An integrated framework of ground source heat pump utilisation for high-performance buildings

Abstract

CO2 emissions from building operations have increased to their highest level globally, moving away from the Paris Agreement goal of below 2 °C. While geothermal is recognised as a promising renewable source, the lack of an integrated framework guiding investigating ground source heat pumps for building operations, along with the incapability of well-known simulation tools in accurately capturing ground thermal performance, hinders its application. This research aims to unlock ground source heat pumps for building operations through an integrated framework, including an overarching improved U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) monitoring guideline, a sensor-based monitoring prototype, and a g-function-based simulation approach. This research proposes amendments and improvements to the NREL guideline for monitoring geothermal energy by separating Thermal Energy Net Production from Thermal Energy Gross Production. A state-of-the-art case building located in Melbourne, Australia, housing advanced technologies, including ground source heat pump systems, is used to demonstrate and validate the research framework. A typical winter month in the southern hemisphere, July 2021, is monitored for the ground source heat pump systems designed and used for space heating. The findings reveal that the thermal energy generation during working days in July 2021 is close to the simulation results, with a difference of 2.2% in gross thermal energy production and a difference of 0.92% in inlet temperature. This research develops and validates an integrated approach for evaluating ground source heat pump systems, contributing to the utilisation of geothermal energy for building operations.