Thermal Energy Storage in Soils at Temperatures Reaching 90°C

Abstract

Using soil and groundwater for heat storage offers an opportunity to increase the potential for renewable energy sources. For example, solar heating in combination with high temperature storage, e.g., using ducts in the ground, has the potential of becoming an environment friendly and economically competitive form of heat supply. Technology is developed to reduce ground construction costs and to ensure that adequate attention is paid to the geotechnical potentials and limitations of such systems, in the temperature range between neutral ground temperature up to 90°C. Investigations of real plants and in the laboratory have given valuable knowledge on the thermal effects on clayey soils as well as on the surroundings of high temperature stores in soft clay. The operational function of heat stores, with respect to heat transfer capacity of ground heat exchangers and heat losses, can be predicted with good agreement. For the uppermost part of the temperature range, long term performance, cost verification and thermal endurance of materials involved including the storage medium, is recommended using a full-scale demonstration plant. [S0199-6231(00)00901-1]