Gaps in GSHP Research

Gap Discussion Possible research topics Assessment of building  Process has been set out in MIS3005 to assess building heating requirements  The process needs to be validated against field data  Variability in building user profiles needs to be tested to establish the methods reliability

Thermal Conductivity of UK  Work done by BGS – lab test based. 2004 geology data to which GSHPA do not have reference  Industry – response tests – commercially sensitive information – companies not keen to make it publicly available o Possible to make it available to academic persons for a compilation exercise o Perhaps initially compile London Clay data to see how this ties in with values provided by BGS o Goal to advance look up charts for MIS3005 o Larger goal would be to check response test data for a range of locations and different UK geologies

Vertical Loops developments  Very deep Loops  Thermal grouts – Thermal conductivity tests and reliability  Circulation fluids – types and inhibitors – range of tests for different antifreezes - use of water.  Electro fusion and other welding methods – Rehau systems  Specifications for plastic pipes - Other pipe tests?

The National Energy Centre · Davy Avenue · Knowlhill · Milton Keynes · MK5 8NG tel: 01908 354545 · email: [email protected] · fax: 01908 665577 website : www.gshp.org.uk Thermal piles  How to control freezing at soil pile interface – Can circulation fluid drop below freezing and for how long?  Placing of U tubes in piles - scratching and protection o Thermal piles – placing concrete can scratch pipes o Significance of scratch needs to be understood o Development of mitigation measures  Response tests combined with expansion measures give shaft friction and hence additional load on pile concrete  Design programs for thermal piles to assess increased axial stresses in concrete from heating piles. Simple extrapolation by proportion  Thermal conductivity of UK piling concrete  How hot can we run ground loop systems?

Horizontal loops  MIS3005 sets out guidance for horizontal loops in UK o Modelling is not simple o Objective is for academic organisation to run independent checks on the MIS tables and assumptions using a range of models o Help to develop the table still further  Assumption of mean average air temperature – is this appropriate to use for the mean temperature at depth.

Developments in Heat Pumps  Where will heat pumps get to over the next 10 years?

Case Histories – Extension of  All case histories must report sufficient field trials information so that COP can be derived.  What is the basis specification for monitoring to achieve this?  Cop from balanced heating and cooling systems?

Training  Industry design training - need to link it to a university and to identify the right individual with academia to drive it

The National Energy Centre · Davy Avenue · Knowlhill · Milton Keynes · MK5 8NG tel: 01908 354545 · email: [email protected] · fax: 01908 665577 website : www.gshp.org.uk  Investment required – likely to be on the order of £100k  Standards need to be set. Exams need to be introduced

The National Energy Centre · Davy Avenue · Knowlhill · Milton Keynes · MK5 8NG tel: 01908 354545 · email: [email protected] · fax: 01908 665577 website : www.gshp.org.uk