Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
  • Publication
    Developing Geothermal Energy Research Capabilities at University College Dublin
    (Geothermal Association of Ireland, 2011) ;
    Ireland has one of the highest energy dependencies in Europe and as such must adapt quickly to increase renewable energy exploitation levels in order to secure its energy future. A mix of renewable energy technology types (wind, solar, biomass, wave, tidal, geothermal) will be required in order to achieve Ireland’s national renewable energy generation targets. Geothermal (or ground source) energy can have a part to play in this mix. Over the last number of years the School of Civil, Structural & Environmental Engineering in University College Dublin has begun to develop shallow geothermal energy research capabilities in several areas of interest. Early studies involved the investigation of water chemistry and settlement issues at several sites on the Cork docklands. It was concluded that the chemical characteristics of the water contained in the aquifer could hinder the development of open loop geothermal systems in the area, and that settlement may be a potential concern in cases where open loop systems are installed due to the presence of highly compressible alluvium deposits. Subsequent work has involved the development, construction & performance validation of a thermal response testing rig for site thermal characterisation, installation of both domestic and commercial sized energy piles for research purposes and investigation of soil, rock and grout thermal properties using both steady-state and non-steady-state laboratory testing techniques. This paper gives a brief overview of the completed and ongoing work in the School of Civil, Structural & Environmental Engineering.
      3472
  • Publication
    Energy Foundations - Potential for Ireland
    (American Society of Civil Engineers, 2011-03) ;
    With one of the highest energy dependencies in the European Union, Ireland must adapt quickly to renewable energy technologies or risk paying the penalty in the form of high energy prices in years to come. Escalating energy costs have led to a renewed interest in alternative energy technologies and ground source energy is one such resource which is being increasingly considered. This paper presents some of the practical considerations of energy foundations, evidenced from the installation of a number of test energy piles. In addition, a preliminary feasibility study of an energy foundation system for a planned university administrative building and an overview of the current status of ground source energy technology in Ireland are presented. Building heating and cooling loads are estimated based on high building energy standards which the university hopes to implement in all building projects going forward. The proposed energy foundation system is shown to have the capacity to provide the heating and cooling base loads for the building
      1460Scopus© Citations 4
  • Publication
    Geothermal energy in small countries - laying the foundations for innovative development
    (World Federation of Engineering Organizations, 2011-09-04) ;
    Creation of an environment in which shallow geothermal energy can thrive will require a coherent approach and a high level of collaboration with professionals from countries that have developed technical expertise in the area. Implementation of regulations, standards and guidelines adapted from best practice in countries such as Switzerland, Germany and Sweden, in addition to understanding the mistakes and successes made by these countries, with respect to the development of their geothermal industries, will help small countries such as Ireland to develop a well-regulated market for the technology. This paper outlines and addresses some of the technical, regulatory and certification issues faced particularly by small countries in their efforts to develop a shallow geothermal energy industry, provides examples of best practice with regard to development in countries with established geothermal energy industries and presents proposed solutions to these issues / barriers using the existing situation in Ireland by way of example.
      821
  • Publication
    Monitoring environmental parameters in poultry production facilities
    (Institute for Process and Particle Engineering, Graz University of Technology, Austria, 2013-04) ; ; ;
    Increases in fuel and feed prices are placing a significant burden on the poultry industry in Ireland and worldwide. For producers to meet their financial targets, increased performance and output is a key issue, now more than ever. To optimise performance in broiler production houses, the effect of environmental and air quality parameters on bird performance and energy consumption must be known to allow farmers make informed management decisions. This paper concentrates on the application precision livestock farming sensors to develop recommendations for improved bird performance and energy consumption in broiler production farms in Ireland.   Air temperature, relative humidity, light, air speed and air quality (in particular CO2 and NH3 concentrations) are identified as important parameters for improving bird performance and energy consumption in broiler production houses. Several of these parameters (temperature, relative humidity, CO2 and NH3) were monitored on two farms during the study over the initial 2 weeks of the production cycle. Air quality was often overlooked during the production process, as farmers struggled to limit high heating and feed costs. However, elevated levels of CO2 (>3000 ppm) did not appear to affect broiler growth rates. Additionally, a strong correlation was observed between relative humidity and NH3 (R2 = 0.86 - 0.92). Producers tend to use relative humidity as an indication for NH3 levels and the research shown in this study confirms the close relationship between the two parameters. It is recommended that further data should be gathered from producing units and novel performance technologies should also be investigated.
      5654
  • Publication
    Interpretation of In Situ and Laboratory Thermal Measurements Resulting in Accurate Thermogeological Characterisation
    (Taylor & Francis, 2012-09) ;
    Growing worldwide interest in the exploitation of geothermal energy resources has led to a scenario where the technology routinely forms part of building-scale renewable energy feasibility studies. A thorough understanding of site-specific thermogeological parameters is a vital design requirement of such systems and accurate measurement and interpretation of these parameters is necessary in order to inform scientifically rigorous system design. An overview of the theory underlying a number of laboratory and in situ thermal characterization testing methods and the results from a number of testing regimes carried out using the various thermal characterization equipment constructed in University College Dublin are presented. Results from both the laboratory steady-state and non-steady-state thermal analysis systems and the in situ thermal characterization system are shown to provide accurate measurements of soil and rock thermal parameters. In addition, the settlement profiles of a number of the tested materials were investigated in order to gain an in-sight into this potential drawback of exchanging the backfill material placed around electricity cables to optimize thermal transfer efficiency.
      593