• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.28 no.10
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• pp.402-407
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• 2016

Ground-coupled heat pump systems have been widely used, as they are regarded as a renewable energy source and ensure a high annual efficiency. Among the system components, borehole heat exchangers (BHE) play an important role in decreasing the entering water temperature (EWT) to heat pumps in the cooling season, and consequently improve the COP. The optimal sizing of the BHEs is crucial for a successful project. Other than the existing sizing methods, a simulation-based design tool is more applicable for modern complex geothermal systems, and it may also be useful since design and engineering works operate on the same platform. A simulation-based sizing method is proposed in this study using the well-known Duct STorage (DST) model in Trnsys. TRNOPT, the Trnsys optimization tool, is used to search for an optimal value of the length of BHEs under given ground loads and ground properties. The result shows that a maximum EWT of BHEs during a design period (10 years) successfully approaches the design EWT while providing an optimal BHE length. Compared to the existing design tool, very similar lengths are calculated by both methods with a small error of 1.07%.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.29 no.8
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• pp.65-73
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• 2013

Ground-coupled heat pump system has attracted attention as a promising renewable energy technology due to its improving energy efficiency and eco-friendly mechanism for space cooling and heating. Pipes buried in the ground play a role of direct thermal interaction between circulating fluid inside the pipe and surrounding soils in the geothermal exchange system. However, both complexities of turbulent flow coupling thermal-hydraulic phenomena and very long aspect ratio of the pipe make it difficult to model the heat exchange system directly. Energy balance for fluid flow inside the pipe was derived to model thermal-hydraulic phenomena, and one-dimensional pipe element was proposed through Galerkin formation and time integration of the equation. Developed element is combined to pre-developed FEM code for THM phenomena in porous media. Numerical results of Thermal Response Test showed that line-source model overestimates equivalent thermal conductivity of surrounding soils due to thermal interaction between adjacent pipes and finite length of the pipe. Thus, inverse analysis for the TRT simulation was conducted to present optimal transformation matrix with utmost convergence.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.205-215
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• 2010

Geothermal heat pump system (GHPS) is an energy-efficient technology that use the relatively constant and renewable energy stored in the earth to provide heating and cooling. With the aim of using GHPS as a heating source, it's possibilities of application in farrowing house were examined by measuring environmental assessment and sow's performance. A total of 96 sows were assigned to 2 pig housings (GHPS and conventional housing) with 48 for four weeks in winter season. During the experimental period, indoor maximum temperature in GHPS-housing was measured up to $26.7^{\circ}C$, average temperature could maintain $21.2^{\circ}C$. The mean value of dust levels and $CO_2$, $NH_3$ and $H_2S$ gas emissions were decreased in GHPS-housing compare with those of conventional housing. Litter size, birth weight, parity and weaning weight did not differ between housings. However, feed intake of sow in GHPS-housing was lower than that of conventional housing. In energy consumption for heating, electric power consumption increased in GHPS-housing than the conventional housing, a 2,250 kwh increase, whereas there is no fuel usage for heater in GHPS-housing. Amount of ground water circulated for heating in cold weather for earth heat exchanger was 8.4-12.9 ton per day. In conclusion, GHPS may have environmental benefits and effectiveness of heating in farrowing housing and affect the performance in sows.