Speaker
Description
The impending depletion of fossil fuel resources and the environmental degradation caused by the pollutants generated from their utilization have necessitated the employment, development, and application of renewable energy sources. Geothermal energy, as one of the renewable energy sources, has played a significant role in the development of countries around the world, and in Iran, it is considered one of the most suitable renewable energy sources to potentially replace fossil fuels. Energy piles, a type of structural pile installed beneath the foundation of a structure, incorporate heat exchange pipes within their body, allowing for the absorption and transfer of the Earth's thermal energy by the fluid circulating within these pipes. Essentially, energy piles serve a dual purpose: they function as load-bearing structural members and as an intermediary for harnessing geothermal energy. By employing energy piles, in addition to conserving and stockpiling fossil fuels, their utilization for cooling and heating purposes in the industry can be realized, while simultaneously preventing the release of environmental pollutants that would otherwise result from the combustion of fossil fuels.
In this workshop, the focus will be on the practical usages of energy piles, with discussions on the following subjects:
1) An introduction to energy piles
2) Geotechnical, structural, and mechanical aspects in implementing energy piles
3) An introduction to the Geo-Energy Structures Laboratory at NRI
4) Industrial potentials for using energy piles
