Performance analysis and parametric study of thermal energy storage in an aquifer coupled with a heat pump and solar collectors, for a residential complex in Tehran, Iran

Aquifers are underground porous formations containing water. Confined aquifers are the formations surrounded by two impermeable layers, called cap rocks and bed rocks. These aquifers are suitable for seasonal thermal energy storage. In the present study, a confined aquifer was considered to meet the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Applied thermal engineering 2014, Vol.62 (1), p.156-170
Main Authors: Ghaebi, H., Bahadori, M.N., Saidi, M.H.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Applied sciences
Aquifer
Aquifers
Devices using thermal energy
Energy
Energy. Thermal use of fuels
Exact sciences and technology
Formations
Heat pump
Heat pumps
Heat transfer
Natural energy
Numerical simulation
Residential energy
Rocks
Solar collectors
Solar energy
Solar thermal conversion
Theoretical studies. Data and constants. Metering
Thermal energy
Thermal energy storage
Thermal engineering
Underground
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Summary:Aquifers are underground porous formations containing water. Confined aquifers are the formations surrounded by two impermeable layers, called cap rocks and bed rocks. These aquifers are suitable for seasonal thermal energy storage. In the present study, a confined aquifer was considered to meet the cooling and heating energy needs of a residential complex located in Tehran, Iran. Three different alternatives were analyzed in this aquifer thermal energy storage (ATES), including: using ATES for cooling alone, for cooling and heating, as a heat pump, and for heating alone, employing flat plate solar energy collectors. A numerical simulation, based on the finite difference method, was carried out for velocity and temperature distributions as well as the heat transfer in the aquifer. The thermal energy recovery factor and the annual coefficient of performance of the system were determined under various schemes of operation, revealing that the combination of the ATES with the heat pump, to meet both cooling and heating needs of the complex, is the best. The study was repeated for different aquifer properties. •Three ATES applications are considered.•Numerical simulation of the ATES is carried out.•Performance of the coupled ATES with heat pump and solar collectors are considered using numerical simulation.•Parametric study of the ATEs is carried out.
ISSN:1359-4311
DOI:10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2013.09.037