Energy Piles : Background and

Geotechnical Engineering Concepts

C. Guney Olgun
Civil & Environmental Engineering
Virginia Tech

16th Annual George F. Sowers Symposium

Atlanta, GA / May 7, 2013

Outline

Background and concept

Geothermal heat-exchange systems,
energy piles

Performance and geotechnical challenges

Design of energy piles

Summary and conclusions

Energy Piles

~65 F

80 F

It is All about Energy!

Courtesy J. Wheeler /
Virginia Tech
Courtesy J. Wheeler / Virginia Tech

Globally Increasing Need for Renewable Energy

Driving factors rising global energy demand and need to

reduce carbon emissions (i.e., recent UK codes require
zero-carbon buildings by 2019, U.S. executive order)
Buildings generate 43% of US carbon emissions
Considerable electricity consumption due to
heating/cooling
Electricity generation is largest source of air pollution in US
Commercial and residential buildings consume 71% of US
electricity

U.S. Energy Flow Chart

Significant energy consumption for residential and commercial heating / cooling

U.S. Geothermal Resources & Projects

Ground Temperature Profile

Fall

Spring

0
10

Winter

Summer

Depth (ft)

20
30
40
50
60
70
Atlanta, GA
80

Mean ground temperature

Tmean = 63F

40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85

Ground Temperature (F)

Ground Temperature Profile

Fall

Spring

0
J

Jn

Jl

10
Ground Surface

80
5 ft
70

10 ft
60

50 ft

Winter

Summer

20

Depth (ft)

Ground Temperature (F)

90

30
40
50
60

50

70
Atlanta, GA

40
0

30

60

90 120 150 180 210 240 270 300 330 360

Day of the Year

80

Tmean = 63F

40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85

Ground Temperature (F)

Ground temperature fluctuations

Geothermal Heat-Exchange Systems

Fall

Spring

0
10

Winter

Summer

Depth (ft)

20
30
40
50
60
70
Atlanta, GA
80

Tmean = 63F

40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85

Ground Temperature (F)

Utilize the relatively constant temperature of the ground and use it for
heating in the winter and cooling in the summer

Ground Source Heating/Cooling

Geothermal heat exchange systems provide ground-source energy for

heating and cooling
The use of ground-source systems for heating and cooling has
increased exponentially especially in Europe
Basic idea been around for long time make use of the heat energy
stored in the ground; access this energy using heat exchangers buried
in the ground (fluid-filled HDPE loops)
In ideal conditions these systems can provide majority of required
heating/cooling energy and significantly reduce costs and carbon
footprint

Geothermal Resources
WA

MT
ND

OR

ME

MN

ID
NY

WI

SD

VT

MI

CA
NV
WY
UT

IA

NE

PA
IL

CO

IN

OH

MO

WV

KS
AZ

VA

NM
TX

OK

NC
AR

TN
MS

AL

GA

SC

LA
FL

Temperature
above 100
C (212
F)
Temperatures
above
212F
o

o
o
Temperature
below 100
C (212
F)
Temperatures
below
212F

Area suitable for "Geothermal Foundation

Suitable for geothermal heat exchange
(entire U.S.)

(entire U.S.)

Outline

Background and concept

Geothermal heat-exchange systems,
energy piles

Performance and geotechnical challenges

Design of energy piles

Summary and conclusions

Geothermal Heat Exchange Systems

Geothermal Boreholes

Horizontal Loops

Energy Piles

Geothermal Borehole Wells

200 ft - 500 ft deep
Small residential to
large commercial

Major cost is drilling and materials

Horizontal Loops

6-10 ft

Horizontal Loops

Recently built house in Blacksburg VA

with a trench loop system

Horizontal Loops

Horizontal loop systems

within/beneath slabs

Energy Piles Dual Purpose Elements

GeothermalLoops

DeepFoundation

Foundationsupport
(micropile,drilledshaft,CFA)

EnergyPile

Heating/cooling
(PEX,HDPE)

Foundationsupport&
heating/cooling

Energy Piles Dual Purpose Elements

80 F

Spring

0
10

Winter

Summer

20

Depth (ft)

~65 F

Fall

30
40
50
60
70
Atlanta, GA
80

Tmean = 63F

40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85

Ground Temperature (F)

