Evaluation of Shallow Geothermal Energy and Study of Problem in High-latitude Regions, China

Abstract

It is very significant that shallow geothermal energy resources is developed and utilized in the benefits of energy saving and environmental protection. Due to the low annual average temperature in high-latitude regions in China, it has great potential for the use of shallow geothermal energy. In order to evaluate the applicability of shallow geothermal energy, Harbin and Daxinganling were selected in this study to analyze the characteristics of ground thermal properties. The undisturbed ground temperature fields were measured for these two regions, and the temperature ranges and depth of the solar warming, constant temperature, and increasing temperature layers were determined, and the corresponding average initial temperatures are 5°C, 7.5°C, respectively. The 26 thermal response tests for 13 boreholes were examined with two heating powers and analysis of thermal properties were performed in the laboratory. Then, author studied the heat exchanging capacity of ground and characteristic of thermal physical parameters in each region, and analyzed the correlation of field and laboratory tests. Since there are existing underground cold source in high-latitude regions in China, this paper used the numerical method and laboratory and field tests to determine the effect of cold source on groundwater source heat pump. This research offers reference and practical experience for the use of shallow geothermal energy at high-latitude regions.