Geothermal HVAC

Geothermal is a system that provides heating and cooling. The temperature of the earth beneath the surface is fairly constant throughout the year.

Geothermal systems are made up of a heatpump, underground loops and the distribution system. Find out more about this energy-efficient system’s components:.

Ground Loop

The Ground Loop is the main element to a geothermal system’s efficiency and longevity. It is comprised of pipes that can be drilled or trenched in the backyard to connect with your home’s heat pumps. The pipes are then filled with a water-based fluid that circulates to absorb or disperse heat according to your home’s needs. The temperature of the ground is relatively constant between four and six feet below the surface level, which makes it an ideal energy source for geothermal systems.

When the system is in heating mode, the heat transfer fluid absorbs earth’s heat and then transfers it to the heat pump in your house. The fluid is then pushed back to the loop where it begins the process of circulating. In cooling mode, the system uses the opposite process to eliminate the heat that is left and return it to the loop where it starts the next cycle.

In a closed loop system the piping is filled with a water-based solution, and then placed in the ground. The solution is safe for the environment. It does not pollute the water supply in underground. The system can also utilize the pond or lake to provide heat transfer fluid, which is more sustainable.

Open and closed systems can be vertical or horizontal depending on your space requirements. Vertical systems require fewer trenches and cause less disturbance to your landscaping than horizontal systems. It is commonly employed in areas with low soil depths or in areas where existing landscaping must be preserved.

It is crucial to choose an experienced installer, regardless of the type of system. Geothermal systems require a lot of energy to run and it is vital to have an efficient and well-designed system in place. A quality installation will ensure the long-term viability of your system, and will help you save money on electricity in the long-term. It is also critical to have the system flushed frequently to eliminate any mineral buildup. This can hinder the flow of heat transfer fluid and hinder system efficiency. GeoDoctor experts can assist you to determine the right system for your home.

Vertical Loop

Geothermal energy is the energy that comes from the Earth that is used to cool and heat buildings. The energy is harnessed using a series of underground loops that absorb thermal energy and transfer it to your building. Vertical ground loops are the most popular geothermal system. This type of geothermal system is typically used in commercial and residential applications. The heat pump in this system absorbs the thermal energy from the ground and transfers it to your home or office. In the summer it reverses to provide cooling.

The thermal energy that is transferred from the ground to your building is stored in a network of underground pipes. These pipes are a crucial element of any geo thermal HVAC system. The pipes are made of high-density polyethylene. They circulate an emulsion of water and propylene glycol which is a food grade antifreeze, through the system. The temperature of the water or soil remains fairly constant, even only a few feet beneath the surface. The closed loop geothermal system is more efficient than other heating methods like gas boilers and furnaces.

These loops can be installed in a horizontal trench or placed into boreholes that are drilled to an average depth of 100 to 400 feet. Horizontal trenches are typically used for larger properties with a lot of available land, while vertical boreholes are ideal for homes or businesses that have small spaces. Installing a horizontal ground loop involves digging trenches, which could require a lot of time and effort. In addition the ground needs to be compacted to ensure the loops have a strong hold on the soil.

A vertical loop system is simpler to set up than a horizontal field. The technician digging holes that are 4 inches in diameter and 20 feet apart, then installs the piping to create a closed loop. The number of holes needed will depend on the size of your building and the energy demands.

To keep your geothermal heating and cooling system running at its peak, it is important to maintain the loop fields. This means cleaning the loop fields and performing periodic tests for bacteriology.

Horizontal Loop

Geothermal heat pumps transfer energy between your home, the ground or a nearby body water instead of the air outside. This is due to the fact that temperatures in the ground and in the water remain relatively stable, unlike the fluctuating outdoor air temperature. The dimensions and layout of your property will determine which loop you employ. The type of loop you choose and the method of installation used determine the efficiency and effectiveness of your geothermal heating system.

Horizontal geothermal systems make use of series of horizontal pipes that are buried in trenches between four and six feet deep. The trenches can hold up to three pipe circuits. The pipe circuits are connected to a manifold which is the central control unit. The manifold then delivers chilled and heated water to your home’s cooling and heating ductwork.

In the beginning, these piping systems were placed in vertical trenches that required a larger expanse of land to surround them. As technology developed and technology improved, it was discovered that layering a longer single pipe back-and-forth in varying depths within smaller trenches could reduce space requirements and cost without necessarily sacrificed performance. This was the birth of the “slinky” method of constructing horizontal geothermal loops.

A vertical ground loop system is an excellent alternative to a horizontal geothermal heating system in cases where there is not enough land area available. It can also be an option for homes located in urban areas, in which the topsoil is scarce and there isn’t any room for horizontal loops. If your property is in an earthquake-prone area and is not able to support the horizontal loop, a vertical loop system may be the best option.

A geothermal lake or pond heat pump is the ideal choice for your home if you have access to an abundance of water. This type of system works the same as a horizontal or vertical ground loop geothermal heat pumps, except the water is used for heating and cooling, not the earth. It is crucial to note that a system that utilizes a pond or lake loop will not function in the event of an electrical power failure. A backup generator must be installed to provide a source of electricity during this period.

Desuperheater

Geothermal cooling and heating is a highly efficient alternative to traditional methods. When it comes time to switch homeowners must balance upfront costs with energy savings in the long run. There are many variables that play into the equation such as the local climate and soil’s composition. One of the most important decisions is whether or not to dig ground loops or to use an external tank to store hot water. The latter option may be less expensive, however it may not provide as much efficiency.

A desuperheater can be described as a piece of equipment that transfers heat from a geothermal system into your hot water tank in your home. It is designed to work in the winter when the cooling cycle of the system generates excess heat. The desuperheater utilizes this wasted heat to improve the heating performance of your home. It lowers your energy use by using resources already in use.

The optimum design for a desuperheater depends on several physical, thermal, and geometric variables. These include the injection angle, temperature of the spray water, and the nozzle design. These are all factors that affect the performance and efficiency of the desuperheater.

In a climate dominated by heating, a desuperheater will save you up to 80percent more than an ordinary water heater during the summer. The desuperheater converts the energy that is removed from the home during cooling into heat for the hot-water generator. This allows the geothermal system to create domestic hot water for 3-5 months of the year at only a fraction of the cost of other energy sources.

The desuperheater can also be useful during winter, when a geothermal heating system is at its lowest capacity. The device takes away the extra heat generated by the cooling system and adds it to the domestic hot water tank. This allows the hot water tank to utilize the energy that is free and boosts the system’s heating capacity. The desuperheater could be used to reduce the amount of time the geothermal system is in operation in a climate with a high degree of heating.