通过优化地下换热器的长度，可以最大限度地降低地源热泵系统的安装成本。对于给定的系统，长度除其他因素外，取决于管道的导热系数，可通过向用于挤出管道的聚合物树脂中混合添加剂来增加导热系数。使用这种方法，IPL制造了一种新的高密度聚乙烯管，其导热系数为0.7 W·m-1·K-1（0.40 Btuh-1·ft-1·F-1），比普通高密度聚乙烯管高75%- 密度聚乙烯。采用二维和三维数值模拟方法，对与地源热泵配套使用的垂直地下换热器中热强化管的性能进行了评估。对换热过程中的井眼热阻和管内水温进行了数值计算。模拟结果表明，对于采用单U形弯管制成的地下换热器，热增强管可将钻孔热阻降低高达24%，从而缩短所需的钻孔长度。 通过热增强管，等效热注入或提取的水温也分别降低和升高，从而提高热泵性能。引文:内华达州拉斯维加斯ASHRAE Transactions第117卷第1部分

The installation cost of a ground-source heat pump system can be minimized by optimizing the length of the ground heat exchanger. For a given system, the length depends, among other factors, on the pipe thermal conductivity, which can be increased by mixing additives to the polymer resin used to extrude the pipe. Using this method, IPL has manufactured a new high-density polyethylene pipe whose thermal conductivity is 0.7 W·m–1·K–1(0.40 Btuh–1·ft–1·°F–1), which is 75% higher than that of regular high-density polyethylene. Two and three-dimensional numerical simulations were used to evaluate the performance of the thermally enhanced pipe in vertical ground heat exchangers used with ground-coupled heat pumps. The borehole thermal resistance and the water temperature inside the pipes during heat exchange were evaluated numerically. Simulations show that the thermally enhanced pipe reduces the borehole thermal resistance by up to 24% for ground heat exchangers made with a single U-bend, which can, in turn, shorten the required borehole length. The water temperatures for equivalent heat injection or extraction are also decreased and increased, respectively, with the thermally enhanced pipe, which therefore enhances heat pump performances.