• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.207-217
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• 2005

We present a new approximate formulation of the integral equation (IE) method for models with variable background conductivity. This method overcomes the standard limitation of the conventional If method related to the use of a horizontally layered background only. The new approximate IE method still employs the Green's functions for a horizontally layered 1-D model. However, the new method allows us to use an inhomogeneous background with the IE method. The method was carefully tested for modeling the EM field for complex structures with a known variable background conductivity. It can find wide application in modeling EM data for multiple geological models with some common geoelectrical features, like a known inhomogeneous overburden, or salt dome structures.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.10
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• pp.128-135
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• 2018

Currently, vertical closed ground heat exchangers are the most widely utilized geothermal heat pump systems and the major influencing parameters on the performance of ground heat exchangers are the ground thermal conductivity(k) and borehole thermal resistance($R_b$). In this study, the borehole thermal resistance was calculated from the in-situ thermal response test data and the individual effects of design parameters (flow rate, number of pipe, grout composition) on the borehole thermal resistance were analyzed. The grout thermal resistance was also compared with the correlations in the literatures. The borehole thermal resistance of the investigated ground heat exchanger results in 0.1303 W/m.K and the grout thermal resistance (66.6% of borehole thermal resistance) is the most influencing parameter on borehole heat transfer compared to the other design parameters (pipe thermal resistance, 31.5% and convective thermal resistance, 1.9%). In addition, increasing the thermal conductivity of grout by adding silica sand to Bentonite is more effective than the other design improvements, such as an increase in circulating flowrate or number of tubes on enhancing borehole heat transfer.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.28-35
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• 2016

The in-situ thermal response test for the design of a ground heat exchanger of geothermal heat pumps have difficulty in predicting the outlet temperature according to the variation of conditions due to the expense and time. This paper suggests a 3-D CFD analysis method to predict the heat transfer performance of vertical type ground heat exchanger, which is mostly used in national, and the outlet temperature and the slope of two in-situ thermal response tests were compared to test the proposed CFD reliability. The results of CFD analysis showed that the outlet temperature was predicted to within $0.5^{\circ}C$ of the actual value and the slope was predicted to within 1.6%. The reliability of the CFD analysis method was confirmed using this process, and the outlet temperature prediction of the two in-situ thermal response tests was obtained by changing ${\pm}20%$ of the flow rate and the effective thermal conductivity conditions, respectively. The results of CFD analysis showed that the outlet temperature of Case 1 was 28.0 (-20%) and $29.6^{\circ}C$ (+20%) for the flow rate variation and $29.6^{\circ}C$ (-20%) and $28.0^{\circ}C$ (+20%) for the effective thermal conductivity variation, and the outlet temperature of Case 2 was 28.4 (-20%) and $29.8^{\circ}C$ (+20%) for the flow rate variation and $29.7^{\circ}C$(-20%) and $28.4^{\circ}C$(+20%) for the effective thermal conductivity variation.

• Proceedings of the SAREK Conference
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• 2006.06a
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• pp.707-712
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• 2006

Knowing the ground thermal conductivity is very importnat in designing ground heat exchangers. Knowledge of the ground soil and rock composition information dose not guarantee the prediction of accurate thermal information. In Situ testing of ground heat exchangers is becoming popular. However, in situ testing are performed at construction sites in real life. Adequate data collection and analysis are not easy mainly due to poor power quality. Power fluctuation also causes the fluctuation of received data. The power quality must be maintained during the entire in situ testing processes. To accurately analyse the test data, the understanding of the response of the power fluctuation is essential. Testing under the power quality varied by tester is very difficult. Analyzing power variation by numerical simulation is a realistic option. By varying power in a sinosuidal manner, its effects on predicting thermal conductivity from thermal response plots made from the test data are examined.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.459-467
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• 2016

Due to the limited areal space for installation, borehole heat exchangers (BHEs) at depths deeper than 300 m are considered for geothermal heating and cooling in the urban area. The deep vertical closed-loop BHEs are unconventional due to the depth and the range of the typical installation depth is between 100 and 200 m in Korea. The BHE in the study consists of 50A (outer diameter 50 mm, SDR 11) PE U-tube pipe in a 150 mm diameter borehole with the depth of 300 m. In order to compensate the buoyancy caused by the low density of PE pipe ($0.94{\sim}0.96g/cm^3$) in the borehole filled with ground water, 10 weight band sets (4.6 kg/set) were attached to the bottom of U-tube. A thermal response test (TRT) and fundamental basic surveys on the thermophysical characteristics of the ground were conducted. Ground temperature measures around $15^{\circ}C$ from the surface to 100 m, and the geothermal gradient represents $1.9^{\circ}C/100m$ below 100 m. The TRT was conducted for 48 hours with 17.5 kW heat injection, 28.65 l/min at a circulation fluid flow rate indicates an average temperature difference $8.9^{\circ}C$ between inlet and outlet circulation fluid. The estimated thermophysical parameters are 3.0 W/mk of ground thermal conductivity and 0.104 mk/W of borehole thermal resistance. In the stepwise evaluation of TRT, the ground thermal conductivity was calculated at the standard deviation of 0.16 after the initial 13 hours. The sensitivity analysis on the borehole thermal resistance was also conducted with respect to the PE pipe diameter and the thermal conductivity of backfill material. The borehole thermal resistivity slightly decreased with the increase of the two parameters.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.14 no.3 s.40
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• pp.287-300
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• 2004

