Geothermal Heat Pump Simulation for Hourly Borehole Field Sizing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current geothermal heat pump design and simulation software is inadequate for commercial applications, lacking user-friendly interfaces, real-time data access, detailed building parameter settings, and accurate performance predictions, leading to inefficiencies and high costs in system design and operation.
Innovation Solution
A web-based geothermal heat pump design program that allows for detailed building energy analysis, simulating hourly energy consumption and demand, supporting hybrid systems, and providing real-time data integration for geographical and weather conditions, enabling precise borehole field configuration and operating cost calculations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional geothermal heat pump design software is used, then basic design functions are provided, but the software lacks user-friendly interfaces, real-time data access, and accurate performance predictions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a web-based intermediary platform that connects users to complex geothermal design calculations and real-time data sources. This web interface acts as a mediator, providing user-friendly access to sophisticated simulation engines, geographical databases, and weather data without requiring users to directly interact with complex computational tools.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional desktop software mechanical interfaces with web-based access, substituting the need for locally installed complex software with browser-based access to computational tools. This allows users to access advanced design capabilities through simplified web interfaces while maintaining high calculation accuracy through server-side processing.
2Measurement precision
If detailed building energy analysis with hourly simulation is implemented, then energy consumption accuracy is improved, but computational complexity and time requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary calculations and data preprocessing to prepare simulation inputs in advance. By organizing building geometry, material properties, and operational schedules beforehand, the system reduces the computational burden during actual hourly energy simulations, enabling accurate results without excessive computation time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements selective simulation strategies, performing detailed hourly simulations only for critical periods or zones where accuracy is most important, while using simplified methods for less critical calculations. This partial application of detailed simulation maintains overall energy consumption accuracy while reducing total computational time and resources required.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple building zones with detailed parameters are supported, then design detail and accuracy are improved, but software complexity and data requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the building into discrete zones with individual parameters for each area. This segmentation allows detailed modeling of different building sections (e.g., north-facing offices, south-facing retail spaces) with zone-specific thermal characteristics, occupancy patterns, and operational schedules, enabling high design accuracy while maintaining manageable software complexity through modular data structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal data model that can handle multiple building zones with varying levels of detail. The same software framework and calculation engine serve all zones, whether simple or complex, by adapting to the specific parameters provided for each zone. This multi-functional approach allows detailed modeling where needed while maintaining simplicity where sufficient, without requiring separate software systems.
4Productivity
If hybrid system designs with cooling towers are analyzed, then system optimization and cost reduction are improved, but analysis complexity and configuration options increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic analysis of hybrid geothermal systems that can adapt configuration based on operational conditions. The system evaluates different cooling tower configurations, heat exchanger arrangements, and operational strategies dynamically, selecting optimal combinations based on real-time or simulated conditions. This dynamic approach enables system optimization without requiring manual configuration of every possible variant, reducing analysis complexity while maintaining high productivity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The program enhances the accuracy and efficiency of geothermal heat pump system design by providing a user-friendly interface for simulating hourly energy consumption and demand, reducing installation and operating costs through optimized borehole field design and hybrid system integration.
Implementation Method 1
GHPs employ a heat exchanger in contact with the ground or groundwater to extract or dissipate heat
Implementation Method 2
the ground loop provides a closed circuit for the circulating heat exchange fluid
Implementation Method 3
GHP systems can use the earth as a heat source in cold winter climates or as a heat sink in warm summer climates
Data Source
AI summary
An in-ground geothermal heat pump (GHP) closed loop design program is disclosed for designing, analyzing, and simulating a detailed model and analysis of a proposed buildings in-ground geothermal heat pump system, including borehole length, number of boreholes, heat pump capacity, grid layout, total electric operating costs, efficiency ratios, and hybrid designs, among others. In one aspect of the disclosure described herein, the GHP design program can reliably and efficiently predict the fluctuations of the GHP equipment performance in very small increments which enables the determination of energy consumption and demand information on a specific and unique hourly schedule basis for a proposed building design, including incorporating thermal load data for each individual zone of the building. More specifically, the small increment method here can be used to eliminate overly broad approximations by evaluating GHP performance that is specific to building dynamics, constants, and variables for all of the building individual zones and the building's hourly operating schedule, thereby providing an efficient, reliable, simple, and effective geothermal heat pump design and simulation model.