Geofit is optimising the design of several of its main technical components to allow geothermal systems to be implemented in retrofitting works where drilling is too expensive or difficult.
Our novel Earth Basket Geothermal Heat Exchanger System is based on compact geometries. These non-standard heat exchangers for limited spaces are essential to reduce costs and allow systems to be installed where deep drilling is not possible.
We have also integrated Ground-Source Heat Pumps (GSHP) with a modularized, high-performance Low Temperature Heating/High Temperature Cooling (LTH/ HTC) system. LTH/HTC technology shows promising advantages and shortcuts to improve the efficiency of heat supply and distribution. It provides easy-to-install solutions in retrofitting projects, thermal comfort and improved COP for GSHPs.
Novel Geothermal Heat Exchanger Systems (GHEX)
Engineering design tool for GHEX
Software tool
Partner: GROENHOLLAND
Description
The Innovation
The Geofit Approach
Where will be it tested?
Description
A design engineering tool incorporating calculation methods for different type of shallow heat exchangers and vertical borehole heat exchangers.
The Innovation
Currently the level of knowledge about the different type of GHX, especially shallow types of non-standard configuration, is very limited and the strengths and weaknesses or design requirements and procedures are not available. There are no state-of-art engineering tools for these GHEX configurations available for the engineer. For academic (research) purposes software can be adapted but this is not useful for the implementation of these systems. Using different modelling techniques (CFD/TN/G-functions) a suite of tools will be developed for the engineer and consultant.
The Geofit Approach
First steps toward software that can facilitate the design of GHEX. The work in GEOFIT should ultimately create the knowledge and algorithms that would enable the specifications that could be outsourced to a software house for the productization/commercialization of a software product. As an interim step, excel + internal use software are to be made possible and if market demand can be stimulated / there is interest in the internal-use tool / beta version functionalities, then investment into commercialization can be rationalized.
Where will be it tested?
Will be tested at Perugia, Bordeaux and San Cugat demo site (e.g. those where GHEX are being deployed).
Method and database related to characterization of novel HEX configurations
Knowledge & IP
Partner: AIT
Description
The Innovation
The Geofit Approach
Where will be it tested?
Description
A design engineering tool incorporating calculation methods for different type of shallow heat exchangers and vertical borehole heat exchangers.
The Innovation
Currently the level of knowledge about the different type of GHEX, especially shallow types of non-standard configuration, is very limited and the strengths and weaknesses or design requirements and procedures are not available. There are no state-of-art engineering tools for these GHEX configurations available for the engineer. For academic (research) purposes software can be adapted but this is not useful for the implementation of these systems. Using different modelling techniques (CFD/TN/G-functions) a suite of tools will be developed for the engineer and consultant.
The Geofit Approach
First steps toward software that can facilitate the design of GHEX. The work in GEOFIT should ultimately create the knowledge and algorithms that would enable the specifications that could be outsourced to a software house for the productization/commercialization of a software product. As an interim step, excel + internal use software are to be made possible and if market demand can be stimulated / there is interest in the internal-use tool / beta version functionalities, then investment into commercialization can be rationalized.
Where will be it tested?
The outcome of thi stechnology will be validated by field tests at GROENHOLLAND
Ground Source Heat Pumps
Hybrid heat pump system with low GWP natural refrigerant
Product
Partner: FAHRENHEIT & CNR ITAE
Description
The Innovation
The Geofit Approach
Where will be it tested?
Description
A 12 kW and a 15 kW prototype made by combining a gas-driven adsorption heat pump with a compression unit. GEOFIT will feature the first ground source hybrid machine driven both by gas and electric energy using ground heat as low temperature heat source in combination with shallow ground Heat Exchanger (HEX)
The Innovation
The hybrid heat pump offers a very flexible solution for heating and
cooling purposes. The use of adsorption technology for the heat pump
reduces the power necessary for the low temperature heat source
significantly and thus, smaller, low-cost, low-exergy geothermal heat
sources can be used. The innovative combination of both thermally and
electrically driven heat pump technologies have the potential to
significantly increase the electrical Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER), in
cooling mode, or the gas utilization efficiency compared to
state-of-the-art condensing boiler technology. Fahrenheit’s new hybrid
sorption HP enables residential, commercial and public building owners
who want to use existing gas burners in retrofitting projects for an
energy saving geothermal driven heating/cooling with reduced
installation efforts and costs.
The Geofit Approach
System adaption/design from existing FAHRENHEIT products, testing and validation in CNR labs, first field trials at GEOFIT pilots. In parallel, placement into the commercialization process at FAHRENHEIT to attain TRL9.
Where will be it tested?
The FAHRENHEIT hybrid heat pump system will be tested at Bordeaux and Perugia Pilots
Electrically-driven heat pump system with low/medium GWP synthetic refrigerant
Partner: AIT & OCHNER
Description
The Innovation
The Geofit Approach
Where will be it tested?
