Dynamic and static investigation of ground heat exchangers equipped with internal and external fins

Abstract

Using fins on the inner and outer surfaces of pipes is one method to improve the heat transfer rate of ground heat exchangers (GHEs), thereby reducing the borehole depth and construction and operation costs. Results of 3D numerical studies of simple and finned U-tubes with outer and inner fins are evaluated for GHEs under similar physical conditions. Dynamic and static simulations show the effects of longitudinal fins on the thermal performance of borehole heat exchangers (BHEs) and heat transfer rate between circulating fluid and soil around pipes, while the dynamic tests include short timescale and frequency response tests. The results indicate that the maximum fluid temperature change is about 2.9% in the external finned pipe and 11.3% in the internal finned pipe compared to the finless pipe. The effects of the inlet velocity on temperature profiles, the patterns of the velocity and temperature contours due to the borehole curvature and the response times of the systems under various frequencies are also investigated in detail.