Thermal Conductivity Testing
A necessary prerequisite to installing a ground source heat exchanger is a thermal conductivity test.
Thermal conductivity tests allow us to gather data from the specific site of installation about the thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity and earth’s temperature. Once we know about the ability of the ground below the site to absorb and release energy, we can better design a heat exchanger that will perform for the building.
A thermal conductivity test consists of drilling a borehole below the ground’s surface at the site specified for installation. We fit the borehole with a specially-manufactured pipe and seal the borehole with a permanent environmental seal of a limestone based mixture. After about 5 days the borehole will have reached the temperature of the undisturbed earth and we can perform a detailed conductivity test. An analysis of the test results can be completed in about 2 weeks.
To view a sample report, click on the image to the left.
For more information on performing a conductivity test with a GeoCube test unit, watch this video.