Applied Thermal Engineering 27 (2007) 1750–1755

www.elsevier.com/locate/apthermeng

Coupling of geothermal heat pumps with thermal solar collectors

Valentin Trillat-Berdal *, Bernard Souyri, Gilbert Achard
LOCIE – Laboratoire Optimisation de la Conception et Ingénierie de l’Environnement – ESIGEC,
Université de Savoie, Savoie Technolac, 73376 Le Bourget du Lac, France

Received 20 January 2006; accepted 27 July 2006

Available online 26 September 2006

Abstract

The study discussed relates to the design and development of a process consisting of combining a reversible geothermal heat pump
with thermal solar collectors for building heating and cooling and the production of domestic hot water. The proposed process, called
GEOSOL, has been installed in a 180 m2 private residence in 2004. This installation is the subject of long-term experimental follow-up to
analyse the energy-related behavior of the installation at all times of the year. In addition, different configurations of this combined sys-
tem (geothermal heat pump and thermal solar collectors) have been defined and will be simulated numerically using TRNSYS software.
A comparative analysis of these different alternative versions will be conducted to determine the best configuration(s) of the GEOSOL
process in terms of energy, economical and environmental performances.
Ó 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Ground-coupled heat pump; Borehole heat exchanger; Ground heat depletion; Thermal solar collectors

1. Introduction In this context, Agence De l’Environnement et de la Maı̂t-

In recent years, under the impetus of a number of parties
(politicians, associations, energy sectors, etc.), the renew-
able energy market has been growing. However, while in
the public services sector, it can be seen that accounting
for environmental factors is frequently a proactive act,
motivation levels remain low in the general public. Never-
theless, there are energy solutions that are suitable for both
sectors. In this way, the use of incident solar energy via
thermal solar collectors and energy stored in the superficial
layers of the soil (less than one hundred metres deep) via
borehole heat exchangers (BHE) offer clear potential in
terms of valorization both for private residences or small
public buildings due to the suitability of the diffuse nature
of these energies for scattered settlements, and for large
public buildings, provided that the soil surface is com-
patible.
*
Corresponding author. Tel.: +33 4 79 75 88 21; fax: +33 4 79 75 81 44.
E-mail address: Valentin.Trillat-Berdal@etu.univ-savoie.fr (V. Trillat-
Berdal).
rise de l’Energie (French Agency for Energy and the Envi-
ronment) is contributing to the funding of a research and
development project proposed by the laboratory LOCIE
(Laboratoire Optimisation de la Conception et Ingénierie
de l’Environnement – Design optimisation and environmen-
tal environment engineering laboratory) de l’Ecole Supéri-
eure d’Ingénieurs de Chambéry de l’université de Savoie
(Engineers’College of Chambéry, University of Savoie)
and three industrial partners: CIAT(1), Eco’Alternative(2)
and CLIPSOL(3) which are respectively represented by
Eric Auzenet (Research Engineer, E.Auzenet@ciat.fr),
Pierre-Albert Watier, (Director, Pierre.Watier@ecoalterna-
tive.com) and Philippe Papillon (Research Engineer,
Philippe.Papillon@clipsol.com).
(1) CIAT – Av. Jean Falconnier, BP 14 01350 Culoz
France
(2) Eco’Alternative – 251, route de la Serraz ZI de la
Plaisse, 73375 Le Bourget du Lac France
(3) CLIPSOL – Parc d’Activités Economiques Les Com-
baruches 73100 Aix-les-Bains, France

1359-4311/$ - see front matter Ó 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2006.07.022
 V. Trillat-Berdal et al. / Applied Thermal Engineering 27 (2007) 1750–1755 1751

Nomenclature

BHE borehole heat exchanger GCHP ground coupled heat pump

COP coefficient of performance SPF seasonal performance factor
HDPE high-density polyethylene PSD plancher solaire direct (floor heating circuit)

