The difficult part in evaluating a projects potential for installing a geothermal system

is determining the size of the loop field. One of the major components in determining
the size of the loop field is the soils thermal conductivity.
Without performing a geothermal conductivity test, the designer of the ground loop
heat exchanger (GLHE) is left to estimate this value. The table below provides an example
of a 10-ton cooling load and how the soil thermal conductivity impacts the size and
cost of the GLHE. For this example, an engineer may estimate k = 0.85 with common
values ranging from 0.55 to 1.5.
Critical Design Information
www.oppd.com
Geothermal
Conductivity Testing
Thermal Conductivity Impact
on GLHE Size & Cost (10-Ton Example)
GLHE sizes based on GCHPCalc Version 3.1 and typical design input.
Soil Thermal
Conductivity,
(k)Btu/(hr ft F)
0.55
0.7
0.85
1.0
1.2
1.35
1.5
Number of
U-Tubes
16
15
14
12
12
12
10
Effective Depth
of U-Tubes
Vert. Feet
199
188
187
202
188
180
212
Total U-Tube
Vert. Length
Vert. Feet
3,180
2,820
2,620
2,420
2,250
2,160
2,110
Estimated
Cost at $9.00/
Vert. Feet
$28,620
$25,380
$23,580
$21,780
$20,250
$19,440
$18,990
Over-Sizing Cost = $ 4,590
Under-Sizing Cost $ 5,040
more on back
OPPD performs geothermal conductivity tests to obtain critical design
information on subsurface soil conditions for geothermal projects.
www.oppd.com
Basis for Testing
From the table on the previous page, one can make the following observations:
Thermal conductivity tests are economically justified for geothermal systems
that have more than 10 tons of cooling capacity
Loop field over-sizing costs eat up construction dollars
Loop field under-sizing creates problems
Lower conductivity values have a significant impact on the loop-field size
The solution to the conductivity dilemma is to install a test loop and hire OPPD to
perform a thermal conductivity test.
Testing Equipment
OPPD has a mobile trailer containing testing equipment, including a gas-powered
generator, water-circulating pump, heating elements, sensors and data loggers.
Thermal conductivity is measured by adding constant heat to the water circulating
through the test loop, while concurrently logging the temperature rise in the water.
From this data, OPPD evaluates how well the test loop dissipates heat to the sur-
rounding earth.
OPPD has technical analysis engineers with significant experience in thermal con-
ductivity testing and geothermal loop design. To keep up on the latest advances in
geothermal technologies, these engineers maintain active memberships in the
American Society of Heating Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers and
International Ground Source Heat Pump Association.
As part of the test, OPPD reports the following information:
Soil thermal conductivity, k in (Btu/hr ft F) calculation
An estimate of soil thermal diffusivity, in (ft
2
/day)
An estimate of deep earth temperature
Loop drilling log test
Charts of water temperature and power input over test time
Table of logged data, including time, water temperatures and heat input (may
be used to independently verify calculation)
An OPPD technical analysis engineer is available to help you save money on your
geothermal heat pump project. For more information, please call (402) 636-3536 in
Omaha or 1-800-648-2658 outside the metropolitan area, or visit OPPDs website at
www.oppd.com.
Experienced Engineers
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