A New Approach for Characterizing Pile Heat Exchangers Using Thermal Response Tests

Pile heat exchangers offer a cost effective route to implementation of ground-source pump systems for many large commercial buildings compared with traditional boreholes. Such projects typically use thermal response tests determine the key input parameters system design, namely soil conductivity and exchanger resistance. However, this brings challenges pile based systems, where in situ are known be less reliable due capacity pile. This paper presents new “black box” resistance capacitive model applications tests. The approach is tested against case study data shown perform well. Additional test duration savings possible if novel combination borehole applied together design parameters.