Part 3: Answers
In this chapter, you will find the answers to the questions in the different chapters of Part 3.
Variable efficiency
Geothermal borefields are often used in combination with ground source heat pumps, and the efficiency of the heat pump is required to convert the building load into a ground load. Historically, this efficiency was assumed to be constant, but it is more accurate to use variable efficiencies.
Variable flow rates
Traditionally, borefields were designed with the assumption of a constant flow rate. With the introduction of modulating heat pumps, this assumption is no longer valid. In this chapter, the advantages of using a variable flow rate to simulate your geothermal system are explained.
Variable fluid properties
Historically, the fluid properties (such as density, viscosity, etc.) were often assumed to be constant over the simulation period for your borefield. In this chapter, a new, more accurate approach is presented.
Monthly vs hourly load profiles
In this chapter, we will discuss the benefits of using hourly load profiles instead of monthly ones for borefield simulation.
Introduction part 3
Welcome to the third part of the course ‘Design borefields with confidence.’