The project set up, known as GEOSOL, consists of
designing a system based on the combination of a geother-
mal heat pump and rooftop thermal solar collectors for
optimum valorization of the incident solar energy, and thus
contribute to improving energy efficiency and reducing the
greenhouse effect in the dwelling. In fact, it should be pos-
sible to achieve improved energy integration between the
renewable sources available and residences thermal
requirements, while guaranteeing a satisfactory level of
comfort and quality of use under all circumstances.
The geothermal heat pump is used for heating and also
for cooling a building via low-temperature delivery sys-
tems. The solar collectors are used to complete the system
in three areas: preheating the domestic hot water, heating
dwelling (via a direct solar floor option [1] or via doping
of the temperature level of the cooling source) and thermal
recharging of the soil during excess solar production peri-
ods. Therefore, it will be possible to recharge the soil in
the summer with the heat pump in cooling mode and the
solar collectors to maintain a satisfactory long-term perfor-
mance coefficient of the system.
The coupling of solar collectors to underground can also
help to reduce the length of borehole [2] which can contrib-
utes to decrease the cost of the system.
Renewable energies offer great prospects as demon-
strated by the study of another combined heat pump –
thermal solar collectors system which has been the subject
of a real site experiment in Lugano since 2000 [3].
2. Principle of low-temperature geothermics
Low-temperature geothermics are based on the use of
the heat contained in the soil via embedded heat exchang-
ers and heat pumps. The heat pumps increase the natural
temperature of the soil (between 7 and 12 °C in France)
to values of the order of 40 °C. They are generally com-
bined with low-temperature delivery systems like floor
heating to achieve the ‘‘Coefficient of Performance’’ or
the COP of more than 3. They can also be reversible (heat-
ing mode or cooling mode) and thus be used for cooling in
the summer.
Heat is extracted from the soil by means of closed loop
systems, which exchange heat with the soil via a fluid
(water–antifreeze mixture) circulating in high-density poly-
ethylene (HDPE) tubes. There are two types of exchangers:
vertical exchangers and horizontal exchangers.
Our study only relates to BHE (Fig. 1), as it makes it
possible to make use of underground temperature stability
which helps maintain a satisfactory COP value, unlike hor-
izontal exchangers which are embedded at depths between
0.80 and 1.50 m, and in which the performances are
directly related to local climatic conditions [4–6]. In

to heat
heatpump
pump

Text

FILLING
FILLI NG MATERIAL
MA TERIAL
SOIL
SOIL (ciment bentonite
(ciment bentonitemixture
mixture
or sand)
LIQUID COOLANT
COOLANT
(water anda
(water and antifreeze)
ntifreeze)

Tsoil BOREHOLE
between550
between 0 and
and150
150mm
deep
deep
between 10
between 10and
and2020
cmcm
diameter
diameter
SINGLE U-PIPES
SINGLE U-PIPESHEAT
HEAT BOTTOM VIEW
BOTTOM VI EW OF
OF
EXCHAN GER consisting
EXCHANGER consistingof
of BOREHOLE EXCHANGER
EXCHANGER
HDPEtube
HDPE tube WI TH A SINGLE U-PIPES
U-PIPES

Fig. 1. Schematic of the concept of borehole heat exchanger.

