Validation of cooling grid model and testing of alternatives

Watt, Andrew Thomas (2008) Validation of cooling grid model and testing of alternatives. [USQ Project]

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Abstract

[Abstract]: The Great Artesian Basin Sustainability Initiative, (GABSI), is a joint state and federal government project which rehabilitates artesian bores and replaces bore drains with polyethylene pipeline systems to tanks and troughs for stock water. The naturally pressurised artesian water can reach temperatures of up to 99°C due to the heat convection at great depths within the Earth’s crust. The heated artesian water is required to be cooled to below 45°C to prevent heat deterioration of the
polyethylene pipe and to maintain a 50 year design life of the entire reticulation system. Historically, a submerged network of copper pipes has been designed for each system to provide a cooling mechanism and maintain the natural pressure of the bore.

The project’s main aim was to predict and confirm the heat transfer parameters for cooling grids submerged in water and air, investigate alternative cooling options and validate the design model to accurately reflect existing operation. The testing procedure utilised a 12 metre length of the three pipe materials under investigation, which were tested at four representative flow rates surrounded by air and then submerged underwater. Inlet, outlet, ambient and pond temperatures were monitored along with relative humidity and weather observations.

The experimental results and research allowed for model to be validated and deemed accurate with an appropriate factor of safety. The alternative designs tested were comparatively analysed accounting for costs, cooling performance, pipeline flow characteristics, material availability, corrosion resistance and maintenance requirements. Aluminium was determined to exhibit the most
desirable traits and was recommended as the most suitable alternative cooling grid pipe material. Air as a heat transfer medium was deemed inappropriate for cooling
artesian bore water because of the apparent lack of heat transfer.


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Item Type: USQ Project
Refereed: No
Item Status: Live Archive
Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: Historic - Faculty of Engineering and Surveying - Department of Agricultural, Civil and Environmental Engineering (Up to 30 Jun 2013)
Date Deposited: 06 Aug 2009 04:42
Last Modified: 02 Jul 2013 23:22
Uncontrolled Keywords: groundwater; Great Artesian Basin; Australia; artesian bore; artesian well; bore maintenance; pipe; pipe structure; cooling water
Fields of Research (2008): 07 Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences > 0799 Other Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences > 079901 Agricultural Hydrology (Drainage, Flooding, Irrigation, Quality, etc.)
09 Engineering > 0905 Civil Engineering > 090509 Water Resources Engineering
Fields of Research (2020): 30 AGRICULTURAL, VETERINARY AND FOOD SCIENCES > 3002 Agriculture, land and farm management > 300201 Agricultural hydrology
40 ENGINEERING > 4005 Civil engineering > 400513 Water resources engineering
URI: https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/5534

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