the inner pipe. Both regions showed semi-linear behavior of the
temperature rise, which may be attributed to the varying ground temperature. The effect
of variation of soil temperature in the vicinity of the pile should be further investigated.
Subjects: hollow bar micropiles, energy pile
Author: Abdel Ramadan, Kamran Siddiqui, Hesham El Naggar
Publisher: ISM, DFI, ADSC