Geothermal HVAC

Contrary to traditional HVAC systems that run on fuel oil, natural gas propane or electricity geothermal can provide two-in-one cooling and heating. The temperatures of the earth below the surface remain pretty constant all year.

A geothermal system consists of the heat pump, underground loops and a distribution system (such as air ducts). Learn more about the different parts that make up this energy-efficient system.

Ground Loop

The Ground Loop is essential to the effectiveness and longevity of geothermal heating and cooling system. It is comprised of pipes that can be drilled or trenched in the yard to connect to your home’s heat pumps. The piping is filled with a water-based fluid and circulated to absorb or distribute heat depending on the needs of your home. The temperature of the ground is constant between four and six feet below the surface level, making 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 carries that heat to the heating pump inside your home. The fluid is then pushed back to the loop where it begins to circulate again. In cooling mode, it employs the opposite process to remove the excess heat. It then returns to the loop to begin the next cycle.

In closed loop systems, the piping is filled with a water-based solution and is buried in the ground. The solution is non-toxic and safe for the environment. It is not a pollutant to underground water supplies. The system can be used to use lakes, ponds or other body of water as a source of heat transfer fluid. This is also green.

Based on the space available depending on the space available, open and closed systems can be set up horizontally or vertically. Vertical systems require fewer trenches than a horizontal one and is less disruptive to your landscaping. It is often used in areas in which soil depths are low 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 essential to have an efficient and well-designed system in place. A well-designed installation will ensure the durability of your system, and will help you save energy costs in the long run. It is important to flush the system frequently to eliminate any minerals that could reduce the flow and efficiency of the liquid used to transfer heat. GeoDoctor experts can help you choose the best system for your home.

Vertical Loop

Geothermal energy is the energy that comes from the Earth that is utilized to heat and cool buildings. This energy can be harnessed through underground loops which absorb thermal energy and then transfer it into your building. Vertical ground loops are the most popular geothermal system. This kind of geothermal system is typically used in commercial and residential settings. The heat pump in this system takes the thermal energy from the ground and carries it to your office or home. In the summer, it works in reverse to provide cooling.

The thermal energy that is transferred from the ground to your building is stored in a series of underground pipes. These pipes are an essential component of any geo-thermal HVAC system. The tubes are made of high-density polyethylene and circulate a mixture of water and propylene glycol, which is a food-grade antifreeze, through the system. The temperature of the soil or water remains relatively constant at a few feet below the surface. This allows the closed-loop geothermal heat pump to work more efficiently than other heating systems like gas furnaces and boilers.

The loops can be inserted into a trench horizontally or inserted in boreholes drilled from 100 to 400 feet deep. Horizontal trenches are typically used for larger properties with a lot of available land, while vertical boreholes are ideally suited for businesses or homes that have small spaces. The installation of a horizontal ground loop involves digging trenches, which can take a considerable amount of time and effort. The ground is also to be compacted to ensure that the loops are firmly connected to the soil.

On the other side the vertical loop system can be constructed much faster and more easily than a horizontal loop field. The service technician drills holes that are 4 inches in diameter and about 20 feet apart, and installs the piping in order to create a closed loop. The number of holes you need will depend on the building’s size and the energy requirements.

It is essential to maintain the loop fields to keep your geothermal system operating at its best. This includes removing debris and conducting periodic tests for bacteriological issues.

Horizontal Loop

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

Horizontal geothermal systems use a series horizontal pipes that are buried in trenches ranging from four and six feet in depth. The trenches are constructed to accommodate two to three pipe circuits. The pipe circuits are connected into the manifold, which is the central control unit for geothermal heat pumps. The manifold is then able to send hot and cool water to your home’s heating and cooling ductwork.

In the beginning, these pipes were buried in vertical trenches which required a larger space to surround the pipes. As technology developed and technology improved, it was discovered that layering a longer single pipe back-and-forth in varying depths within shorter trenches decreased the space required and cost, without sacrificed performance. This was the birth of the “slinky” method of installing horizontal geothermal loops.

In cases where there isn’t enough space, a vertical ground loop system is a good alternative. It’s also a great alternative for homes situated in urban areas where the topsoil is thin and there isn’t much space for horizontal loops. Vertical loops can be the ideal solution for properties that are located in an earthquake-prone area and is not able to support the horizontal loops.

A geothermal lake or pond heat pump system can be the best option for your home when you have access to an abundance of water. This kind of system functions exactly like vertical or horizontal ground loop geothermal heat pump, except the water is used to heat and cooling, not the earth. It’s important to remember that a system that utilizes lakes or ponds will not function in the event of a power outage. A backup generator must be installed to provide an electrical source during this time.

Desuperheater

Geothermal heating and cooling is a very efficient alternative to traditional methods. However, when making the switch homeowners must consider balancing upfront costs against the total savings on energy. There are many factors that come into play, including the local climate and soil’s makeup. One of the most important choices is whether or not to dig ground loops, or install an external tank to store hot water. The latter is less expensive, but may not provide the same efficiency.

A desuperheater is a device that transfers heat from geothermal heating systems to your home hot water tank. It is designed to operate in the winter when the system’s cooling cycle produces excess heat. The desuperheater removes this waste heat and utilizes it to improve the efficiency of your home’s heating. It can also cut down on your energy usage by utilizing existing resources.

The ideal design of a desuperheater dependent on several physical geometric, thermal, and variables. These variables include the angle of injection, the temperature of the spray water, and the nozzle’s design. These are all significant factors that affect the desuperheater’s operation and performance.

In a climate that is dominated by heating, a desuperheater could save you up to 20% more than a conventional water heater during the summer. The desuperheater transforms the energy removed from the house through cooling into heat for the hot water generator. This enables the geothermal system to create domestic hot water for three months of the year at a fraction of the cost of other energy sources.

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