Research and Development in Helical Steel Pile Heat Exchangers

该NSERC联盟旨在推进螺旋钢桩换热器技术。螺旋钢桩是一种常用的结构元件，它可以将建筑物的基础深深地锚在土壤中。最近，它已被证明，这些桩也可以用作地源热泵服务的地下换热器。这些双重用途的地质桩（结构和热）有可能显着降低地源热泵（GSHP）的安装成本，导致加拿大更多地采用可持续建筑能源技术。此外，初步研究表明，当与低流量或主动控制的开/关功能一起使用时，地质桩也可能具有有用的储热能力。 在加拿大北部偏远地区，已经确定了地质桩热交换器的潜在应用。由于全球气候变化导致的永久冻土融化，许多建筑物的地基已经被削弱。地质桩可能有潜力为北方社区的建筑物提供可持续的供暖，同时从地下吸取热量，有助于延迟或补救永久冻土融化的不稳定。 该联盟的研究伙伴关系有三个主要目标：i）通过进行数值模拟，详细了解地质桩热交换器系统的工作原理和优化方法，ii）探索/了解地质桩技术在受永久冻土融化影响的加拿大北方地区联合供暖和地面稳定的潜在应用，以及iii）详细了解北方设置中螺旋钢桩（土工桩）系统的优化方法。这项研究通过推进可持续能源技术，同时为北方社区提供清洁供暖和建筑稳定的选择，对加拿大具有巨大的潜在影响。

This NSERC Alliance seeks to advance helical steel pile heat exchanger technology. Helical steel piles are commonly used structural elements that can anchor building foundations deep in the soil. Recently, it has been demonstrated that these piles can also be used as ground heat exchangers in service of ground source heat pumps. These dual use geo-piles (structural and thermal) have the potential to significantly reduce Ground Source Heat Pump (GSHP) installation costs, leading to greater adoption of sustainable building energy technology in Canada. In addition, preliminary research has indicated that geo-piles may also have useful thermal storage capabilities, when used with low flow, or actively controlled on/off functionality. A potential application of geo-pile heat exchangers has been identified in the remote Canadian North. Many building foundations have been weakened due to thawing permafrost associated with global climate change. Geo-piles may have the potential to provide sustainable heating to buildings in northern communities, while simultaneously drawing heat out of the ground, helping to delay or remediate melting permafrost destabilization. This Alliance research partnership has three main objectives; i) to develop a detailed understanding of the operational principles and optimization methods of the geo-pile heat exchanger system by performing numerical simulations, ii) to explore/understand the potential applications of geo-pile technology for combined heating and ground stabilization in northern Canadian regions affected by permafrost thawing, and iii) To develop a detailed understanding of the optimization methods of the helical steel pile (geo-pile) system in northern settings. This research has great potential impact for Canada by advancing sustainable energy technology, while simultaneously serving northern communities with options for clean heating and building stabilization.