Over the past decade, the research community has demonstrated increasing interest in advancing geothermal heating and cooling (GHC) systems through the integration of phase change materials (PCMs), tripling the number of scientific publications between 2021 and 2024. Within this context, this review evaluates two main application forms: PCM-based thermal energy storage (PCM-TES) units and PCM in ground heat exchangers (PCM-GHEs), the latter used with PCM-enhanced heat transfer fluids, PCM in heat transfer pipes, PCM in backfills, or PCMs deployed in ground vicinity. This review yields that on average, PCM integration improves heat transfer between the ground and the thermal load by 27 %, increases the coefficient of performance of heat pumps by 15 %, stabilizes heat transfer fluid temperature by 1–3 °C, and reduces GHE length by 10 - 90 %. For PCM-TES units, cost savings of up to 55 % are achieved with tariff-based operation. However, system performance is sensitive to both ground and phase change temperatures. Especially for PCM-GHEs, which require favorable operating conditions in both short- and long-term, and thermal conductivity enhancement of PCMs is often a necessity. Current technologies demonstrate a technology readiness level of 4–8, yet require validation through long-term, full-scale testing and comprehensive evaluations of cost effectiveness, as under-investigated aspects today.

This study proposes a life cycle assessment (LCA) framework to support the design of a building heating and cooling system with a ground source heat pump (GSHP) and phase change material thermal energy storage (PCM-TES) considering three key performance indicators (KPIs) in long-term performance, life cycle cost, and life cycle impact. It provides a method to map interlinkages of KPIs and identify key influence factors.   

This study reviews advancements in the use of phase change materials (PCMs) in underground thermal energy storage(UTES) systems. The primary application forms include vertical and horizontal ground heat exchangers (GHEs) and PCM underground storage units. The paper emphasizes the diverse potential of PCMs in UTES by selecting representative research that investigates various types of PCMs and their integration concepts. It highlights the role of PCMs in enhancing storage density and improving system efficiency.

Borehole heat exchangers are widely used in heat pumps of residential buildings and industrialsystems. It is known as one of the most energy ecient technologies which provides heatingand cooling by using sustainable geothermal energy. The life time of borehole heat exchangerslasts more than 50 years which is longer than combustion boilers. Therefore, designing abore eld with accurate sizing is important for its future applications. Due to the large volumeof the ground, the transient heat transfer process of the bore eld lasts for a long time span. Because of this, only a few of the heat transfer models for borehole ground heat exchangersare validated by experiments. Besides, experimental validation in a real scale borehole can bedicult because of the uncertainty of the composition and thermal properties of the ground. A solution to faster experimental validation is to scale down the size of the borehole andground.

This report presents the construction process of a lab-scale model simulating a 4x4 bore eldof 300 m depth vertical boreholes. The process of experimental construction is describedin detail, including ground set up, conductivity test, construction of hydraulic system anddata acquisition system. The pressure drop of hydraulics system is around 2.8 bar under the a flow rate of 200 ml/min and corresponding pump speed is around 2900 to 3100 rpm. The property of the sand has been investigated through a series of conductivity tests, which shows an average thermal conductivity of 1.75 W / (m • K) and average thermal diffusivity of 8.14x10^-7 m²/s.

Numerical simulation (via COMSOL) is carried out for preliminary validation. Comparison of experimental and simulation results shows discrepancies and one possible reason can be: the actual heat injection rate in experiment is lower than simulation due to heat losses of hydraulic system; uncertainty of ground (saturated sand) conductivity and thermal diffusivity.