Energy Piles

Energy Piles Driven Precast Concrete

Performance of Heat Exchange Systems

Vertical

Horizontal

Energy Pile

Poor ground quality

8 W/ft

1 W/ft

8 W/ft

Average ground quality

15 W/ft

2.5 W/ft

15 W/ft

Excellent ground quality

25 W/ft

4 W/ft

25 W/ft

1W ~ 3.4Btu/hr

Cumulative no. of energy piles

Energy Pile Installations

25000
Austria (Brandl 2006)
20000

England (Amis 2009)

15000
10000
5000
0
1980

1990

2000

2010

Year

Swiss, Austrians, English and Japanese leading the effort since 1990s

Frankfurt Main Tower

223 Energy piles were installed

Power : 500kW
Courtesy R. Katzenbach TUD

Keble College, Oxford UK

First Energy Wall Project in the UK

Completion: 2002
Type of Absorber: Pile wall, 61 drilled shafts
Heating Capacity: 45 kW
Cooling Capacity: 45 kW
Courtesy Tony Amis, Geothermal International

Other Thermo-active Systems

Energy tunnel/anchor systems (Brandl 2006)

Other Thermo-active Systems

Energy tunnel/anchor systems (Brandl 2006)

Other Thermo-active Systems

Knightsbridge Palace Hotel Loop Installation into Energy Wall

(Courtesy Tony Amis, Geothermal International)

Pavement and Bridge Deck Deicing

Geothermal Bridge Deck Deicing

Plan View of the

Bridge Deck

Loops Embedded
in the Approach
Embankment

Small-scale Bridge Deck Slab

(8 ft x 10 ft)

Energy Piles

Bridge Deck Deicing Using Energy Piles

Geothermal Bridge Deck Deicing

Bridge Deck Deicing Using Energy Piles

Ground-source Grain Drying

Fan connected to a geothermal borehole system or energy foundation

and forces air through grains which eliminates grain moisture

Advantages of Thermo-active Foundations

Environmentally-friendly, with relatively little power
demand
Help reduce fossil fuel demand, decreasing CO2 emissions
Low maintenance and long lifetime
Installation in foundation permits heat exchange system
to be within building footprint, making more efficient use
of material and space
Offer more opportunities for radiant heating/cooling with
better humidity control
Less vulnerable to variation in energy source than
hydropower (droughts), wind, and solar
Less sensitive to energy price fluctuations

Outline

Background and concept

Geothermal heat-exchange systems,
energy piles

Performance and geotechnical challenges

Design of energy piles

Summary and conclusions

Effect of Ground Cooling

Structural Load

Cooling

Load + Cooling

Skin friction

Axial Load

Axial Load

Soil
Resistance

Ground cooling reduces stresses along pile cross-section,

can cause tensile stresses

Effect of Ground Heating

Structural Load

Heating

Load + Heating

Skin friction

Axial Load

Axial Load

Soil
Resistance

Heating can cause increased stresses along pile cross-section

Pile-Soil Interaction Ground Heating

Floating Pile

End-Bearing Pile

Axial Load

Soil
Resistance

Axial Load

Soil
Resistance

End restraints (top and bottom of the pile) effect the load transfer
mechanism during heating and cooling

Effect of End Bearing on Thermal Stresses

(psi)

(kips)
0

100

200

300

400

10

20

30

40

50

0
10

20

5
20

Thermal
+ Structural

15

40
50

Depth (m)

10

40
15

Structural
60
20

60
20
70
80

25
0

500

1000

1500

2000

Axial Pile Load (kN)

K. Soga / T. Amis Lambeth College

Thermal
+ Structural

25

80

30
0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

Normal Stress at Pile Cross Section (kPa)

L. Laloui - EPFL

Depth (ft)

10

30

Depth (ft)

Depth (m)

Structural

Virginia Tech Energy Pile Field Test

8 ft (2.4 m)

PEX
Double Loop

Observation
Point

Reaction Pile
HDPE
Single Loop
8 ft (2.4 m)

PEX
Single Loop

Test Pile

Reaction Pile

HDPE
Single Loop
8 ft (2.4 m)

Four Energy Piles 10-inch diameter, 100 ft long instrumented

Several observation boreholes - thermistors

Soil Profile and Ground Temperatures

Ground Temperature (C)
0

10

0
Fall

10

20

25
0

ing
S pr

Winter

Summer

20

12.8 m

42 ft

Weathered Shale

Depth (ft)

30

10

40
15

50
60

20
70
80

25

90
Blacksburg, VA
100
30

40

50

Tmean = 56F
60

70

Ground Temperature (F)

30
80

Depth (m)

