Abstract
A ground-source heat pump (GSHP) uses the earth as a heat source or heat sink to extract or reject the thermal energy. Since the annual temperature fluctuation of soil under the ground is relatively small, the GSHP system has been recognized as one of the most energy-efficient systems for space heating and cooling in residential and commercial buildings. In a GSHP system, one of the most important components is the ground-coupled heat exchanger, through which thermal energy is exchanged between heat carrier fluid (i.e., water or water-antifreeze fluid) and soil. Since the ground heat exchanger is responsible for a major portion of the initial cost of the GSHP system, and the efficiency of this system depends on the performance of a ground heat exchanger, careful design of the ground heat exchanger is crucial for successful application of the GSHP system [1].