Description
This system makes use of cost-effective heat exchangers (HEX). Using aluminium or stainless steel instead of copper, HEX cost is reduced significantly. It represents a potential to lower the costs of the heat pumps without performance loss. The dimensioning of such HEX is based on the requirements for building retrofitting use case (higher supply temperatures, reasonable flow rates, efficient subcooling the refrigerant cycle) The solution will also use a synthetic Low/Medium Global Warning Potential refrigerant (LGWP) like R1234zee or R513A instead of the state-ot-the-art refrigerants like R134a.
The Innovation
No residential ground source heat pump systems exist technologies such as LGWP and cost-effective HEX are combined. LGWP refrigerants were recently developed and reach significantly low GWP values compared to state-of-the- art refrigerants, but they have never been applied in heat pump application. Decreasing the environmental footprint while in parallel decreasing the cost of heat pumps can result in their increased uptake and competitiveness against non-renewable technologies.
The Geofit Approach
In GEOFIT, OCHSNER, CAREL and AIT will develop a heat pump cycle especially for a LGWP refrigerant to show the feasibility. ER#16 will be tested in AIT laboratory. Based on the techno-economic analysis (D4.3) and the lab tests of the machines (Task 4.3) the decisions for the final demo systems will be made (D4.4, M4.2).
Where will be it tested?
OCHSNER heat pumps will be used at three GEOFIT pilots (San Cugat, ARAN and NUIG)
Methodology for GSHP simulation-based design
Knowledge & IP
Partner: CNR ITAE
Description
The Innovation
The Geofit Approach
Where will be it tested?
Description
A numerical simulation-based design is implemented in a dynamic modelling environment to support the design of the gas-driven hybrid heat pump for heating and cooling provision. The model will be able to simulate the heat pump as well as to integrate different ground-source heat exchangers and thermal and cooling load profiles, aiming at the identification of the optimal sizing as well as most suitable control strategies.
The Innovation
The development of proper numerical models for the design of GSHP is needed to optimize the heating and cooling installation, given the novelty of the proposed technology and the lack of established standard design rules. The developed model is highly reliable, thanks to the use of experimental data for the components and materials used, as well as flexible, being realized with the possibility of integrating inputs from other models (e.g. geothermal HEXs), thus allowing a detailed analysis of the possible operating conditions, which, coupled to the optimized control strategy, can help in defining the system’ sizing.
The Geofit Approach
The numerical model developed will be validated against experimental data obtained during the field test. This will help to refine the GEOFIT system’ design to further prove the reliability and the efficiency of the proposed technology.
Where will be it tested?
The outcome of ER18 will be validated by utilizing the data for some pilots using different geothermal HEX technologies and the hybrid gas-driven heat pump for heating and cooling provision.
New methods to calculate heat pump sizing requirements
Method
Partner: OCHNER
Description
The Innovation
The Geofit Approach
Where will be it tested?
Description
Improved calculation steps for heat pump sizing.
The Innovation
It is well known (according to the experts in the GEOFIT consortium) that the calculation method/steps present in existing standards are not perfect and often result in the oversizing of the heat pump component in geothermal systems. This results in non-optimal efficiencies / return on investment and can decrease the competitiveness of geothermal technologies with respect to competing systems.
The Geofit Approach
The conversation has initiated at the M18 GA#4 related to this topic and possible contribution to standards. We are now assessing the steps and actions required to develop the idea/potential result further.
Where will be it tested?
Knowledge developed in IDDS / WP7 pilot design activities.
Benchmarking tool for GSHP system design
Software Tool
Partner: GROENHOLLAND
Description
The Innovation
The Geofit Approach
Where will be it tested?
Description
Ground Source Heat Exchangers are designed to achieve a high thermal efficiency with a very long operational life. Therefore the quality of design is a critical aspect of the implementation of these systems. Although for some GHEX solutions calculation tools exist, no integrated design framework is available. Such a framework is developed in the Geofit project (Deliverable D3.2). Building on that design framework a benchmarking tool will use key performance indicators and selected best-practices to assess the quality of the design.
The Innovation
“Many different technologies for renewable heating and cooling exist or are emerging. For ground source heat exchangers, used in combination with a heat pump to provide heating and cooling for buildings and processes, different types of GHEX can be selected such as: horizontal, earth baskets or vertical borehole heat exchangers. However, there is little guidance on the selection of a specific technology, especially for end-users, project developers or planners. With the benchmarking tool a first step towards a selection-support tool can be made and the anticipated benefits can be quantified and compared with best-practices.
This tool will be exploitable mainly by consultants, designers but also policy makers.”
