- Author
- Fang, J. B.
- Title
- Calculations of Maximum Allowable Heat Losses for Various Shallow Trench Heat Distribution Systems.
- Coporate
- National Bureau of Standards, Gaithersburg, MD
- Sponsor
- Army Corps of Engineers, Washington, DC Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Alexandria, VA Air Force Engineering and Services Center, Tyndall AFB, FL
- Report
- NBSIR 87-3617, November 1987,
- Distribution
- Available from National Technical Information Service
- Keywords
- heat distribution systems; heat losses; trenches; finite element analysis; computer applications
- Abstract
- The calculation of heat losses for shallow trench underground heat distribution systems was performed using a finite element computer program. The finite element analysis solved a two-dimensional steady-state heat transfer problem for two insulated pipes in a rectangular trench with surrounding soil. A life-cycle cost analysis was performed to determine the cost of construction and annual energy cost associated with pipe heat loss for underground concrete trench systems of different trench dimensions and insulated pipe sizes.