Hodasová K., Krčmář D. & Zatlakovič M., 2020: Assessment of the influence of a building upon groundwater temperature pattern using numerical modelling. Acta Geologica Slovaca, 12, 2, 161–170.

Assessment of the influence of a building upon groundwater temperature pattern using numerical modelling

Kamila Hodasová, Dávid Krčmář & Martin Zatlakovič

Department of Hydrogeology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Ilkovičova 6, SK–842 15, Bratislava, Slovakia; hodasova11@uniba.sk

Abstract

Nowadays, heat transport in an aquifer is a widely discussed topic. Groundwater temperature rise is the result of a variety of factors and a common phenomenon, especially in larger cities. Heating and cooling in buildings, infrastructure, even paved surfaces can accumulate solar energy and further emit heat into the subsurface, leading to an increase in temperature. The research of the issue of increased groundwater temperature is related to the potential use of heat as an energy source. Numerical modelling, which is based on the solution of partial differential equations, can be used to evaluate the given phenomenon. The Aupark shopping centre in Bratislava was selected for the model area, where the temperature in hydrogeological boreholes is monitored, and at the same time, multilevel monitoring of the rock environment temperature takes place. The evaluation of monitoring data was realised through the Groundwater Vistas 7 programme, where a hydraulic and transport model was compiled using MODFLOW and MT3DMS. The MT3DMS code is intended for the transport of dissolved substances; however, with the appropriate substitution of input parameters, it is also applicable for the transport of heat. The sensitivity of the input data and calibration of the model was evaluated through the PEST programme, where the goal was to achieve the highest possible correlation between the measured and modelled results. By analyzing the data from monitoring, it was possible to quantify the areal and depth impact of the Aupark shopping centre. Last but not least, the energy input from Aupark to the rock environment was determined, and ranges from 0.1 W·m^-2 at a distance of 100 m to 12 W·m^-2 immediately next to the building.

Key words: numerical modelling, temperature pattern, heat transport, urban heat island, MT3DMS, MODFLOW

Manuscript received: 2020-10-23

Revised version accepted: 2020-11-23