Research and Development in Helical Steel Pile Heat Exchangers

NSERC联盟旨在推进螺旋钢桩热交换器技术。螺旋钢桩是一种常用的结构构件，可以在土体深处锚定建筑基础。近年来，已有研究表明，这些桩也可作为地源热泵的地热交换器。这些双重用途的土工桩（结构和热）有可能显著降低地源热泵（GSHP）的安装成本，从而在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，土工桩在低流量或主动控制开/关功能下也可能具有有用的储热能力。土桩热交换器的潜在应用已经在加拿大北部偏远地区确定。由于与全球气候变化有关的永久冻土融化，许多建筑物的地基已被削弱。土工桩可能有潜力为北方社区的建筑物提供可持续的供暖，同时从地下吸收热量，有助于延缓或修复融化的永久冻土的不稳定。该联盟的研究伙伴关系有三个主要目标；i)通过数值模拟详细了解土工桩热交换器系统的工作原理和优化方法；ii)探索/了解土工桩技术在加拿大北部受永久冻土融化影响地区联合供暖和地面稳定方面的潜在应用；iii)详细了解北部地区螺旋钢桩（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.