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Formation Thermal Conductivity

Thermal conductivity is the physical property of a material that determines how easily heat can pass through it.  The average thermal conductivity of a formation that a geothermal ground-loop heat exchanger is installed into is important in order to develop a properly sized heat exchanger for a particular application.  The information that is obtained from a formation thermal conductivity (FTC) test can be input directly into most of the popular design software programs.

Importance

The thermal conductivity of a formation is a prerequisite for a properly designed geothermal ground-loop heat exchanger.  The thermal conductivity of the formation determines how easily heat can be conducted to and from the circulating fluid in the heat exchanger piping. For example, in a formation with high thermal conductivity, the loop temperature required to reject a given amount of heat to the ground would be less than the loop temperature for a formation with a lower thermal conductivity. Higher loop temperatures for cooling translate into reduced heat pump performance and higher operating costs.

Why Consider FTC Testing?

bulletProper testing enables ground loops to be sized to match the existing formation conditions.
bulletThe obtained information provides for a better estimate of installation cost.
bulletPrecision designs save money on drilling, grouting and pipe costs.
bulletProper designs allow the system to run more economically.
bulletMultiple tests can be conducted which would allow the comparison of different grouts.
bulletTest parameters can be set up to simulate loop response under cooling design conditions.

Why Choose GRTI for FTC Testing?

bulletUn-surpassed Experience:
bulletOver 12 years of experience in measuring and calculating thermal conductivity or various formations and soils.
bulletOver 25,000 hours of accumulated data has been analyzed from more than 550 separate tests.
bulletData analysis performed by Mechanical Engineers with research backgrounds.
bulletLong test times provide a reliable value for average formation thermal conductivity.
bulletDedicated to quality testing and data analysis.
bulletFollows ASHRAE recommended procedures as found in the 2003 ASHRAE Handbook, HVAC Applications, page 32.14.
bulletGRTI offers a variety of approaches to obtain an analysis (see various FTC options).

FTC Sample Report

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Copyright © 2004 Geothermal Resource Technologies, Inc.
Last modified: August 13, 2004