Investigations of the efficiency of thermo-active seal-panels for the thermal usage of the ground

Investigations of the efficiency of thermo-active seal-panels for the thermal usage of the ground The geothermal usage of earth coupled ground structures has found high resonance in the last years. Mostly, concrete structures are used for geothermal activation. Examples for energy piles, energy ground slabs as well as energy diaphragm walls are documented in common literature. Based on this principle, the Chair of Geotechnical Engineering at RWTH Aachen University developed thermo-active seal panels in the scope of a research project. The efficiency of these panels was analysed with several pilot-scale tests and numerical analyses. The application of the thermo-active seal panels which are characterised by a variable pipe-laying and a relatively direct contact to the ground - lies in earth coupled structures which are influenced by (flowing) groundwater. The pilot-scale tests resulted in heat transfer capacities between 25 W/m(2) and 300 W/m(2) depending on the system and boundary conditions. Furthermore, the flow rate in the heat exchanging system, the heat transfer area as well as the undisturbed ground temperature were identified as the decisive parameters for the heat output of thermo-active seal panels.