Department of Mechanical Engineering

University of Engineering and Technology Lahore

M.Sc. Mechanical Engineering Thesis Proposal

Title of Research:

Performance analysis of Ground Couple Heat Exchanger for space cooling and heating
applications.

Name of Student: Ghulam Mustafa

Registration No: 2018(S)-MS-TFE-13
Date of Registration: 06-02-2018
Full Time Yes
Supervisor: Dr. Muhammad Farooq

Co-Supervisor: Dr. Muhammad Amjad

Department: Mechanical Engineering

1. Problem Statement
The conventional air conditioning systems are generally used for space cooling and heating
purposes. But these systems use much amount of energy, damage environment and have health
hazards. In the situation of today's falling fossil fuel assets, growing electrical
costs, environmental heating and pollution, accurately planned soil cooling tubes suggestion a
workable another to decrease the need of straight compressor built air conditioning
arrangements, especially for Pakistan environments. They offer the advantage of precise, clean,
new air inlet, which is appreciated in close-fitting, well-weatherized, competent house covers.
So, to mitigate these complications we implement Ground Couple Heat Exchanger (GCHE) for
heating and cooling of closed systems.

2. Objectives
The objectives with this research work are;
i. Data collection of Ground Couple Heat Exchanger (GCHE) by varying mass flow rate
fan speed etc.
ii. To calculate Coefficient of Performance (COP) of GCHE for space heating and cooling.
iii. To compare the heat transfer effect of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe with
copper pipe.

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 Department of Mechanical Engineering
University of Engineering and Technology Lahore

3. Literature Review
GCHE is a current type of space heating and cooling system in which heat is interrelate with
ground relatively than the atmospheric air. At known depth of ground temperature remains
constant throughout the year as compared to the ambient air which is changing from place to
place. GCHE exchange the heat with ground at constant temperature and consume same amount
of electricity if the cooling load is reserved constant throughout the year. While in case of
atmospheric air the amount of electricity consumption increases or decreases due to cooling load
changes during summer and winters. The main purpose of this system is to save electricity by
eliminating the use of water in cooling towers. If GCHE is coupled with Earth Air Heat
Exchanger than EAHE increases the efficiency of GCHE system [1].
The thermomechanical processes that involve energy consumption are very complex and usually
cannot be analyzed. Recently the heat transmission analysis of energy loads is a key point for
explaining that problem. The main thing is how the cooling and heating occasionally affect any
building for long term [2]. GCHE is used for heating water and space conditioning. It is used for
the purpose of dropping energy consumption during summer and winter and to decrease the
injurious effects in the environment [3]. According to the previous research the GCHE as
compared to the Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) is much better because it has
evaporative cooler which almost doubled the coefficient of performance [4].
By using circulating pump speed regulator, the speed save energy and decrease CO2 emission in
the environment [5]. For the matching of heating system during winter it extract less heat which
result in cooling for summer. The overall expenses for the installation of the system are higher
as compared to others but it saves most of the energy. The cost recovery period is much low as
compared to the other systems [6].
The cooling and heating load depend upon the length of pipe. The relationship among the length
of pipe and the heat transference can be developed by analyzing the flow rate effect. Linear
temperature source model describes temperature park around equivalent of heat exchanger [6].
The temperature maps obtained by theoretically and experimentally should be accurate [7]. The
change of location changes the temperature effect also has a significant effect on the length of
the pipe [8].
The change in temperature among the ground and the outdoor air can be applied as pre-cooling
in summer and a warming means in winter by working a ground coupled heat exchanger. In
geothermal refrigeration system a huge quantity of carbon and carbon dioxide is released in the
air during the investigation [9]. The earth moisture insides also have greater effect on the
coefficient of performance [10]. Stream rate result on hotness conversation and the pipe length
have also considered and connection among pipe span and heat conversation have been
expressed. The average effective temperature gradient has been achieved from developed
working model [11].
The researchers determined that W shaped category of pile footing underground temperature
exchanger with reasonable standard movement rate shows sufficient efficiency. Downward in
the pipe water temperature decreases the heat transfer latent from soil to the water. In heating

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 Department of Mechanical Engineering
University of Engineering and Technology Lahore

and cooling season on the basis of averaged mean ground temperature examine the effect of soil
temperature discrepancy on energy production of ground temperature exchangers [12]. The
researchers also determined that GCHE reduce the electricity requirement [13].
The direct use of thermal energy is increasing day by day and maximum amount of energy is
used for heat pump [14]. Authors concluded that earth humidity fundamentally disturb the
performance of GCHE. Researchers recommended that for improved thermal performance of
GCHE to implement sub-soil water trickling system and this technique improved its COP and
temperature transference rate 15]. Researchers estimated that units of heat pump would
sufficiently increase in next year’s [16]. Researchers also concluded that COP significantly
reduced due to part-load process [17].
Researchers determined that energy efficiency of heat pumps for cooling and heating of closed
systems is to obtain by getting high-temperature heat basis. Researchers concluded that by
medium-depth geothermal energy could be obtain stable and high temperature heat source so
this technique enhance the performance of the system and it is also economically efficient [18].
Researchers determined that COP of GCHE is mostly influenced by underground depth of heat
exchanger [19]. Researchers observed that initial cost of GCHE is high but running cos is low
because in this system just a simple fan is electrically operated rather than compressor [20].

