- Author
- Fang, J. B. | Grot, R. A.
- Title
- Evaluation of Thermal Probe Method for Estimating the Heat Loss From Underground Heat Distribution Systems.
- Coporate
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD
- Sponsor
- Department of Energy, Washington, DC
- Report
- NISTIR 88-4009, December 1988, 125 p.
- Distribution
- Available from National Technical Information Service
- Keywords
- thermal probe | heat loss | heat distribution | computer software | district heating and cooling | earth temperature | instrumentation system | nonlinear least squares fitting | soil | temperature probe | thermal conductivity
- Abstract
- An automated, microcomputer controlled instrumentation system for in situ measurements of the earth temperatures and soil thermal conductivities at different depths is described. The system can also be used on site for calculating the heat losses from the underground district heating pipes. Step-by-step use and operation procedures of the developed heat loss measuring system and computer software package are presented. The heat loss rates and locations of underground pipes are calculated from the measured values of soil thermal conductivity and the earth temperatures around the pipes using the non-linear least squares method. The thermal probe techniques was used to estimate the heat loss rates and the depths of buried steam supply and condensate return pipes installed at James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Virginia.