抄録
In this paper, snow-melting tests and numerical simulations were conducted to develop the procedures in improving the designs and operating conditions of snow-melting systems using Ground-Coupled Heat Pump (GCHP) systems. Snow-melting tests, conducted in Akita City, Japan, showed the improvement of snow-melting efficiencies with the use of thermal-conductive sand between the interlocking blocks on the surface of pavements and the snow-melting pipes for circulating heat medium. A 3D numerical simulation model was developed for the prediction of temperature behavior in the snow-melting sites. The 3D numerical simulation model was combined with temperature behavior prediction model of heat exchange wells and the performance curves of heat pumps to develop a snow-melting systems model. Optimization calculations were conducted using the snow-melting system model to improve snow-melting efficiencies, while minimizing total power consumption of the system.
