Simple computer program to model 3-dimensional underground heat flow with realistic boundary conditions

Conference · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:6778185

Metz, P D

A FORTRAN computer program called GROCS (GROund Coupled Systems) has been developed to study 3-dimensional underground heat flow. Features include the use of up to 30 finite elements or blocks of earth which interact via finite difference heat flow equations and a subprogram which sets realistic time and depth dependent boundary conditions. No explicit consideration of moisture movement or freezing is given. GROCS has been used to model the thermal behavior of buried solar heat storage tanks (with and without insulation) and serpentine pipe fields for solar heat pump space conditioning systems. The program is available independently or in a form compatible with specially written TRNSYS component TYPE subroutines. This paper first describes the approah taken in the design of GROCS, the mathematics contained and the program architecture. Then, the operation of the stand-alone version is explained. Finally, the validity of GROCS is discussed. A companion paper serves as a user's guide to the TRNSYS-compatible subroutine version.

• Research Organization: Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, NY (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-76CH00016
• OSTI ID: 6778185
• Report Number(s): BNL-29776-R; CONF-811101-31; ON: DE83006683
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
142000* -- Solar Energy-- Heat Storage-- (1980-)
25 ENERGY STORAGE
250600 -- Energy Storage-- Thermal
AIR CONDITIONERS
COMPUTER CODES
ENERGY STORAGE
ENERGY SYSTEMS
EQUIPMENT
G CODES
GROUND SOURCE HEAT PUMPS
HEAT FLOW
HEAT PUMPS
HEAT SINKS
HEAT STORAGE
HEATING SYSTEMS
LEVELS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
SINKS
SOLAR AIR CONDITIONERS
SOLAR COOLING SYSTEMS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOLAR HEATING SYSTEMS
SOLAR-ASSISTED HEAT PUMPS
STORAGE
THREE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
UNDERGROUND