Implementing micro energy piles: A novel geothermal energy harvesting technique for enhancing foundation safety and cooling system efficiency in electric power transformers
{"title":"Implementing micro energy piles: A novel geothermal energy harvesting technique for enhancing foundation safety and cooling system efficiency in electric power transformers","authors":"Amir Akbari Garakani , Ali Derakhshan","doi":"10.1016/j.geothermics.2024.103097","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The numerical assessment of Micro Energy Piles (MEPs) to enhance foundation bearing capacity (<em>Q<sub>u</sub></em>) and cooling efficiency of 400-kV transformers is followed by economic evaluations. Findings show that increasing temperature-differential, MEP length, grout cohesion, and especially MEP diameter can increase <em>Q<sub>u</sub></em> by 6–29 %, 25 %, 22–26 %, and 96–123 %, respectively. Optimal MEP configurations are recommended based on economic viability across different soils, with higher heat-exchange rates and grout cohesion yielding cost-effective solutions. Exploring viable options to improve <em>Q<sub>u</sub></em> and cooling power demonstrates that utilizing MEPs is 26 % and 31 % more cost-effective than energy piles and helical energy piles, respectively, under comparable conditions.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":55095,"journal":{"name":"Geothermics","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.5000,"publicationDate":"2024-07-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Geothermics","FirstCategoryId":"5","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0375650524001846","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"ENERGY & FUELS","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
The numerical assessment of Micro Energy Piles (MEPs) to enhance foundation bearing capacity (Qu) and cooling efficiency of 400-kV transformers is followed by economic evaluations. Findings show that increasing temperature-differential, MEP length, grout cohesion, and especially MEP diameter can increase Qu by 6–29 %, 25 %, 22–26 %, and 96–123 %, respectively. Optimal MEP configurations are recommended based on economic viability across different soils, with higher heat-exchange rates and grout cohesion yielding cost-effective solutions. Exploring viable options to improve Qu and cooling power demonstrates that utilizing MEPs is 26 % and 31 % more cost-effective than energy piles and helical energy piles, respectively, under comparable conditions.
期刊介绍:
Geothermics is an international journal devoted to the research and development of geothermal energy. The International Board of Editors of Geothermics, which comprises specialists in the various aspects of geothermal resources, exploration and development, guarantees the balanced, comprehensive view of scientific and technological developments in this promising energy field.
It promulgates the state of the art and science of geothermal energy, its exploration and exploitation through a regular exchange of information from all parts of the world. The journal publishes articles dealing with the theory, exploration techniques and all aspects of the utilization of geothermal resources. Geothermics serves as the scientific house, or exchange medium, through which the growing community of geothermal specialists can provide and receive information.