Experimental study of Horizontal Ground Heat Exchanger

Abstract

Ground heat exchanger are one of the most important part of geothermal utilization system. Factors like rising electricity prices and the environmental factors have forced us to look for cheaper and cleaner alternatives to various applications. Air conditioning, water heating and cooling is one such device that heavily consumes electricity and its emissions are detrimental to the environment. Ground heat exchangers uses underground soil as a heat sink or source. When water flows through pipes, heat is transferred from the water to the earth or from earth-to-water depending upon the temperature of water relative to temperature of earth. In the present experimental work, water flow through the heat exchanger and exchange heat to or from the ground. The performance of horizontal ground heat exchanger investigated under different conditions of discharge of water and length of the pipe. The temperature of the inlet and outlet of the circulated water were also measured to calculate the heat exchanger rate.