Course Overview
This course is an in depth study of heat pump systems that use a ground heat exchanger as heat source/sink. Geoexchange systems can be combined with other technologies for heat and cooling. Ground heat exchangers may take the form of closed-loop piping in boreholes or trenches, groundwater water well systems or surface water heat exchange systems. Details of system commissioning processes and issues will also be discussed.
Prerequisite(s)
Credits
2.0
- Not offered this term
- This course is not offered this term. Notify me to receive email notifications when the course opens for registration next term.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course, the students will be able to:
- Conduct a general assessment of the surface / near-surface materials on a potential site and record attributes that are useful in the design development.
- Conduct a formation thermal conductivity test using appropriate procedures and equipment.
- Download data from a typical formation thermal conductivity testing data acquisition system.
- Analyse the results of a formation thermal conductivity test.
- Determine the apparent thermal conductivity of the formation.
- Log test pits and boreholes and present information for the design development.
- Draw a schematic design of a typical open-loop well system.
- Outline the design and installation processes involved in developing this type of system.
- Draw a schematic design of a typical horizontal closed-loop system.
- Outline the design and installation processes involved in developing this type of system.
- Draw a schematic design of a typical vertical closed-loop well system.
- Describe the design and installation processes involved in developing this type of system.
- Draw a schematic design of a heat pump plant for several different types of applications.
- Describe the metering requirements for ease of maintenance and future system analyses for each type of application covered.
- Recommend particular methods to achieve project goals while designing geothermal systems to operate within sustainable limits.
- Evaluate and critique inappropriate energy system combinations for coupling with geothermal energy systems.
- Provide scientific facts for the reasons behind the above recommendations.
- Couple geothermal energy systems with supplementary systems to improve the economics of projects while maintaining sustainable use of the heat pump system.
- Identify ways to use conventional thermal energy storage systems to reduce geothermal energy system capital and operating costs.
- Determine the appropriate amount of thermal energy storage to use with the geothermal energy system.
- Demonstrate their knowledge from the coursework during a 3-hour exam period.
Effective as of Spring/Summer 2008
Programs and courses are subject to change without notice. Find out more about BCIT course cancellations.