1752
addition, the soil surface area mobilised by BHE’s is very
low compared to horizontal ground heat exchangers. How-
ever, it should be pointed out that the cost of boreholes
represents the major drawback of the BHE system.
3. Thermal depletion
The term ‘‘thermal depletion’’ refers to the decrease in
the average soil temperature in the vicinity of the BHE (dis-
tance of less than 10 m). This discharge is generated by
extracting heat from the soil. In Europe, the utilization of
BHE increases, especially in Germany, Austria and Swit-
zerland. For example, only in Switzerland, more than
30 000 ground coupling heat pumps (GCHP) using bore-
holes have been installed [7] and an Estimate of Ozgener
[8] indicates that there are over 140 000 GCHP in the
USA. Nevertheless, the system of geothermal heat pumps
is a relatively recent concept, and in spite of a number of
operational systems already high in some countries, it can
still be interesting to study the ground temperature
decrease in the long-term, especially for small systems (little
number of borehole) since they are most widespread, par-
ticularly for single-family houses.
Our project represents the ideal opportunity to study
this temperature decrease in more detail, both in theoretical
terms using various publications or simulations carried out
with TRNSYS software [9] and experimental terms
through the installation on a private residence.
Eugster and Rybach [10] conducted a series of measure-
ments on a single, coaxial, 105 m deep BHE used to heat a
single family house located in Zurich (Switzerland). The
ground temperature at a distance of one metre from the
BHE cooled down in the first two years of use. After ten
years of use, a new stable thermal equilibrium is established
between BHE and ground, at temperatures which are some
2 °C lower than originally. However, it is important to note
that this study was conducted on a single BHE, resulting in
relatively high natural ground recovery due to the infinite
volume of ground around the BHE. Thermal ground
15
Average soil temperature (°C)
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
0 1
Fig. 2. Variations in average soil temperature in the vicinity of a borehole heat exchanger.
V. Trillat-Berdal et al. / Applied Thermal Engineering 27 (2007) 1750–1755
recovery is particularly recommended in the case of high
concentrations of vertical exchangers on the same plot of
land [11]. The time to reach a complete thermal recovery
depends on how long the BHE has been operational. Prin-
cipally, the recovery period equals nearly the operation
period [10].
We also studied the thermal discharge from the ground
with TRNSYS using type 557 modelling double-U BHE.
Two BHE’s coupled with a heat pump were simulated with
the following assumptions : heating required 6 months per
year, inlet floor temperature and flow rate equal to 30 °C
and 2000 kg/h respectively, heat pump operation 11 h per
day and heat extraction from two boreholes 90 m long at
a distance of 10 m. This simulation is relatively simplistic
since it defines an inlet floor temperature equal to 30 °C
throughout the total heating season, but it gives an initial
indication of ground temperature variations. Fig. 2 shows
that the thermal depletion from the ground is relatively
rapid during the first years of heat extraction, and then
decreases at an increasingly slower rate, but never achieves
a steady state, even after 20 years of operation. The ground
temperature difference between the end of the first heating
season and after 20 years of operation is of the order of
2 °C. Therefore, these results confirm those obtained by
Eugster and Rybach [10].
We can therefore conclude that ground temperature
decrease is possible more or less in the long term, to a var-
ied extent depending on soil characteristics, initial ground
temperature, moisture content, building loads, borehole
spacing, borehole fill material, etc. If this thermal depletion
of the soil is too extensive, it may result in a decrease in the
seasonal performance factor (SPF), which may render its
long-term operation uncertain and insufficient longevity
of geothermal heat pump systems. Our study aims to rem-
edy this problem by finding a balance between thermal
depletion and recovery in ground. This will be enabled by
thermal ground regeneration via solar collectors during
excess solar production periods and heat pump operation
in cooling mode when the building is being cooled.
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Time in years
 V. Trillat-Berdal et al. / Applied Thermal Engineering 27 (2007) 1750–1755 1753

4. GEOSOL project overview The measurement system set up (circuit temperatures,

hydraulic system flowrates, power consumption of the
4.1. Description of process heat pump, . . .) enables precise tracking of energy flows
(energy extracted from ground (heating mode) or injected
The GEOSOL process (Fig. 3) is being testing under real in ground (cooling mode), solar energy available, energy
conditions in a 180 m2 single family house (Fig. 4) at St consumptions for domestic hot water production, for
Jean d’Arvey in Savoie (France) since the autumn of heating and cooling mode). This data will be used to
2004. The main characteristics of the installation are as fol- validate the models developed with TRNSYS, and subse-
lows: two double-U borehole heat exchangers 90 m long; quently to optimise the design and operation of the
12 m2 of rooftop thermal solar collectors, this surface area GEOSOL process.
is oversized with respect to the domestic hot water require-
ments alone so that the excess solar energy production is
routed to the floor heating or to the boreholes to favour
thermal ground recovery; a reversible heat pump with an
heating power of 15.5 kW (CIAT Auréa ILA Z60); a
500 l combined solar/electrical hot water tank; a low-tem-
perature floor distribution system; the water–antifreeze
mixture (35% glycol solution, antifreeze to 18 °C) circu-
lates throughout the installation.
It is important to note that the circulation pumps only
operate sequentially. Therefore, their electricity consump-
tion is minimized and, in any case, less than or equal to
solutions comprising circulation pumps coupled with
three-way valves, which generate higher maintenance costs.
A regulation system splits the operation of the installa-
tion into three main operating sequences described in the
section below. Fig. 4. View of house used for the experiment.

Fig. 3. Principle diagram of GEOSOL process.

