Geothermal HVAC

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

A geothermal system consists of the heat pump, underground loops and a distribution network (such as air ducts). Learn more about this efficient system’s components:.

Ground Loop

The Ground Loop is the key to a geothermal system’s efficiency and longevity. It is made up of pipes that are trenched or drilled in the yard and connect to the heat pump in your home. The piping is filled with a water-based fluid and circulated to absorb or distribute heat based on the requirements of your home. The temperature of the ground is relatively constant between four and six feet below surface level, which makes it an ideal energy source for geothermal systems.

When the system is heating, the liquid used to transfer heat absorbs heat from the earth. It then transfers the heat to the heat pump inside your home. The fluid is then pushed back to the loop where it begins circulating again. In cooling mode, the system employs the opposite process to eliminate the heat surplus and return it to the loop where it starts another cycle.

In a closed loop system, the piping will be filled with a product based on water and then buried beneath. The solution is safe and non-toxic to the environment, and does not pollute the underground water supply. The system can also use lakes or ponds as the source of heat transfer fluid, making it more eco-friendly.

Open and closed systems can be horizontal or vertical depending on your space requirements. Vertical systems require less trenches than a horizontal one and is less disruptive to your landscaping. It is ideal for areas where soil depths are shallow or in areas where existing landscaping must be preserved.

No matter what type of ground loop system you choose, it is important to choose a reliable installer. Geothermal systems require large amounts of energy to run and it is vital to have a well-designed and efficient system in place. A well-designed installation will ensure the durability of your system, and will help you save energy costs over the long term. It is also crucial to have the system flushed regularly to remove any mineral buildup, which could hinder the flow of heat transfer fluid and impede the efficiency of the system. GeoDoctor experts can help you determine the right system for your house.

Vertical Loop

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

The thermal energy transferred from the ground to your home is stored in a set of underground pipes. These pipes are a crucial part of any geo-thermal HVAC system. The pipes are made from high-density polyethylene and circulate the mixture of water and propylene glycol which is a food grade antifreeze, throughout the system. The temperature of the water or soil remains fairly constant, even only a few feet beneath the surface. This enables the closed-loop geothermal heat pump to work more efficiently than other heating systems, such as gas furnaces and boilers.

The loops can be inserted into a trench horizontally or inserted in boreholes that are drilled from to 400 feet deep. Horizontal trenches work best for large homes with lots of land whereas vertical boreholes work well for homes and businesses with little space. The installation of a horizontal ground loop involves digging trenches that can take a considerable amount of time and effort. The ground must be compacted to ensure that the loops are firmly fixed to the soil.

A vertical loop is more straightforward to install than a horizontal field. The technician drills holes of 4 inches in diameter separated by 20 feet. He then connects the pipe to form a closed circuit. The number of holes required will depend on the dimensions of your building as well as the energy needs.

It is essential to keep the loop fields in good condition in order to keep your geothermal system operating at its best. This includes removing debris and conducting regular bacteriological testing.

Horizontal Loop

Geothermal heat pumps transfer energy between your home and the ground or a nearby body of water, rather than being able to draw energy from the air outside. The reason is that the temperatures of the ground and water are fairly constant, in contrast to outdoor air temperatures that fluctuate. The size and layout of your property will determine which loop you use. The type of loop you choose and the method of installation used determine the effectiveness and efficiency of your geothermal heating system.

Horizontal geothermal systems make use of series horizontal pipes that are buried in trenches ranging from four and six feet in depth. The trenches are constructed to accommodate three to four pipe circuits. The pipe circuits are connected to a manifold which is the central control unit. The manifold pumps heated or cooled water into your home’s cooling or heating ductwork.

Initially, these piping systems were installed in vertical trenches, which required a larger amount of land to surround them. As technology developed it was realized that layering a longer single pipe back and forth at different depths within shorter trenches reduced costs and space requirements without necessarily sacrificed performance. This led to the development of the “slinky method” of installing horizontal geothermal circuits.

In situations where there’s not enough land, a vertical ground loop system is an option. It can also be an option for homes in urban areas in which the topsoil is scarce and there is little if any space for horizontal loops. Vertical loops can be the ideal solution when your property is located in an earthquake-prone region and cannot support the horizontal loops.

If you have plenty of water lakes, ponds or ponds could be an excellent alternative for your home. This kind of system operates the same as a vertical or horizontal ground loop geothermal heat pump, however, the water is used for heating and cooling, not the earth. Remember that a geothermal loop system using lakes or ponds cannot function in the event of a power failure. Installing a backup generator can supply electricity during this time.

Desuperheater

Geothermal cooling and heating is a highly efficient alternative to conventional methods. However, when making the switch homeowners must consider balancing the initial costs with total savings on energy. There are a variety of factors that come into play, including the local climate and soil makeup. One of the most important decisions is whether or not to dig ground loops, or use an external tank to store hot water. The latter option is less expensive, but may not offer the same level of efficiency.

A desuperheater is an equipment used to transfer heat from a geothermal system into your domestic hot water tank. It is designed to function in the winter months when the cooling process of the system generates excessive heat. The desuperheater utilizes this heat to increase the efficiency of heating in your home. It reduces your energy usage by using existing resources.

The optimum design for a desuperheater is determined by a variety of physical, geometric, and thermal variables. These include the spray temperature, the angle of injection, as well as the design of the nozzle. These are all significant factors that affect the desuperheater’s operation and performance.

In the summer, desuperheaters can save up to 80 percent in a climate with a high degree of heating than the conventional hot water heater. This is because the desuperheater uses the energy that is emitted from the house during the cooling process and converts it to useful heat for the hot water generator. Geothermal systems can provide domestic hot water for 3 to 5 months a year at a fraction the cost of other energy sources.

The desuperheater can also be useful in winter months, when a geothermal heating system is operating at its lowest capacity. The device removes the extra heat produced by the cooling system and transfers it to the domestic hot water tank. This allows the domestic hot water tank to utilize this energy for free and also increases the heating capacity of the system. The desuperheater is an excellent way to cut down on the amount of time a geothermal heating system is operating when it’s in a place with a high heating demand.