Experimental facility to perform Thermal Response Tests and study the thermal behaviour of the ground

Abstract

The technology of soil characterisation or thermal response test is a method to evaluate the key parameters of the ground for the design of geothermal systems, such as the ground conductivity, the thermal resistivity of the borehole and other thermal conditions of the undisturbed ground. Both the collection data during the test and its subsequent interpretation are of paramount importance to avoid erroneous or uncertain results. At the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV) there is an equipped geothermal borehole conceived as a test site to be able to design, assess, analyse and implement any interesting measure to allow a better understanding of the processes underlying TRT activity. The test site includes the monitoring of all involved variables and allows a fine-tuned control of heat injection into the soil.
This paper describes the development of this experimental facility. The implementation of this technology will allow a more correct analysis of the obtained information without the need to change substantially the established basics of TRT methodology. At the end of the article, there is an example of use and relevant conclusions.