2 In Situ Testing of Shallow Depth Helical Heat Exchangers for Ground Source Heat Pump Systems (OR-16-C044)

F. Javier Alvarez-Revenga, Montana State University
Kevin L. Amende, P.E., Montana State University
Angelo Zarrella, University of Padova
The purpose of this paper is to explore the performance of shallow depth helical heat exchangers coupled with ground source heat pumps (GSHP) for residential HVAC applications.  This shallow depth system serves as an alternative to traditional vertical bore fields, which carry high installation costs.  These helical heat exchangers occupy considerably less land when compared to horizontal configurations, but are still influenced by changing ground temperatures driven by seasonal weather conditions.  Performance data and design information is limited for helical heat exchangers, which has limited their adoption amongst GSHP system designers and installers.  In Situ testing was performed for a GSHP system to provide designers with performance information and insight towards appropriate applications of this technology.

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