Vol. 337 No. 8 (2026)
DOI https://doi.org/10.18799/24131830/2026/8/5412
Numerical analysis of the effect of seasonal temperature fluctuations on the thermal modes of horizontal ground heat exchangers in Western Siberia
Relevance. Growing need for energy-efficient and renewable energy sources, such as low-potential heat from the Earth. Horizontal ground heat exchangers are one of the key elements of geothermal heat pumps, and their efficiency largely depends on climatic conditions and seasonal temperature fluctuations. In this regard, it is an important task to predict their thermal conditions in order to optimize design and operation in specific regions. Aim. To study the thermal modes of operation of a horizontal ground heat exchanger in conditions of seasonal temperature fluctuations in Western Siberia. Object. A typical design of a surface-type geothermal heat exchanger consisting of a polypropylene pipeline forming a closed heat exchange system and a heat-conducting filling – a specially prepared sand layer surrounding the pipelines. Methods. To solve the problem, the COMSOL Multiphysics multiphysical modeling complex was used with application of the Heat Transfer in Solids and Fluids module, designed to analyze heat transfer processes in solids and liquids. The calculations were performed on a finite element grid constructed using the Delaunay method. The model was verified by comparing it with analytical solutions and data from literary sources. Results. Detailed temperature distributions in the soil mass surrounding the heat exchanger were obtained with monthly increments throughout the year. It was established that the amplitude of seasonal temperature fluctuations at a depth of 1.5 m is up to 25°C, whereas at a depth of 3 m it does not exceed 5–7°C with a phase delay of 2–3 months. The maximum heat flows (up to 15.6 kW) are observed in the summer months, the minimum (about 8.5 kW) – in the winter months.
For citation: Polovnikov V.Yu., Lyubivy E.V., Fedorchenko I.P. Numerical analysis of the effect of seasonal temperature fluctuations on the thermal modes of horizontal ground heat exchangers in Western Siberia. Bulletin of the Tomsk Polytechnic University. Geo Assets Engineering, 2026, vol. 337, no. 8, pp. 57–64. http://doi.org/10.18799/24131830/2026/8/5412
Keywords:
numerical analysis, modeling, thermal conditions, geothermal energy sources, ground heat exchangers
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