• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.26 no.9
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• pp.416-423
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• 2014

To verify different boundary conditions on the borehole wall, which are commonly used for generating g-function, the well-known TRNSYS simulation model, DST (Duct STorage), is employed. By letting the fluid circulation determine the borehole wall conditions, a DST-based g-function is induced with numerical processes proposed in this work. A new TRNSYS module is also developed to accommodate g-function data and predict dynamic outlet fluid temperatures. Results showed that the modified g-function, which is different from Eskilson's original g-function, is closer to the DST-based g-function. This implies that the uniform heat transfer rates over the height can be used for good approximation. In fact, simulations with the modified g-function showed similar results as the DST model, while Eskilson g-function case deviated from the DST model as time progressed.

• 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%.