11/10/12Borehole Thermal Energy Storage: DLSC2/3dlsc.ca/borehole.htm
Sideview of single Borehole ThermalEnergy Storage (BTES) tube
Click for a larger image >>The BTES in the Drake Landing SolarCommunity (DLSC) consists of 144 boreholes, each stretching to adepth of 37 meters and planned in agrid with 2.25 meters between them.The BTES field covers 35 metres indiameter. At the surface, the U-pipesare joined together in groups of sixthat radiate from the center to theouter edge, and then connect back totheEnergy Centrebuilding. Theentire BTES field is then covered in alayer of insulation and then soil –with a landscaped park built on top.When solar heated water is availableto be stored, it is pumped into thecentre of the BTES field and throughthe U-pipe series. Heat is transferredto the surrounding soil and rock, andthe water gradually cools as itreaches the outer edge and returnsto the Energy Centre.Conversely, when the homes requireheat, cooler water is pumped into theedges of the BTES field and as thewater flows to the centre it picks upheat. The heated water passes tothe short-term storage tank in theEnergy Centre and is then circulatedto thehomesthrough thedistrict
heating loop. All pumps and controlvalves are housed in theneighbouring Energy Centre building.Even with sunny Alberta weather, it will take approximately three years to fullycharge the BTES field. In the first years of operation, the field will operate atrelatively low temperatures, and the recoverable energy will be largelydepleted before the end of the heating season. However, after a few years of operation, the core temperature of the BTES field will approach 80°C by theend of summer, with sufficient heat for almost an entire heating season.