Numerical simulation of a coupled geothermal pavementsystem with event-based pump control

The increasing global demand for energy has led to a growing interest in sustainable energy sources. The utilization of geothermal energy presents a promising alternative to meet this demand due to its accessibility and unlimited nature. Among the various applications of geothermal energy, one innovative use is de-icing pavement systems. This study aims to investigate the performance of a geothermal pavement system under winter conditions through a numerical simulation using COMSOL Multiphysics. An energy pile is connected to the pavement via a closed-loop pipe network. In order to prevent ice formation on the pavement surface, the heat carrier pipes transfer heat from the ground to the pavement through a circulating fluid. The coupling of Heat Transfer in Porous Media, Heat Transfer in Pipes, and Pipe Flow physics helps simulate more realistic thermal and fluid dynamics. The surface boundaries include environmental factors such as solar radiation, wind, and latent heat transfer. The pump operation was controlled on the basis of the pavement surface and ambient temperatures using the Events interface. The traditional approach is to study the pavement and energy pile separately, which overlooks the effect of the inter-domain heat transfer. This work offers a unified approach through a coupled system, enhancing the accuracy of performance assessment.