Chapter 29
Influence of Thermal Conductivity
and Subsurface Temperature
on Life-Cycle Environmental Load
of the Ground Source Heat Pump
in Bangkok, Thailand
Yutaro Shimada, Youhei Uchida, Hideaki Kurishima, and Koji Tokimatsu
Abstract The aim of this study is to evaluate the life-cycle environmental load of a
ground source heat pump (GSHP) in Bangkok, Thailand. We conducted a life-cycle
inventory analysis based on the assumption of the introduction of an optimallydesigned GSHP to a commercial facility in Bangkok, Thailand. An air source heat
pump (ASHP) was selected as a comparison target. Moreover, sensitivity analysis was
conducted based on thermal conductivity and subsurface temperature to clarify the
influence of changes in groundwater flow and subsurface temperature. Indicators of
analysis were the life-cycle CO 2 , NO X , and SO 2 (LC–CO 2 , LC–NO X , and LC–SO 2 ,
respectively) emissions. As a result, the LC–CO 2 , LC–NO X , and LC–SO 2 emissions
of GSHP were reduced by 27.8%, 24.8%, and 25.6%, respectively compared with
ASHP. The LC–CO 2 emissions of GSHP within the scope of sensitivity analysis
were reduced by 26 to 28.6% compared with ASHP. These results show the GSHP in
Bangkok could achieve smaller environmental load than the ASHP and the changes
in groundwater flow and subsurface temperature do not greatly influence on the lifecycle environmental load. However, this study indicated that the large ground heat
exchanger is required compared to the other areas, e.g., United Kingdom, and China.
This means the economical and space constraints would be the barrier of introduction
of GSHP in Bangkok. Therefore, further research is required to evaluate not only the
environmental aspect, but also the economic aspect.
Keywords Ground source heat pump · Life-cycle inventory analysis · Thailand ·
Sensitivity analysis
Y. Shimada (B) · K. Tokimatsu
Department of Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering, School of Environment and Society,
Tokyo Institute of Technology, Kanagawa, Japan
e-mail: shimada.y.aj@m.titech.ac.jp
Y. Uchida
Renewable Energy Research Center, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and
Technology, Fukushima, Japan
H. Kurishima
School of Architecture, Shibaura Institute of Technology, Tokyo, Japan
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
Y. Kishita et al. (eds.), EcoDesign and Sustainability II, Sustainable Production, Life
Cycle Engineering and Management, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-6775-9_29
441
Influence of Thermal Conductivity
and Subsurface Temperature
on Life-Cycle Environmental Load
of the Ground Source Heat Pump
in Bangkok, Thailand
Yutaro Shimada, Youhei Uchida, Hideaki Kurishima, and Koji Tokimatsu
Abstract The aim of this study is to evaluate the life-cycle environmental load of a
ground source heat pump (GSHP) in Bangkok, Thailand. We conducted a life-cycle
inventory analysis based on the assumption of the introduction of an optimallydesigned GSHP to a commercial facility in Bangkok, Thailand. An air source heat
pump (ASHP) was selected as a comparison target. Moreover, sensitivity analysis was
conducted based on thermal conductivity and subsurface temperature to clarify the
influence of changes in groundwater flow and subsurface temperature. Indicators of
analysis were the life-cycle CO 2 , NO X , and SO 2 (LC–CO 2 , LC–NO X , and LC–SO 2 ,
respectively) emissions. As a result, the LC–CO 2 , LC–NO X , and LC–SO 2 emissions
of GSHP were reduced by 27.8%, 24.8%, and 25.6%, respectively compared with
ASHP. The LC–CO 2 emissions of GSHP within the scope of sensitivity analysis
were reduced by 26 to 28.6% compared with ASHP. These results show the GSHP in
Bangkok could achieve smaller environmental load than the ASHP and the changes
in groundwater flow and subsurface temperature do not greatly influence on the lifecycle environmental load. However, this study indicated that the large ground heat
exchanger is required compared to the other areas, e.g., United Kingdom, and China.
This means the economical and space constraints would be the barrier of introduction
of GSHP in Bangkok. Therefore, further research is required to evaluate not only the
environmental aspect, but also the economic aspect.
Keywords Ground source heat pump · Life-cycle inventory analysis · Thailand ·
Sensitivity analysis
Y. Shimada (B) · K. Tokimatsu
Department of Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering, School of Environment and Society,
Tokyo Institute of Technology, Kanagawa, Japan
e-mail: shimada.y.aj@m.titech.ac.jp
Y. Uchida
Renewable Energy Research Center, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and
Technology, Fukushima, Japan
H. Kurishima
School of Architecture, Shibaura Institute of Technology, Tokyo, Japan
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
Y. Kishita et al. (eds.), EcoDesign and Sustainability II, Sustainable Production, Life
Cycle Engineering and Management, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-6775-9_29
441