Assessment of Geothermal Potential and Estimation of Ground Settlements Following the Implementation of a Thermo-active Piles System in Southern Peru

Thermo-active piles constitute a type of sustainable energy because these foundations extract heat stored in the ground through intern pipes for climatize buildings. This technology uses geothermal heat pumps (GHP) that make it possible to dispense with conventional external heating and cooling during winter and summer periods. The implementation of this system requires previous studies to know the geological, geotechnical, thermal, and hydraulic properties of the ground that guarantee the geothermal potential of the soil at a certain depth. In Peru, the existence of hydrothermal sites would make it possible to implement the technique. Despite the presence of these resources, there is a widespread lack of knowledge of the local soils characterization. Therefore, it was necessary to start with research aimed at the behavior of geothermal structures for their future application. In this sense, an analysis of the potential of three areas located in southern Peru (Arequipa, Cusco, and Tacna) was carried out to estimate the maximum energy that can be extracted from the subsoil. Besides, the effect of thermal loads is analyzed using a programming code that will facilitate the calculation of settlements in thermo-active piles. In this way, the research proposes a map of potential and a code of free access that facilitates the understanding of thermomechanical behavior in this type of foundation.