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

为了减少英国对化石燃料供暖的依赖，地源供热(GSH)系统已成为天然气、石油和电力锅炉的一种流行的低碳替代品。随着新的燃气锅炉禁令在2025-35年间生效(许多用户没有自来水煤气)，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，传统的地源供热系统并不便宜，需要大量的土地才能发挥作用。此外，如果安装/运行不当，在冬季也很容易发生故障。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、更有效和更实惠的形式提供低碳供暖/制冷。通过将传统地源供暖技术与大规模排水/废水管道系统相结合，我们将开发一种创新的、集成的热能/冷能收集和储存概念，将提供比传统地源供热系统显著的好处。我们的新概念将提供更高的运营效率，更好的热能/冷能回收，需要更少的土地，为GSHC开辟更多潜在的地点，更重要的是，降低系统安装成本。作为项目的一部分，我们将为综合地源供暖和制冷系统开发一种数字Twin设计和状态监测工具“_Integra-Therm_”，该工具将全面、详细地了解预期地点(及其GSHC系统)的热、物理和地下属性，以便使已安装的系统以最佳、高效和具有成本效益的方式运行。我们的主要重点将是为大型住房计划以及零售、商业和工业发展开发新的综合供热和制冷系统，这些项目的防洪和废水排放基础设施已成为开发设计的一部分。因此，我们设想扩大我们新的GSHC系统的选址范围和覆盖范围，从而解决与2025+燃气锅炉禁令相关的一些担忧，支持非燃气电网用户(约400万户)，并为英国以更快、更负担得起的方式实现净零提供一条途径。

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.