Integra-Therm : Optimised ground-source heating and cooling from integrated pipe systems

为了减少英国在空间供暖方面对化石燃料的依赖，地源供暖（GSH）系统已成为一种流行的低碳替代燃气、石油和电锅炉。随着新的燃气锅炉禁令将于2025-35年生效（许多用户没有主燃气），它们可以说是满足我们能源供应需求的最现实的低碳解决方案之一。然而，传统的地源热系统并不便宜，而且需要大面积的土地才能发挥作用。此外，如果安装/运行不正确，它们在冬季也容易出现故障。该项目将开发一种新的地源供暖和制冷（GSHC）方法，旨在以更高效、有效和负担得起的形式提供低碳供暖/制冷。通过将传统的地源加热技术与大型排水/废水管道系统相结合，我们将开发一种创新的新概念，用于集成热/冷能量捕获和存储，这将比传统的地源加热系统提供显着的优势。我们的新概念将提供更高的操作效率，改善热/冷能量回收，需要更小的土地占地面积，为GSHC开辟更多潜在的场地，重要的是，降低系统安装成本。作为该项目的一部分，我们将为集成地源加热和冷却系统开发一个数字孪生设计和状态监测工具“_Integra-Therm_”，该工具将提供一个全面、详细的了解预定地点（及其GSHC系统）的热、物理和地下特性，以使已安装的系统以优化、高效和经济的方式工作。我们的主要重点将是为大型住宅计划以及零售、商业和工业发展开发新的综合供暖和制冷系统，其中防洪和污水排放基础设施已经是开发设计的一部分。因此，我们设想扩大我们的新GSHC系统的范围和覆盖范围，从而解决与2025年以上燃气锅炉禁令相关的一些问题，支持离网燃气用户（约400万户家庭），并为英国提供一条以更快、更实惠的方式实现净零排放的途径。

To reduce the UK's reliance on fossil fuels for space heating, ground-source heat (GSH) systems have become a popular, low-carbon alternative to gas, oil and electric boilers. With the ban on new gas-fired based boilers coming into force during 2025-35 (and many users not having mains gas), they are, arguably, one of the most realistic low-carbon solutions to our energy supply need. However, conventional ground-source heat systems are not cheap and require significant areas of land to be effective. In addition, if installed/run incorrectly they can also be prone to failure in winter.This project will develop a new approach to Ground Source Heating and Cooling (GSHC) that aims to provide low-carbon heating/cooling in a more efficient, effective and affordable form. By combining conventional ground-source heating technology with large-scale drainage/wastewater pipeline systems, we will develop an innovative and new concept for integrated, heat/cool energy capture & storage that will provide significant benefits over conventional Ground-Source Heat systems. Our new concept will provide greater operational efficiency, improved heat/cool energy recovery, require a smaller land footprint, open up more potential sites to GSHC and, importantly, lower system installation costs. As part of the project, we will be developing a Digital Twin design and condition monitoring tool "_Integra-Therm_" for the integrated Ground Source Heating and Cooling system that will deliver a full, detailed understanding of the thermal, physical and subsurface properties of an intended site (and its GSHC system) in order to make the installed system work in an optimised, efficient and cost-effective manner.Our primary focus will be on developing the new integrated heating and cooling system for large-scale housing schemes plus retail, commercial and industrial developments where flood retention and wastewater drainage infrastructure are already part of the development design. As such, we envisage widening the scope and reach of sites for our new GSHC system, therefore tackling some of the concerns associated with the 2025+ gas boiler ban, supporting off gas grid users (some four million homes) and providing a pathway for the UK to reach net zero in a quicker and more affordable way.