4. Methodology

Data collection of
Ground Couple Calculate COP of
Literature review Heat Exchanger GCHE
(GCHE)

Compare heat
Analysis of transfer effect
Thesis writings results of HDPE pipe
with copper
pipe

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 Department of Mechanical Engineering
University of Engineering and Technology Lahore

4. Experimentation

Fig. 1 Experimentation setup of ground couple heat exchanger

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Web link: http://uet.edu.pk/oric Phone#: 042-99029237
Email: oric@uet.edu.pk 042-99250213 ver. 1.0 (Aug, 2017)
 Department of Mechanical Engineering
University of Engineering and Technology Lahore

5. Gantt Chart

Tasks Weeks

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Literature Review
Proposed methodology

Data collection of Ground

Couple Heat Exchanger
(GCHE)

Result Analysis
Result and Discussions

Research paper Writing

Thesis writing

6. References
[1] J. P. Badgujar, D. D. Kulkarni, S. A. Ahmad, F. Siddiqui, and P. Thakur, “ Ground
Coupled Heat Exchanger Air-Conditioning System: A Study,” vol. 8, no. 3, 2017.
[2] M. Li and A. C. K. Lai, “Review of analytical models for heat transfer by vertical ground
heat exchangers ( GHEs ): A perspective of time and space scales,” Appl. Energy, vol.
151, pp. 178–191, 2015.
[3] S. Kumar, M. Pandey, and V. Nath, “Ground coupled heat exchangers : A review and
applications,” Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev., vol. 47, pp. 83–92, 2015.
[4] C. Sebarchievici and I. Sarbu, “Performance of an experimental ground-coupled heat
pump system for heating , cooling and domestic hot-water operation,” Renew. Energy,
vol. 76, pp. 148–159, 2015.
[5] Q. Zhang, X. Zhang, D. Sun, and G. Wang, “Geothermics Municipal space heating using
a ground source absorption heat pump driven by an urban heating system,” Geothermics,
vol. 78, no. April 2018, pp. 224–232, 2019.
[6] T. Track and R. Energy, “DESIGN AND FABRICATION OF A HEATING AND
COOLING SYSTEM USING,” 2014.
[7] K. Neupauer, S. Pater, and K. Kupiec, “Study of Ground Heat Exchangers in the Form of
Parallel Horizontal Pipes Embedded in the Ground,” 2018.
[8] S. A. M. Said, M. A. Habib, E. M. A. Mokheimer, and M. Sharqawi, “Horizontal Ground
Heat Exchanger Design for Ground-Coupled Heat Pumps,” 2005.
[9] D. D. Kulkarni, J. P. Badgujar, S. A. Ahmad, F. H. Siddiqui, N. Mumbai, and N.
Mumbai, “GROUND COUPLED HEAT EXCHANGER AIR- CONDITIONING
SYSTEM : A STUDY,” vol. 43, no. 43, pp. 43–48, 2017.

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 Department of Mechanical Engineering
University of Engineering and Technology Lahore

[10] J. Wołoszyn and A. Goła, “Coefficient of Performance Stabilisation in Ground Source

Heat Pump Systems,” 2017.
[11] R. J. Hussain, “Ground Source Heat Exchanger for Space Cooling and Heating,” no.
December, pp. 215–222, 2013.
[12] J. Gao, X. Zhang, J. Liu, K. S. Li, and J. Yang, “Thermal performance and ground
temperature of vertical pile-foundation heat exchangers: A case study,” Appl. Therm.
Eng., vol. 28, no. 17–18, pp. 2295–2304, 2008.
[13] K. Zhu, P. Blum, G. Ferguson, K. D. Balke, and P. Bayer, “The geothermal potential of
urban heat islands,” Environ. Res. Lett., vol. 5, no. 4, 2010.
[14] J. W. Lund, D. H. Freeston, and T. L. Boyd, “Direct application of geothermal energy:
2005 Worldwide review,” Geothermics, vol. 34, no. 6, pp. 691–727, 2005.
[15] “(15) Для просмотра статьи разгадайте капчу.pdf,” ELSEVIER, pp. 12–23, 2019.
[16] H. Johra et al., “Integration of a magnetocaloric heat pump in an energy fl exible
residential building,” Renew. Energy, vol. 136, pp. 115–126, 2019.
[17] G. Arnó, I. Herms, and J. J. De Felipe, “Characterisation of efficiency losses in ground
source heat pump systems equipped with a double parallel stage: A case study,” Renew.
Energy, 2019.
[18] J. Deng, Q. Wei, M. Liang, S. He, and H. Zhang, “PT US CR,” Energy Build., 2018.
[19] H. Esen and E. Turgut, “Optimization of operating parameters of a ground coupled heat
pump system by Taguchi method,” Energy Build., vol. 107, pp. 329–334, 2015.
[20] G. Go, S. Lee, S. Yoon, and M. Kim, “Optimum design of horizontal ground-coupled
heat pump systems using spiral-coil-loop heat exchangers,” Appl. Energy, vol. 162, pp.
330–345, 2016.

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Web link: http://uet.edu.pk/oric Phone#: 042-99029237
Email: oric@uet.edu.pk 042-99250213 ver. 1.0 (Aug, 2017)
 Department of Mechanical Engineering
University of Engineering and Technology Lahore

7. Comments of Supervisor

Endst. No. Univ:______________ Dated: _____________

The above proposal duly recommended by the Departmental Board of

Studies/Committee of Post-Graduate Studies in its meeting held on _____________ is
forwarded to the Director ORIC for obtaining the approval of the Vice-Chancellor.

Signature of Supervisor Signature of Student

___________________________ ______________________________
Dean of the Concerned Faculty Chairman/Director of the Department

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Email: oric@uet.edu.pk 042-99250213 ver. 1.0 (Aug, 2017)