1754 V. Trillat-Berdal et al. / Applied Thermal Engineering 27 (2007) 1750–1755
4.2. Description of operating sequences
During the first possible operating sequence, the solar
collectors are involved in domestic hot water production
and, in addition, the geothermal heat pump meets the
building’s heating or cooling requirements. During the sec-
ond possible sequence, the solar energy produced is
injected directly into the low-temperature heating floor
(direct solar floor heating principle) or, if the temperature
level is insufficient, it may be used to supply the heat pump
cooling source to improve its COP. Finally, the third pos-
sible operating sequence consists of recharging the soil via
solar collectors or meeting the building’s cooling require-
ments by the reversible heat pump.
5. Theoretical approach
TRNSYS software is widely used by the international
scientific community in the field of energy applications
and is based on interconnectable models known as
‘‘TYPEs’’. The TYPEs correspond to the modelling of
the components of the system studied (BHE system, ther-
mal solar collectors, etc.) or specific functions (weather file
reading, etc.). The software includes a basic component
library, but it is also possible to create new components
or make changes to those that already exist.
The modelling will make it possible to conduct a theo-
retical study on the various alternative versions of the
GEOSOL process (see Table 1 below), in order to determine
the best process configuration(s) representing the optimum
technical and economical solution guaranteeing the com-
mercial distribution of the system. This analysis will enable
a competitive positioning of the installations under study
with respect to conventional heating installations.
So as to obtain a progressive comparative approach, ini-
tially, a geothermal heat pump only, which will serve as a
reference for all the other alternative versions in the study,
will be envisaged. On the other hand, the direct solar floor
system only will also be taken into consideration so as
obtain, with the above system, two diametrically opposed
basic solutions, since one only uses energy from the
Table 1
Overview of the various alternative versions studied
Technical Heating Domestic hot water
solution
Heat pump Heat pump Electrical hot water system
reference
solution
Intermediate Heat pump Independent solar hot water
solution system and electrical supply
GEOSOL Heat pump Oversized independent solar hot
solution water system and electrical
supply
Solar Direct solar floor Solar energy and electrical
reference heating and energy supply
solution supply
ground, while the other only uses energy supplied by ther-
mal solar collectors.
In order to tend towards a solution where the combina-
tion of the two above systems is optimised, the following
two intermediate solutions will be envisaged:
– Intermediate solution: consists of juxtaposing a geother-
mal heat pump for heating and an independent domestic
solar hot water system, with each component being
designed in a completely independent manner.
– GEOSOL solution: consists of a combination of a geo-
thermal heat pump and thermal solar collectors for heat-
ing and domestic hot water production. Compared to
the intermediate solution, the solar collectors circuit is
connected to the floor heating circuit (PSD) and the
BHE system in order to recharge the ground during
periods of excess solar production.
The purpose of the modelling will also be to study the
various operating sequences of the GEOSOL process in
detail. The purpose of simulating these sequences is to
determine whether their respective operating time is signif-
icant and to evaluate their influence on the installation’s
annual energy and environmental balance. In each
sequence, sensitivity studies will be conducted to analyse
the influence of the different parameters. Other sequences
liable to improve the installation’s performance will also
be envisaged and studied.
6. Conclusions
The combination of renewable energies such as thermal
solar energy and geothermal energy in a single system
should make it possible to meet heating, cooling and hot
water requirements, while guaranteeing a satisfactory level
of comfort and quality of use under all circumstances.
The project developed is indicative of the determination
of the industrial partners working together to design new
energy systems in line with current technical, economical
and environmental constraints, aiming to reduce green-
house gas emissions and, more generally, have sustainable
operating system.
The end purpose of the GEOSOL project is to offer an
alternative technical solution which helps reduce operating
costs compared to those generated by conventional solu-
tions using fossil energies. In addition, our solution initially
devised for private dwellings may be extended to collective
dwellings and the tertiary sector. For these two types of
application, thermal solar collectors could help reduce
the number of boreholes and the investment cost of the
installation.
Acknowledgements
This study was financially supported by the APS
(Assemblée des Pays de Savoie) and by the ADEME
(Agence française de l’Environnement et de la Maı̂trise
 V. Trillat-Berdal et al. / Applied Thermal Engineering 27 (2007) 1750–1755
de l’Energie) and PUCA (Plan Urbanisme Construction et
Architecture) within the scope of proposals for ‘‘Energy,
environmental and sanitary quality: prepare the Building
of 2010’’.
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