Thermoactive foundations

In thermoactive foundations, foundation piles, also referred to as "thermal piles" or as "energy piles", are used as heat exchangers for supplying low temperature heat to heat pumps. They can also be used for underground storage of warmth supplied by road solar collectors.

Thermoactive foundations for underground storage of low temperature heat.

In the work on thermoactive foundations, a number of promising innovations, such as the use of thermally enhanced concrete have been analysed, using calibrated high detail 3D-FEM (Finite Element Models).

Calibrated high detail 3D-finite element model analysing the performance of thermal piles using new materials.

Simulation runs show that thermally enhanced concrete significantly increases the performance of thermal piles in peak load operation by as much as 40%.

Solintel and HSW have also produced a simple Matlab model for thermal piles to be used in the simulation tool for the assessment of districts.

Energy storage studies within the E-Hub project

Thermochemical storage technology is being studied by ECN.

Another promising thermochemical storage technology is being studied by TNO.

Distributed heat storage is being studied by VITO.