Experimental and numerical data of thermal response tests executed in groups of energy piles connected in series

The use of energy piles as heat exchangers for Ground Source Heat Pump (GSHP) systems, providing heating and cooling, is a well researched application worldwide [1]. However, a broader implementation in practice still faces resistance, mainly because of the lack of accessible, easy to implement design methods and uncertainty regarding the thermo-mechanical effects. These issues need to be addressed to close the gap between research and practice. This work presents data of a full-scale thermal response test (TRT) undertaken in a group of eight energy screw piles connected in series, that are part of an operational GSHP system of a building located in Melbourne, Australia. The temperature was measured in the inlet and outlet of the pipe circuit (circulating water temperature) and at the bottom of each pile (external pipe wall temperature). Besides providing insights regarding the thermal performance of short energy pile groups, the test was used to validate a finite element numerical model (FEM). The model was then used to expand the database of thermal performance of energy pile groups by simulating several long thermal response tests, considering different energy pile group geometries, configurations and material properties. The experimental data presented can be used for analyses and validation of thermal modelling methodologies that consider the group effect of energy piles, given the lack of TRTs performed in groups of energy piles reported in literature. Moreover, the extensive set of simulated data can be analysed to understand the thermal behaviour of energy pile groups and evaluate how alternative simpler heat transfer models, feasibly applied in industry practice, perform in a range of scenarios that could be encountered in daily practice.