NewsAssessing the interaction of an energy tunnel with the underground thermal conditions
Today at the joint ELGIP - EGS UGEG Workshop on "Urban Geology & Geotechnics", the Politecnico di Torino DISEG was represented by Marco Barla and Alessandra Insana who showed the methodology for assessing the interaction of an energy tunnel with the underground thermal conditions in an urban area. The study unveiled the importance of considering the current geothermal use of the subsoil of a metropolitan area when designing a new shallow geothermal system. This allows not to hinder future energy exploitation and optimises its use. The case study investigated is that of the Turin Metro Line 2 which is planned to be thermally activated both in the cut and cover sections, thanks to energy diaphragm walls, and in the TBM tunnel sections, using Enertun segments. The impact of the energy tunnel was shown to be restricted to the depths of the infrastructure bearing a limited extension with respect to the thermally altered zones originating from the open loop systems.
