Ground Source Heat Pumps (GSHPs) are recognized by the EPA as being the most environmentally friendly heating source. However, the high cost of installation has deterred their widespread adaption. In an attempt to improve heat transfer many vertical concentric GSHPs utilize a corrugated boundary between the core and return pipes, which current models ignore. We expand upon the current model in an attempt to determine the effect of this corrugation. We apply non-dimensionalization, perturbation and homogenization techniques to develop two different models of this system. We find that over several periods of corrugation the steady state temperature solution is independent of the amplitude of this corrugation for laminar flow profiles.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Peterson, Kaj Ragnar
• Hamm, Brendan M.

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042512-185030

Advisor

• Tilley, Burt S.

Year

• 2012

Date created

• 2012-04-25

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Mathematical Sciences

Rights statement

• In Copyright