Silty Sand (SP-SM)

15

Circulation Loops

HDPE Geothermal Loop and U-Bend

Circulation Loops

REHAU PEXa Geothermal Loop and U-Bend

Energy Pile Installation

Drilling

Energy Pile Installation

Energy Pile Installation

Thermal Conductivity Testing

30
t Flu
Inle

25

id

id
t Flu
e
l
t
Ou

20

2500

15
Avg. Applied Power ~ 2004 W
2000

10
Avg. Calorimeric Power ~ 1854 W
5

1500
0.1

10
Time (hours)

Heat Injection Rate (Watt)

Fluid Temperature (C)

35

Virginia Tech Energy Pile Test Site

Load Test Results Prior to Thermal

Load (ton)
0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140
0.0

1
2
0.1

3
4
5

0.2

6
7
End of loading

0.3

9
10
0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

Pile Head Displacement (in)

Pile Head Displacement (mm)

0.4
1400

Load (kN)

Pile Loaded to 150 tons (1330 kN) and this load maintained during
the later stages of testing

Pile Load prior to Thermal Loading

Pile Load (kN)
0

250

500

750

1000 1250 1500 1750 2000

0
10

20

SP-SM

30
40

15

Shale

20

No Thermal Load

50
60

Depth (ft)

Depth (m)

10

70
80

25

90
30

100
0

25

50

75 100 125
Pile Load (ton)

150

175

200

Thermo-Mechanical Load Test

Thermo-mechanical Load Test Set-up

Heating and Cooling Episodes

60

140
Ground loop inlet
Ground loop outlet

130

35oC

H
ea
tin

35oC
28oC

28oC

20

16oC

10

90
80

le

30

100

20oC

70

13 C

60
13oC

10 C

13oC
Cooling below
o
6 C in-situ temperature

Fluid Temperature (oF)

120
110

40

Pi

Fluid Temperature (oC)

50

50 C

50
40

0
0

10 11 12 13 14

Time (days)

Temperature cycles applied in stages with a temperature controller

Pile Load during Thermal Loading

Pile Load (kN)
0

250

500

750

1000 1250 1500 1750 2000

0
10

20

SP-SM

30
40

15

Shale

20

No Thermal Load
20oC (68oF)

50
60

Depth (ft)

Depth (m)

10

70
80

25

90
30

100
0

25

50

75 100 125
Pile Load (ton)

150

175

200

Pile Load during Thermal Loading

Pile Load (kN)
0

250

500

750

1000 1250 1500 1750 2000

0
10

20

SP-SM

30
40

15

Shale

20

No Thermal Load
20oC (68oF)
35oC (95oF)

25

50
60

Depth (ft)

Depth (m)

10

70
80
90

30

100
0

25

50

75 100 125
Pile Load (ton)

150

175

200

Pile Load during Thermal Loading

Pile Load (kN)
0

250

500

750

1000 1250 1500 1750 2000

0
10

20

SP-SM

30
40

15

Shale

20

No Thermal Load
20oC (68oF)
35oC (95oF)
50oC (122oF)

25

50
60

Depth (ft)

Depth (m)

10

70
80
90

30

100
0

25

50

75 100 125
Pile Load (ton)

150

175

200

Pile Load during Thermal Loading

Pile Load (kN)
0

250

500

750

1000 1250 1500 1750 2000

0
10

20

SP-SM

30
40

15

Shale

20

No Thermal Load
20oC (68oF)
35oC (95oF)
50oC (122oF)

25

60
70
80
90

6oC (43oF)

30

50

Depth (ft)

Depth (m)

10

100
0

25

50

75 100 125
Pile Load (ton)

150

175

200

Long Term Performance of Energy Piles

30

86

29

84

28

82

27

80

26

78

25

76

Houston TX

24

74

23
0

10

15

20

25

Years of Heat Pump Operation

30

Ground Temperature (F)

Ground Temperature (C)

31

Barriers to Wider Use

Lack of refined design standards current methods to

estimate field conductivity developed for geothermal
boreholes; we need geotechnical engineers to provide
leadership not mechanical engineers
Lack of awareness, regulatory issues, typical way HVAC
subcontracts written into projects; difficult to optimize
Energy Pile design if not involved early on in project
planning
Research questions about thermo-mechanical soil-structure
interaction effects, especially long-term behavior

