Mobile QR Code QR CODE : Journal of the Korean Society of Civil Engineers
Title Estimation of Thermal Conductivity of Weathered Granite Soils
Authors 박현구(Park, Hyunku) ; 박한솔(Park, Hansol) ; 이승래(Lee, Seung-Rae) ; 고규현(Go, Gyu-Hyun)
DOI https://doi.org/10.12652/Ksce.2012.32.2C.069
Page pp.69-77
ISSN 10156348
Keywords 흙의 열전도도;화강풍화토;Kersten 수;경험식;포화도 soil thermal conductivity;Korean weathered granite soil;Kersten's number;empirical equation;degree of saturation
Abstract In general, geothermal energy pile and horizontal ground heat exchangers are installed in shallower depths than conventional vertical ground coupled heat pumps. Consequently their heat exchange performance is strongly governed by thermal conductivity of soil layer. Previous studies have shown that the thermal conductivity of soil above ground water table significantly affects the heat exchange rate because of partially saturated condition in soil and consequent variation of soil thermal conductivity. This paper presents a study result on the prediction of thermal conductivity of weathered granite soils. For weathered granite soils sampled from 5 locations, thermal conductivity tests were conducted with varying porosity and degree of saturation. The existing thermal conductivity models in literatures appeared inappropriate to the weathered granite soils. Hence, an empirical equation was proposed in this paper and its validity was examined by applying it to thermal conductivity test results obtained for weathered granite soils in this study and from literatures.