Study on physical characteristics of grouts for backfilling ground heat exchanger

수직 밀폐형 지중 열교환기용 뒤채움재의 물리적 특성 연구

To obtain the physical properties of grout materials, that is the thermal conductivity and viscosity, which are used for backfilling ground heat exchangers, nine bentonite grouts and cement grouts being adapted in the United State have been considered in this study. The bentonite grouts show that the thermal conductivity and viscosity increase with the content of bentonite or filler (silica sand). The saturated cement grouts appear to possess much higher thermal conductivity than the saturated bentonite grouts, and the reduction of thermal conductivity in the cement grouts after drying specimens is less than the case of the bentonite grouts. To investigate the performance of cement grouts, fifteen samples were prepared by varying the water/cement ratio and the amount of sand and bentonite added into the cement mortar. Maintaining the moisture content of grouts is a crucial factor in enhancing the efficiency of ground heat exchangers.