Use of synthetic pipes in geothermics

The Institute of Plastics Processing (IKV) at RWTH Aachen University published a new guideline on the “Use of synthetic pipes in geothermics”.

With the global shortage of resources and the goal to reduce our harmful emissions we have to find alternative ways for energy generation. To look at the field of renewable energies especially the use of geothermal energy seems promising. Unlike wind and solar energy, geothermal energy is not influenced by the weather and offers limitless resorts of energy.

Mainly Pipes and moulded parts out of synthetics, mostly polyethylene, are used to build geothermal systems. The guideline’s first part informs the reader about those materials and the basics of geothermics. In the area of connecting engineering different methods, like welding, screw-in-clamps and pressing, are used. Those are dealt with in the second part. The third part shows important aspects of drilling and laying operations. A broad acceptance of geothermal energy generation can only be achieved with professional completion of drilling operations and a professional installation of the geothermal systems. The guideline should contribute to that.

This guideline and several others can be found at www.plenet-nrw.de.

Source: Institute of Plastics Processing (IKV) at RWTH Aachen University