A multi-objective design optimization strategy for vertical ground heat exchangers

Abstract A multi-objective design optimization strategy for vertical U-tube ground heat exchangers (GHEs) is presented to minimize the system upfront cost and entropy generation number simultaneously. Five design variables of vertical U-tube GHEs, including borehole number, borehole depth, borehole radius, U-tube outer radius and fluid mass flow rate, are first selected via a global sensitivity analysis method, and then optimized by a genetic algorithm (GA) optimizer implemented in MATLAB. Based on the Pareto frontier obtained from the GA optimization, a decision-making strategy is then used to determine a final solution. Two case studies are presented to validate the effectiveness of the proposed strategy. The results based on a small scale GSHP system in Australia show that, compared to the original design, the use of this proposed strategy can decrease the total system cost (i.e. the upfront cost and 20 years’ operating cost) by 9.5%. Compared to a single-objective design optimization strategy, 6.2% more energy can be saved by using this multi-objective design optimization strategy. The result from a relatively large scale GSHP system implemented in China shows that a 5.2% decrease in the total system cost can be achieved by using this proposed strategy, compared with using the original design.

[1]  A. Lai,et al.  Thermodynamic optimization of ground heat exchangers with single U-tube by entropy generation minimization method , 2013 .

[2]  Pingfang Hu,et al.  Recent research and applications of ground source heat pump integrated with thermal energy storage systems: A review , 2014 .

[3]  Bala Srinivasan,et al.  Model parameterization tailored to real-time optimization , 2008 .

[4]  C. Muraleedharan,et al.  Minimization of entropy generation in flat heat pipe , 2011 .

[5]  Paul Cooper,et al.  Evaluation of a ground source heat pump system in a net-zero energy office building , 2013 .

[6]  Zhenjun Ma,et al.  Enhancing the performance of large primary-secondary chilled water systems by using bypass check val , 2011 .

[7]  Y. Peles,et al.  Multi-objective thermal design optimization and comparative analysis of electronics cooling technologies , 2009 .

[8]  Pooya Hoseinpoori,et al.  Energy and cost optimization of a plate and fin heat exchanger using genetic algorithm , 2011 .

[9]  Miaomiao He.  Numerical modelling of geothermal borehole heat exchanger systems , 2012 .

[10]  Gholamreza Heravi,et al.  Energy performance of buildings: The evaluation of design and construction measures concerning building energy efficiency in Iran , 2014 .

[11]  Katsunori Nagano,et al.  Development of a design and performance prediction tool for the ground source heat pump system , 2006 .

[12]  Jamil A. Khan,et al.  Design and multi-objective optimization of heat exchangers for refrigerators , 2007 .

[13]  Hongxing Yang,et al.  Vertical-borehole ground-coupled heat pumps: A review of models and systems , 2010 .

[14]  Stanislaw Kajl,et al.  A review of methods to evaluate borehole thermal resistances in geothermal heat-pump systems , 2010 .

[15]  Louis Gosselin,et al.  New methodology to design ground coupled heat pump systems based on total cost minimization , 2014 .

[16]  Hiep V. Nguyen,et al.  A methodology and computerized approach for optimizing hybrid ground source heat pump system design , 2013 .

[17]  Daniel E. Fisher,et al.  EnergyPlus: creating a new-generation building energy simulation program , 2001 .

[18]  Simon J. Rees,et al.  Implementation and Validation of Ground-Source Heat Pump System Models in an Integrated Building and System Simulation Environment , 2006 .

[19]  A. Bejan.  Entropy Generation Minimization: The Method of Thermodynamic Optimization of Finite-Size Systems and Finite-Time Processes , 1995 .

[20]  Majid Amidpour,et al.  Multi-objective optimization of a vertical ground source heat pump using evolutionary algorithm , 2009 .

[21]  Ibrahim Dincer,et al.  Exergy analysis of borehole thermal energy storage system for building cooling applications , 2012 .

[22]  Y. Bi,et al.  Comprehensive exergy analysis of a ground-source heat pump system for both building heating and cooling modes , 2009 .

[23]  Ibrahim Dincer,et al.  Development of a geothermal based integrated system for building multigenerational needs , 2013 .

[24]  Michele De Carli,et al.  Design of borehole heat exchangers for ground-source heat pumps: A literature review, methodology comparison and analysis on the penalty temperature , 2012 .

[25]  Hassan Hajabdollahi,et al.  Multi-Objective Optimization of a Fin with two-Dimensional Heat Transfer Using NSGA-II and ANN , 2013 .

[26]  David Banks,et al.  Practical Engineering Geology , 2008 .

[27]  William Goetzler,et al.  Research and Development Roadmap. Geothermal (Ground-Source) Heat Pumps , 2012 .

[28]  Hoseyn Sayyaadi,et al.  Application of the multi-objective optimization method for designing a powered Stirling heat engine: Design with maximized power, thermal efficiency and minimized pressure loss , 2013 .

[29]  Zhenjun Ma,et al.  Test and evaluation of energy saving potentials in a complex building central chilling system using genetic algorithm , 2011 .

[30]  Zhenjun Ma,et al.  Optimal design of vertical ground heat exchangers by using entropy generation minimization method and genetic algorithms , 2014 .

[31]  Alan S. Fung,et al.  Feasibility of combined solar thermal and ground source heat pump systems in cold climate, Canada , 2013 .

[32]  Z. Fonyó,et al.  Preface to Escape S.I. , 2001 .

[33]  Ali Shirazi,et al.  Four E analysis and multi-objective optimization of an ice storage system incorporating PCM as the partial cold storage for air-conditioning applications , 2013 .