Energy pile and ground temperature response to heating test: a case study in Brazil

Author(s)

Morais, T. S. O. ; Tsuha, C. H. C.

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: BULGARIAN CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS; v. 48, p. 5-pg., 2016-01-01.

Abstract

Geothermal energy piles have been used as space heating and cooling in residential and commercial buildings, as well as a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative energy system. Brazil is currently the fifth largest buyer of air conditioner in the world, mainly due its tropical and subtropical climate. Seeing the need of studies about the use of energy piles in Brazil as a new solution for space conditioning and water heating, this paper presents some results of a preliminary investigation carried out in Brazil on the effect of the pile heating process on the ground temperatures, and the ground thermal recovery. For this study, a bored energy pile of 12 m length and 500 mm diameter was installed at the Geotechnical Experimental field of the University of Sao Paulo at Sao Carlos (Brazil). The experimental area is composed of an unsaturated tropical soil, including a lateritic superficial layer composed of colluvial clayey sand overlaying a residual sandstone soil, with average temperature of around 24 degrees C. Temperature sensors were installed inside the pile and in the surrounding soil in order to provide the results of temperature variations during the heating loading-unloading. This paper presents the response of energy pile and ground temperatures to heating test at different depths. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 14/14496-0 - Evaluation of the thermo-mechanical behaviour of a heat exchanger pile under subtropical climate
• Grantee: Cristina de Hollanda Cavalcanti Tsuha
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants