Design optimization of ground-source heat pump systems

Ground-source heat pumps (GSHPs) are potentially a more efficient technology to provide heating and cooling to buildings compared to conventional systems. However, their large cost, often due to large cost of ground drilling for installation of vertical ground heat exchangers (GHEs), is a major limitation to their wider adoption. Inaccurate engineering design results in oversizing GHEs and an opportunity exists in reducing the system cost by properly sizing GHEs and optimizing their layout within the borefield. This requires developing advanced mathematical models that allow simulation of heat flows in the ground surrounding GHEs and ultimately optimization of GHEs. The objective of this project is to address this issue.