GECCO2 TRT Rig moves the Goal post!

To assist the design and implementation of sustainable GSHP solutions it is universally regarded as necessary to perform Thermal Response Tests (TRT's) as part of the initial Site Investigation activities. To this end we are pleased to announce the addition of a unique and bespoke Thermal Response Test facility, built in-house, to our extensive range of services.

Initially, the design of a borehole field for a given GSHP system relies on published data. This data provides approximate information such as Thermal Conductivity, relating to how the GSHP system would be expected to perform given the local ground conditions. This approach accommodates its inaccuracies by either unnecessarily increasing the number of boreholes, the most expensive cost element per kW for a closed loop GSHP system, or worse still underestimating the true requirement, resulting in an unsustainable solution. TRT's significantly reduce the potential for this inaccuracy in design.

The test borehole would typically be of a similar design and construction to that of the proposed final solution, allowing it to be included as a functional part of the final scheme. A water / glycol mix is then passed through the test borehole loop, and round an external circuit containing instrumentation, heaters, and a pump. The instrumentation allows data to be recorded throughout the duration of the test, this provides both general monitoring ensuring the test is being executed consistently, and records the flow and return temperatures. It is these temperature profiles that allow the calculation of the necessary parameters.

                TRT4 smal internall             TRT5 smal internall

The comprehnsive instrumentation also allows us to compensate for any variation in ambient temperatures, flow rates, as well as account for energy dissipated into the flow via the pump. 

The bulk energy delivered by the system is regulated with particular accuracy via a closed loop system controlled by the rigs computer systems. All these features combine to enable a very stable data set to be collected, ensuring highly accurate results. 

Our testing rig consists of a vandal resistant, off-road towable unit, which has the ability to be lowered and raised using an in-built compressor. This minimises delays due to mobilising and demobilising, and when on site presents a safe, secure and totally enclosed solution with no exposed pipes or cables.

                      TRT1 small             TRT2 small     

In addition to the safety and mobility efficiencies of our TRT rig it is also totally self-sufficient, having its own water supply, super silenced power generator and all functions within the rig remotely operable via a 3G mobile broadband connection, allowing for remote start-up, shutdown, data analysis, and monitoring via the Web through a dedicated client section within the this website, further enhancing the efficiency and speed of analysis. The processing of the data, and the subsequent calculation of results is completed in house, giving us full control of delivering accurate data efficiently.  A report will then be issued highlighting all data.