Abstract
In order to estimate the potential for ground source heat pump systems, it is necessary to quantitatively evaluate the effect of the ground thermal properties on the heat exchange rate. In this research, a case study using the numerical simulation tool was conducted to evaluate the system performance sensitivity based on ground conditions such as heat conductivity, heat capacity and groundwater flow. The simulation tool is coupled with the groundwater and heat transfer model, surface heat balance model and ground heat exchanger model. It is possible to enhance the prediction accuracy by using this tool, which can represent a ground heat exchanger using the finite element method. A numerical model with a ground heat exchanger (Depth 100m) was used in the calculation and, their effect on the system performance was estimated through the sensitivity analysis with the developed simulation tool. In the result of simulation, it founds that the faster groundwater flow and the higher heat conductivity the ground has, the more heat exchange rate the system in the site can achieve.
