Thermal Response Testing

 

graph of thermal response testing

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Thermal Response Testing (TRT) and otherwise known as Thermal Conductivity Testing is one of the critical services provided by Ground Source Consult.

It is the process used to gather information regarding the thermo-geology of a site and thus assess how best to deliver the required energy and carbon saving targets of the building.

Ground Source Consult provide detailed reports showing the available energy transfer to and from the ground pertinent to the site, this must be understood in order to determine the most effective final design and construction of the ground source energy system.


TRT services offered

 
OUTLINE DESIGN

GSC provide an appropriate outline design to enable the test to be conducted the design takes into account the likely geological conditions.

It is all too common to see test boreholes drilled to 100m and a loop installed with total disregard to the finished design and the geological conditions.

The test results obtained are specific to the length of borehole tested and so any subsequent variations from this notional 100 m test hole, when the detailed design is complete, is likely to require a new test.

BOREHOLE DEPTHS UP TO 325M

GSC are able to test boreholes to depths of up to 325 m. and the loggers all have duplicate sensors to ensure data is always captured.
If a piece of test data is not collected due to sensor failure there could, in certain geology, be a period of several weeks before the test can be repeated

TRT UNIT Rental & FREE TRT REPORTS

For key clients, GSC provide a rental service for the TRT unit with free TRT report based upon the results obtained, enabling the client to carry out the test more cost effectively, this is particularly suitable for smaller schemes.

FULL TURNKEY TRT SOLUTION

GSC offer full turnkey TRT’s including;

  • Outline design
  • Provision of drilling services
  • Generator power
  • Set up and running of the TRT
  • Evaluation of the results
  • Reporting of the thermal properties for the test borehole.

As outlined previously, it is important to ensure that the data is obtained and is unaffected by external effects and so often clients ask for our expert TRT team to attend site and deliver the entire test package.

FULLY OPTIMISED DESIGN SERVICE BASED ON TRT ONSITE RESULTS

Where multiple properties are being equipped with heat pumps, for example a social housing development, GSC are able to provide all design services and test boreholes on site in order to optimise the design for remaining boreholes.

SPEED, EFFICIENCY AND ACCURACY

Fast turnaround of results is vital in particular where the TRT is being carried out on one of the first boreholes installed on site.  GSC are able to provide the results within a matter of hours following the end of the test and provide the full report very shortly afterwards.  The design can then be optimised for any remaining borehole for the scheme.

ASHRAE, the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers, has published a set of procedures for performing formation thermal conductivity tests for geothermal applications and Ground Source Consult adheres to these recommendations as they consistently prove invaluable.