The Geofit Approach
For the exploitation of heat pump systems and calculation of the energy, environmental and economic savings fairly straightforward calculation techniques exist. Within the Geofit project a GHEX design framework has been developed that ultimately will be implemented in an engineering design tool. Part of this tool will be a benchmarking tool. Within Geofit different technologies are being implemented at the demo sites, offering an opportunity to test the developed procedure in practice. Moreover, the international group of experts will be able to define the best-practice scenario’s for the benchmarking tool. The benchmarking tool will be developed to TRL7, where the principle functions have been developed and have been tested on the demo site systems.
Where will be it tested?
Will be tested at Perugia, Bordeaux and San Cugat demo site (e.g. those with novel GHEX configurations)
Advanced Heating & Cooling Solutions
Technical decision ool and knowledge for advanced heating and cooling solution for geothermal retrofitting
Knowdledge & IP
Partner: UPONOR & KTH
Description
The Innovation
The Geofit Approach
Where will be it tested?
Description
Decision tool for the design of geothermal retrofitting components for heating and cooling given the work done in GEOFIT in Task 4.1.
The Innovation
UPONOR (and other industrials) have families of products for cooling and heating. Innovations in GEOFIT include work on high temperature cooling and low temperature heating (ER#19). The project overall has a focus on couplings between the in-ground heat exchangers, the heat pump and the in-home heating and cooling technologies. Considering the systems together in an optimal way is not always conducted.
The Geofit Approach
Pilot design is facilitated by monitoring data, simulation and energy modelling and access to specialists from each stage of the geothermal retrofitting process (drilling/design/installation) and specialists from each type of technology (heat pumps / heating and cooling systems). This integrated and collective knowledge is considered in Task 4.1 and made public in two deliverables. Embedded in those two deliverables is a framework and process that can be made into a beta-version design tool.
Where will be it tested?
Tool is developed in parallel with pilot design.
Modularized in-home heating and cooling solutions that are easy-to-install in retrofitting
Product
Partner: UPONOR
Description
The Innovation
The Geofit Approach
Where will be it tested?
Description
Modularized and high-performance Low Temperature Heating/High Temperature cooling (LTH/HTC) systems developed by Uponor will be integrated with Ground Source Heat Pumps (GSHP) and passive geothermal retrofitting.
The Innovation
The solutions provide technical and practical hardware, and guidelines based on European climates and local building stock conditions. Innovations will be validated and further developed based on the existing expertise and local retrofitting conditions. The modularised heating and cooling solutions help residential, commercial and public building owners who want to achieve highest indoor climate comfort and energy efficiency by innovative design, smart control, and stable indoor temperature. For installers, the solutions are easy-to-install with reduced installation cost and maximized efficiencies of geothermal systems. The solutions are particularly suitable for retrofitting practice.
The Geofit Approach
“1. The validation of passive cooling in Mediterranean climate
2. Novel combination of Uponor’s modular heating and cooling solutions with GSHPs in different climate and local conditions
3. Quantifications for cost savings in the concrete installations
4. Possibilities to raise the awareness and knowledge levels in optimally operating innovative heating and cooling systems that are beneficial for geothermal”
Where will be it tested?
Yes. Both Sant Cugat pilot for cooling and Aran Pilot for heating.
Enhanced M&V method using reduced order models for geothermal retrofit
Enhanced M&V method using reduced order models for geothermal retrofit
Knowledge & IP
Partner: NUIG GALWAY
Description
The Innovation
The Geofit Approach
Where will be it tested?
Description
New model-based Measurement and Verification method for geothermal retrofitting that enhances current option C and D of IPMVP
The Innovation
The proposed method is aimed at enhancing Measurement and Verification (M&V) practices by using a Reduced Order Model (ROM) as main tool to reproduce baseline projections for retrofitting projects. A core ROM will be developed with the idea of making it accessible to anyone without an extensive expertise on modelling, but with knowledge about features of the existing building plus the planned EGS retrofitting features. For the IPMVP Option C (Whole Facility), the method proposed improves the accuracy of predictions and brings the opportunity to users to apply simple retrofitting scenarios previous to the intervention. For the IPMVP Option D (Calibrated Simulation), the cost and complexity of model simulation will be reduced.
The Geofit Approach
NUIG has development of ROM models in previous projects. The vision for Geofit is to propose an enhanced model based M&V method thus helping control risk associated with geothermal retrofit and providing flexibility to users to tune and recreate different retrofit and use-profile scenarios. Within Geofit, we expect to adapt and develop a new ROM model and an enhanced method to produce M&V for geothermal retrofitting projects that can potentially be embedded in a software tool for BETA testing and commercialization.
Where will be it tested?
This method will be tested at the SANT CUGAT pilot. Usability of developed ROM models input parameters will be tested in an academic environment and present to industrial partners. Other validation with existing data (SEPEMO project) will be explored. New model-based Measurement and Verification method for applied to geothermal retrofitting that enhances current option C and D of IPMVP.
