Geothermal Energy in Loess: A Detailed Numerical Case Study for Cordoba

GUILLERMO A. NARSILIO; FRANCO M. FRANCISCA; HUGO FERRERO; ASAL BIDARMAGHZ; CARLOS SERRANO; MAGALÍ E. CARRO PÉREZ; NIKOLAS MAKASIS; DELACOSTE, EVLEYN I

Conferencia; 15th Pan-American Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (XV PCSMGE); 2015

Argentinean Geotechnical Engineering Society (SAIG)

Ground-source heat pump (GSHP) systems efficiently heat and cool buildings using sustainable geothermal energy accessed via ground heat exchangers (GHEs). Loess covers vast parts of the world, thus the use of piles or ?micropiles? is extensive in these areas, including Cordoba, Argentina. These foundations could be used as ?energy piles? in GSHP systems, with a minimal additional cost. This paper presents a case study of a representative real building in Cordoba where foundations are also used as GHEs. The thermal properties of local soils were experimentally measured and used in detailed state-of-the-art finite element models. Results from the realistic simulations show that the partial substitution of electrical heating and cooling systems with geothermal systems could significantly reduce energy consumption and the size of associated infrastructure, despite the relatively low thermal conductivity of loess. Moreover,accounting for natural surface thermal recharge, which is routinely ignored in GHE design, increases the ability of the energy piles to supply energy to the heat pumps. This case study shows the potential of GSHP technology in a local environment well suited for it and gives incentives to geotechnical engineers to start considering the technology in their designs and practices, even in loess.