A Pilot Study on Geothermal Heat Pump (GHP) Use for Cooling Operations, and on GHP Site Selection in Tropical Regions Based on a Case Study in Thailand

Abstract

In order to reduce electricity consumption, the vertical loop geothermal heat pump (GHP) system coupled with a normal air conditioner was installed in an experimental room in the Parot Racha Building, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand for a comparative, long-term measurement program. The decrease in electricity consumption was approximately 30%. On the basis of the data derived from our measurements, the underground temperature seemed to be consistent and lower than the average outside air temperature, over two years. The underground system consisted mainly of two 50-m-long drilling wells and pipes with a total length of 170 m. The well performance was not examined, but both soil and groundwater aquifer (Bangkok aquifer) at 25 to 50 m. could be utilized for the cooling operation. Moreover, the major controlling factors of electricity consumption were found to be the outside air temperatures and the underground water circulation temperatures. In addition, we considered the geology, underground temperature, and aquifer of Bangkok concluding that almost all Bangkok areas are suitable for GHP installation, except for those where the subsurface temperature is too high compared with the outside air temperature.