Andújar Márquez, José ManuelMartínez Bohórquez, Miguel ÁngelGómez Melgar, Sergio Jesús2016-04-072016-04-072016Andújar Márquez, J.M., Martínez Bohórquez, M.A., Gómez Melgar, S.J.: "Ground thermal diffusivity calculation by direct soil temperature measurement : application to very low enthalpy geothermal energy systems". Sensors. Vol. 16, n. 3, 306, (2016). DOI: 10.3390/s160303061424-8220http://hdl.handle.net/10272/11799This paper presents a methodology and instrumentation system for the indirect measurement of the thermal diffusivity of a soil at a given depth from measuring its temperature at that depth. The development has been carried out considering its application to the design and sizing of very low enthalpy geothermal energy (VLEGE) systems, but it can has many other applications, for example in construction, agriculture or biology. The methodology is simple and inexpensive because it can take advantage of the prescriptive geotechnical drilling prior to the construction of a house or building, to take at the same time temperature measurements that will allow get the actual temperature and ground thermal diffusivity to the depth of interest. The methodology and developed system have been tested and used in the design of a VLEGE facility for a chalet with basement at the outskirts of Huelva (a city in the southwest of Spain). Experimental results validate the proposed approach.engAtribución-NoComercial-SinDerivadas 3.0 Españahttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/es/Very low enthalpy geothermal energySoil temperatureGround thermal diffusivityGround temperature probeInstrumentation systemjournal article10.3390/s16030306open access