Energy Pile Performance

Performance depends on many site-specific factors, such as soil

type (thermal conductivity is key!), ground water depth, initial
ground temperature
Best conditions are saturated sands and clays, especially with
ground water flow
Thermal yield from an energy pile under favorable ground
conditions ~25W/ft
Say heating/cooling load for this facility is about 150 kW or less
Assuming good soil conditions, and using 60-ft long piles, 18-in
diameter
We would need about 100 energy piles to supply heating and
cooling needs for the Union

Outline

Background and concept

Geothermal heat-exchange systems,
energy piles

Performance and geotechnical challenges

Design of energy piles

Summary and conclusions

Design of Energy Piles

Ground Source Heat Pump

Association Thermal Pile Standard
Check thermally induced pile
stresses
Pile performance under repeated
cyclic loading (annual heating and
cooling)
Estimate pile settlement due to
temperature cycles

http://www.gshp.org.uk/GSHPA_Thermal_Pile_Standard.html

Temperature Induced Pile Stresses

Depth below Ground Surface

Pile Axial Load

Cooling

Structural Load + Cooling

Structural Load Only
Structural Load + Heating

Heating

Check pile stresses due to thermal loading

Temperature Induced Pile Stresses

(ksf)

Pile Length (ft)

(kPa)

Addition/Reduction in Pile Axial Stress

40
14

50

60

70

80

90

700

12

600

10

500

400

300

200

100

-2

-100

-4

-200

-6

-300

T
20C (36F)

Heating
10C (18F)

-10C (-18F)
Cooling
-20C (-36F)
10

15

20

25

30

Pile Length (m)

Cooling

Heating

Heating and cooling induced pile stresses

from GSHP Thermal Pile Standard

Pile Performance under Structural and Cyclic

Thermal Loads
1.0

1.0

0.8
Normalized Cyclic Load Pc/Pu

Normalized Cyclic Load Pc/Pu

0.8
N = 10

0.6

N = 50
N = 100

0.4

Unstable

N = 600

No Cyclic Failure
First Failure
Cyclic Failure

Failure
Close to Failure
No Failure

10

20

0.6

50

100
200
400

0.4

0.2

0.2
Stable

0.0

0.0
0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

Normalized Mean Load Po/Pu

Normalized Mean Load Po/Pu

Poulos (1989)

Jardine and Standing (2000)

1.0

Check pile capacity under cyclic loading (heating and cooling)

Temperature Induced Pile Head Settlement

Pile Head Settlement

Maximum settlement
due to thermal effects

Maximum cyclic settlement

due to thermal effects
Structural Load Only
Structural Load and Pile Cooled
Structural Load and Pile Heated

Loading Cycles

Cooling

Heating

Check pile stresses due to thermal loading

Temperature Induced Pile Head Settlement

Pile Length (ft)
(in)
0.3

Maximum cyclic settlement

due to thermal effects
Structural Load Only
Structural Load and Pile Cooled
Structural Load and Pile Heated

Loading Cycles

40

50

60

70

80

90

7
Additional Settlement
due to Thermal Effects

Pile Head Settlement

Maximum settlement
due to thermal effects

(mm)
8

6
0.2

5
T

20C (36F)
3
0.1
2

10C (18C)

1
0.0

0
10

15

20

25

30

Pile Length (m)

from GSHP Thermal Pile Standard

Temperature Induced Pile Head Settlement

Pile Length (ft)
(in)
0.3

Maximum cyclic settlement

due to thermal effects
Structural Load Only
Structural Load and Pile Cooled
Structural Load and Pile Heated

Loading Cycles

40

50

60

70

80

90

7
Additional Settlement
due to Thermal Effects

Pile Head Settlement

Maximum settlement
due to thermal effects

(mm)
8

6
0.2

20C (36F)

5
4
3

10C (18C)

0.1
2
1
0.0

0
10

15

20

25

30

Pile Length (m)

from GSHP Thermal Pile Standard

Summary and Conclusions

Thermo-active foundations can significantly reduce

heating/cooling costs and CO2 emissions
Energy pile usage exponential in EU and Japan; not
common in US
New energy applications such as bridge deck deicing being
studied

Thermal loads can increase stresses in piles

Energy pile design guidelines recently developed

Great opportunity for civil engineers, especially

geotechnical engineers, but we must move faster

Thank You!
C. Guney Olgun
Civil & Environmental Engineering
Virginia Tech
olgun@vt.edu / www.olgun.cee.vt.edu
16th George F. Sowers Symposium
Atlanta, GA / May 7, 2013