Borrhålsvärmeväxlare används ofta i värmepumpar i bostadshus och industrisystem. Det är känt som en av de mest energieffektiva teknikerna som tillhandahåller värme och kyla genom att använda hållbar geotermisk energi. Livslängden för borrhålsvärmeväxlare varar mer än 50 år vilket är längre än förbränningspannor. Därför är det viktigt att utforma ett borrfalt med exakt dimensionering för dess framtida tillämpningar. På grund av den stora markvolymen varar den transienta värmeöverforingsprocessen i borrfältet under lång tid. På grund av detta är endast ett fåtal av värmeöverföringsmodellerna för borrhålsjordvärmeväxlare validerade genom experiment. Dessutom kan experimentell validering i ett borrhål i verklig skala vara svårt på grund av osäkerheten i markens sammansättning och termiska egenskaper. En lösning för snabbare experimentell validering är att skala ner storleken på borrhålet och marken.

Denna rapport presenterar konstruktionsprocessen av en modell i labbskala som simulerar ett 4x4-borrfält med 300 m djupa vertikala borrhål. Processen for experimentell konstruktion beskrivs i detalj, inklusive markuppställning, konduktivitetstest, konstruktion av hydraulsystem och datainsamlingssystem. Tryckfallet for hydrauliksystemet är cirka 2,8 bar under en flödeshastighet pa 200 ml/min och motsvarande pumphastighet är runt 2900 till 3100 rpm. Sandens egenskaper har undersökts genom en serie konduktivitetstester, som visar en genomsnittlig värmeledningsformåga pa 1,75 W/(m • K) och en genomsnittlig termisk dffusivitet på 8.14x10 ^-7 m²/s. 

Numerisk simulering (via COMSOL) utförs för preliminär validering. Jämförelse av experimentella och simuleringsresultat visar avvikelser och en möjlig orsak kan vara: den faktiska värmeinsprutningshastigheten i experimentet är lägre än simulering på grund av värmeförluster i hydraulsystemet; osäkerhet i markens (mättad sand) konduktivitet och termisk diffusivitet.

Well-integrated thermal energy storage units can enhance flexibility and profitability for a cogeneration system by enabling its decoupling of electricity and heat production. In the present study, novel latent heat thermal energy storage technologies are numerically investigated on their thermal and economic performance to evaluate their implementation at an existing combined cycle power plant. Three commercially available storage designs are analyzed: one shell-and-tube heat exchanger design based on planar spiral coils, and two types of advanced macro-encapsulated designs with capsules resembling ellipsoid and slab in shape, respectively. For the spiral coil design, three-dimensional flow velocity and temperature fields are simulated with finite volume method to predict the transient storage heat transfer process, including the effect of secondary flow induced by centrifugal forces. For the macro-encapsulated designs, effective heat transfer coefficients between heat transfer fluid (HTF) and phase change material (PCM) are inferred from scaled-down storage prototyping and testing. A onedimensional two-phase packed bed model was developed based on the apparent heat capacity-based enthalpy method to numerically study the heat transfer in macro-encapsulated PCM. With an operating temperature range of 46-72 degrees C and a HTF supplying flowrate range of 4.2-8.4 m3/h defined by the cogeneration strategy, thermal power and accumulated storage capacity are calculated and compared for the first three hours of charge and the first hour of discharge for the three designs. The effect from increasing the HTF flowrate to accelerate charging/ discharging processes is indicated by the simulation results. Performance comparison among the three designs shows that the slab capsule design exhibits the highest accumulated storage capacity (710 kWh) and state of charge (40%) after three hours of charge, though it has a lower theoretical total storage capacity (1760 kWh) than the spiral coil design (1830 kWh). The ellipsoid capsule design shows a slightly lower accumulated storage capacity (700 kWh) than the slab design for 3-hr charge and an equivalent accumulated storage capacity/depth of discharge (250 kWh/14%) as the latter. Furthermore, the storage power cost of the slab capsule design is the lowest, by 6-12% lower than the spiral coil design and by 2-3% lower than the ellipsoid capsule design. However, with the highest design flowrate of 8.4 m3/h, the low state of charge (below 40%) after three hours and the low depth of discharge (below 14%) after one hour indicate that redesigning the heat transfer boundary conditions and the configurations of the three units are necessary to meet desirable storage performance in cogeneration applications.