Geothermal HVAC

Unlike traditional HVAC systems that operate on natural gas, fuel oil propane or electricity geothermal offers two-in-one heating and cooling. The temperature of the earth below the surface remains relatively constant throughout the year.

Geothermal systems consist of a heat pump, underground loops, and a distribution system (such as air ducts). Find out more about this energy-efficient system’s components:.

Ground Loop

The Ground Loop is the main element to a geothermal system’s effectiveness and long-lasting. It is made up of pipes that can be drilled, or even truncated in the backyard to connect with your home’s heat pumps. The piping is then filled with a water-based solution that circulates to absorb or disperse heat in accordance with the needs of your home. The temperature of the ground is constant four to six feet below the surface, making it a natural energy source for geothermal systems.

When the system is heating up, the liquid that transfers heat absorbs heat from the earth. It then transfers the heat to the heat pump inside your home. The fluid is then returned to the loop, where it starts the process of circulating. In cooling mode, it uses the opposite method to eliminate the heat surplus. It then returns it to the loop to begin a new cycle.

In a closed loop system, the piping will be filled with a solution based on water and buried underground. The solution is safe and not harmful to the environment, and it does not affect the water supply of underground. The system can also utilize the pond or lake to provide heat transfer fluid, which is even more sustainable.

Both closed and open systems can be vertical or horizontal, depending on the space you require. Vertical systems require fewer trenches than a horizontal one and minimizes disturbance to your landscaping. It is ideal for areas where soil depths are low or in areas where existing landscaping must be preserved.

Whatever the kind of ground loop system, it is essential to select a reliable installer. It is crucial to have an efficient and well-designed system, since geothermal systems use a significant amount of energy. A quality installation ensures the longevity of your geothermal system, and saves you money on electricity bills in the long term. It is also critical to have the system flushed regularly to remove any mineral buildup, which can reduce the flow of heat transfer fluid and impede system efficiency. A GeoDoctor expert can help you choose the right system for your home.

Vertical Loop

Geothermal energy is the energy derived from the Earth that is utilized to heat and cool buildings. It can be harnessed through underground loops which absorb thermal energy and then transfer it to your building. Vertical ground loops are the most popular geothermal system. This kind of system is commonly employed in commercial and residential applications. This system makes use of a heat pump to transfer energy from the earth to your office or home. In summer, it reverses to provide cooling.

The buried pipes store the thermal energy that flows from the earth to your home. These pipes are an essential part of any geo-thermal HVAC system. The pipes are made from high-density polyethylene. They move a mixture of water and propylene glycol, which is a food-grade antifreeze, through the system. The temperature of the soil or water stays relatively constant at only a few feet beneath the surface. This allows the closed loop geothermal heat pump to work more efficiently than other heating systems, like gas furnaces or boilers.

The loops can be erected in a horizontal trench, or put into boreholes dug to a depth of 100 to 400 feet. Horizontal trenches are generally used for larger homes with plenty of land, while vertical boreholes are ideally suited for homes or businesses that have little space. The installation of a horizontal ground loop involves digging trenches that can take a considerable amount of time and effort. Additionally the ground has to be compacted to ensure that the loops have a strong hold on the soil.

A vertical loop system is easier to install than a horizontal field. The service technician digs holes that are 4 inches in diameter and 20 feet apart, and installs the piping in order to create an enclosed loop. The number of holes required will depend on the dimensions of your building as well as the energy needs.

To keep your geothermal cooling and heating system at peak performance It is essential to maintain the loop fields. This means cleaning the loop fields and conducting periodic tests for bacteriology.

Horizontal Loop

Geothermal heat pumps transfer energy between your house and the ground or the nearby body of water, instead of being able to draw energy from the air outside. This is due to the fact that ground and water temperatures remain relatively stable, in contrast to the fluctuating outdoor air temperature. There are four major kinds of geothermal heating loops and which one you choose to use depends on the size of your property and layout. The type of loop that is used and the method of installation determine the efficiency and effectiveness of your geothermal system.

Horizontal geothermal heat pumps use a series of pipes that are buried horizontally in trenches that are about four to six feet deep. The trenches can accommodate up to three pipe circuits. The pipe circuits are connected into the manifold, which is the central control unit for geothermal heat pumps. The manifold sends heated or chilled water into your home’s cooling or heating ductwork.

In the beginning, these pipes were buried in vertical trenches that required more land space to surround the pipes. As technology improved it was discovered that layering a single pipe back and forth varying depths in shorter trenches could decrease the space required and cost without sacrificing performance. This led to the invention of the “slinky method” of installing horizontal geothermal circuits.

In situations where there’s not enough land available, a vertical loop system is a good alternative. It can also be an option for homes in urban settings, where the topsoil is a bit thin and there is little if any space for horizontal loops. A vertical loop system can also be the best solution for properties that are located in an earthquake-prone area and is not able to support an horizontal loop.

If you have plenty of water in your home lakes or ponds can be a great alternative for your home. This kind of system is similar to a horizontal or a vertical ground loop geothermal heating pump however, instead of using the earth for heating and cooling, the water is used. Be aware that a geothermal loop system using the pond or lake will not function in the event of power outage. A backup generator should be installed to supply an electrical source during this time.

Desuperheater

Geothermal heating is an efficient alternative to conventional methods. But when making the switch homeowners must consider balancing upfront costs against the total energy savings. There are many factors to consider, including the soil composition and local climate. One of the most important choices is whether to put in ground loops or use an external hot water tank. The latter is more affordable, but it may not offer the same level of efficiency.

A desuperheater is an equipment used to transfer heat from a geothermal system to your hot water tank in your home. It is designed to operate in winter when the cooling cycle of the system generates excess heat. The desuperheater utilizes this heat to improve the efficiency of heating in your home. It also reduces your energy consumption by utilizing pre-existing resources.

The best design of a desuperheater dependent on a variety of physical geometric, thermal, and variables. These factors include the spray temperature as well as the angle of injection, as well as the design of the nozzle. These are all factors that influence the performance and operation of the desuperheater.

During the summer, desuperheaters can save up to 80 percent in a heating dominated climate than a conventional hot water heater. The desuperheater transforms the energy taken from the house during cooling into heat for the hot-water generator. This enables the geothermal system to create domestic hot water for 3-5 months of the year, at less than the cost of other energy sources.

The desuperheater can also help in winter when a geothermal system is running at its lowest capacity. The device takes away the extra heat produced by the cooling system and transfers it to the domestic hot water tank. This allows the hot water tank to use this energy free of charge and increase the system’s heating capacity. The desuperheater is also an effective way to reduce the amount of time that geothermal heating systems are in use when it’s in a place that has a high demand for heating.