Energy Piles
Last Post 15 Apr 2014 12:50 AM by FBBP. 6 Replies.
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TerribleEngineerUser is Offline
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11 Apr 2014 05:31 PM
Hello all. Long time lurker first time poster. I just got back my geotechnical report and I will need to install a deep foundation for a house I am building. I want to make the best of the situation and turn the piles into energy piles for use as geothermal. The house is already planned to have solar thermal panels on it and I want to take advantage by recharging the soil with heat in the summer. Unfortunately I have no contractors near by that will do cast-in piles which would be the easiest for running PEX tubing through by simply zip tying to the rebar. Locally I can get screw piles or driven steel piles. Both are closed at the end and then have a cap welded on. Do you think I could get away with just laying the pipe inside the pile and filling with water? They are galvanized so I don't think corrosion will be an issue. Thanks Thiago
jonrUser is Offline
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11 Apr 2014 08:02 PM
Is it really cost effective?

How does the cost of a deep foundation compare to a raft slab or floating raft slab (which also works on unstable soils)?

There is a form of screw pile where the screw is used to pull down a column of wet concrete. It might work with PEX tubing.
dave111User is Offline
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12 Apr 2014 09:10 AM
How deep and how large a house are you talking about? I had a house that was on caissons, 10, each 10 feet deep. That extra 100 feet would not have been much of an addition to the total area of collection required, so without knowing more I would have to guess that it wouldn't be worth the trouble. I'm also not sure if I'd keep a pile wet if I didn't have to, the zinc is sacrificial and I could see it reducing the life.
TerribleEngineerUser is Offline
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12 Apr 2014 09:17 PM
Well the geotechnical report is calling for a pile supported foundation because there used to be a ravine running through the property that had been filled in, and is running under the build site. We are talking about a full basement supported by forty-eight 12' piles. Depth into the ground should be pretty close to 18'-20'.
The piles are rated for 120' years... and 60 years in direct water. A corrosion inhibitor might extend that. Another option is dropping in PEX and filling in with sand.
robinncUser is Offline
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12 Apr 2014 11:16 PM
IMO.....I think I would find another place to build. 120 yrs for a house is not very long......well maybe all those cheap tract homes.  Where are you in the country?
TerribleEngineerUser is Offline
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13 Apr 2014 10:30 PM
This will be located in Central Alberta. Screwed-in piles are not uncommon in the area
FBBPUser is Offline
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15 Apr 2014 12:50 AM
Call Ki International in Airdrie. They can place concrete piles for you.
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