ALBERT

Description: The utilization of groundwater is becoming increasingly popular for heating and cooling buildings, as well as to regulate the temperature needs of industrial processes. Groundwater has excellent energy potential from various factors, of which environmental acceptability stands out, as groundwater is considered a source of renewable energy. Due to the water table depth below the surface, atmospheric conditions have a negligible effect on the temperature of groundwater, resulting only in minor annual temperature variations, thus also making groundwater a source of reliable renewable energy. This paper presents some aspects of the groundwater heat pump (GWHP) system’s design and addresses a particular problem on the influence of recharge temperature field as well as local utility lines on the pumping well water temperature. An example is given of a system designed for a production hall in the northern part of Croatia. Geological and hydrogeological conditions at the site are highly favourable regarding the groundwater temperature and aquifer parameters. For the needs of this research, precise electronic sensors with data loggers were installed inside the wells. Probe type GSR 120 NT manufactured by Eltratec, Slovenia, is capable of monitoring level, temperature, and electrical conductivity, including telemetric data transfer to the remote server. Mapping the obtained data revealed significant temperature breakthroughs from the recharge wells, as well as local temperature field deviation near the sanitary and precipitation drainage collectors. Utility installation seepage influence was differentiated by the increase in groundwater electrical conductivity measured at the pumping wells. Results show that not only distance between the wells, as the main parameter that affects the system, but also industrial utility lines can have an influence on thermal field breakthrough.