By using a simple conceptual model, a sensitivity analysis is performed to examine the effects of changing model parameters on the model outputs, the groundwater discharge and the radius of influence, induced by tunnel construction. The results indicate that the model outputs are most sensitive to the tunnel depth and the hydraulic conductivity, and their sensitivities vary with time. It is also revealed that the sensitivity of the specific yield in- creases constantly with time, and therefore it is as important as the hydraulic conductivity for constructing a wet-system tunnel. A transient model is suggested to simulate the stepwise tunnel excavation and the watertight lining. The model is used for a tunnel construction site to predict groundwater mow into the tunnel and the transient response of the surrounding aquifer system. The predicted results are highly sensitive to the hydraulic conductivites assigned by model calibration. Thus, a postaudit should be made to reduce the uncertainty of the predictive model.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.32 no.5C
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• pp.177-183
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• 2012

The use of energy pile foundation has been increased for economic utilization of geothermal energy. In particular, a coil-shaped ground heat exchanger (GHE) is preferred than conventional U-shaped heat exchanger to ensure better efficiency of heat exchange rate. This paper presents experimental results by changing different pitch spaces of spiral coils. Joomunjin sand was filled in a steel box of which the size was $5m{\times}1m{\times}1m$. Thermal response tests (TRTs) were conducted to measure the ground thermal conductivity with temperatures of circulating water using line source model and ring coil model. Experimental results and analytical solutions were compared to validate the applicability of these models. Ring coil model showed more accurate similar results with experimental data rather than line source model and cylindrical source model.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.389-398
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• 2013

Studies of the thermal properties of various rock types obtained from several locations in Korea have revealed significant differences in thermal conductivities in the thermal response test (TRT), which has been applied to the design of a ground-source heat pump system. In the present study, we aimed to compare the thermal conductivities of the samples with those obtained by TRT. The thermal conductivities of soil and rock samples were 1.32W/m-K and 2.88 W/m-K, respectively. In comparison, the measured TRT value for thermal conductivity was 3.13W/m-K, which is 10% higher than that of the rock samples. We consider that this difference may be due to groundwater flow because abundant groundwater is present in the study area and has a hydraulic conductivity of 0.01. It is natural to consider that the object of TRT is to calculate the original thermal conductivity of the ground, following the line source theory. Therefore, we conclude that the TRT applied to a domestic standing column type well is not suitable for a line source theory. To solve these problems, values of thermal conductivity measured directly from samples should be used in the design of ground-source heat pump systems.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.275-281
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• 2012

Thermal distribution in soils must be considered in engineering designs and constructions, including estimates of frost heave and thaw settlement, infrastructure in cold regions, and geothermal systems. Because thermal conductivity is a key parameter for evaluation of thermal distribution in soils, it must be accurately estimated. The thermal conductivity of fine-grained soils has been widely studied in recent years; however, few studies have reported a reliable method for experimental measurement. The present study presents the results of an experimental investigation of the thermal conductivity of a saturated kaolinite-silica mixture with respect to the variation of dry density. Thermal conductivities were measured in Constant Rate of Strain (CRS) consolidation tests, and the experimental data were analyzed to evaluate the accuracy of the new measurement system. In addition, we present an evaluation method for predicting thermal conductivity in fine-grained soils.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.25 no.8
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• pp.427-431
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• 2013

Ground heat pump systems utilize the annually stable underground temperature to supply heat for space heating and cooling. The underground temperature affects not only the underground ecosystem, but also the performance of these systems. However, in spite of the widespread use of these systems, there have been few researches on the effect of the systems on underground temperature. In this research, case studies with numerical simulation have been conducted, in order to estimate the effect of ground heat pump systems on underground temperature. The simulation was coupled with the ground water-ground heat transfer model and the ground surface heat transfer model. In the result, it was found that the underground change depends on the heat transfer from the ground surface, the heat exchange rate, and the heat conductivity of soil.