Geothermal HVAC

In contrast to traditional HVAC systems that rely on fuel oil, natural gas, propane or electricity, geothermal provides two-in-one cooling and heating. The temperature of the earth below the surface is relatively constant throughout the year.

A geothermal system is made up of a heatpump, underground loops and the distribution system. Find out more about the various components of this energy-efficient system:.

Ground Loop

The Ground Loop is essential to the durability and efficiency of geothermal heating and cooling system. It is comprised of pipes that are either cut or drilled in the backyard, and then connected to your home’s heat pump. 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 ground’s temperature is relatively constant between four and six feet below the surface, making it a natural source of energy for geothermal systems.

When the system is heating up, the liquid that transfers heat absorbs heat from the earth. It then transfers that heat to the heat pump inside your home. The fluid is then moved into the loop where it starts circulating again. In cooling mode, it utilizes the opposite method to eliminate the excess heat. It then returns to the loop to start 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 non-toxic for the environment. It does not pollute underground water supplies. The system can also make use of a pond or lake to provide heat transfer fluid, which is more environmentally friendly.

Depending on the available space depending on the space available, open and closed systems can be installed horizontally or vertically. Vertical systems require less trenches and cause less disturbance to your landscaping than horizontal systems. It is ideal for areas in which soil depths are low or when existing landscaping needs to be maintained.

It is crucial to choose an experienced installer regardless of the kind of system. Geothermal systems require substantial amounts of energy to run and it is vital to have a well-designed and efficient system in place. A properly installed system will ensure the longevity of your system and help you save money on electricity in the long-term. It is essential to flush the system regularly to remove any minerals which could affect the flow and effectiveness of the heat transfer liquid. GeoDoctor experts can assist you to choose the best 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 underground loops which absorb the thermal energy and then transfer it to your building. Vertical ground loops are the most popular geothermal system. This type of system is most commonly used in residential and commercial applications. The heat pump in this system captures the heat energy from the ground and then transfers it to your office or home. In the summer it reverses to provide cooling.

The thermal energy transferred from the ground to your house is stored in a series of buried pipes. These pipes are an essential part of any geo-thermal HVAC system. The pipes are made of Polyethylene with high density and circulate water as well as propylene glycol which is food-grade antifreeze. The temperature of the soil or water remains relatively constant within a few feet of 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 erected in a horizontal trench, or inserted into boreholes that are made to the depth of 100- 400 feet. Horizontal trenches work best for large estates with lots of land vertical boreholes are suitable for homes and businesses with limited space. The installation of a horizontal ground loop involves digging trenches, which can require a lot of time and effort. Additionally the ground has to be compacted to ensure that the loops are able to hold a solid grip on the soil.

A vertical loop system is much easier to install than a horizontal field. The technician makes holes that are 4 inches in diameter, spaced 20 feet apart. Then, he installs the pipe to form a closed circuit. The number of holes needed will depend on the size of your structure and the energy needs.

To keep your geothermal cooling and heating system operating at peak performance It is essential to maintain the loop fields. This includes removing debris and conducting regular tests for bacteriological health.

Horizontal Loop

Geothermal heat pump transfers energy between your home, the ground or a nearby body water instead of the air outside. The reason for this is that the temperatures of the ground and the water is fairly constant, in contrast to outdoor air temperatures that fluctuate. The size and layout of your property will determine which loop to employ. The type of loop and the installation method used determine the efficiency and effectiveness of your geothermal heating system.

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

In the beginning, these piping systems were installed in vertical trenches that required more land area to encase the pipes. As technology improved, it was discovered that layering a longer single pipe back-and-forth in varying depths within smaller trenches could reduce the space required and cost, without sacrificing performance. This was the birth of the “slinky” method of constructing horizontal geothermal loops.

A vertical ground loop system is a good alternative to a horizontal geothermal heat pump system in cases where there is not enough land available. It is also an option for homes situated in urban settings, where topsoil is thin and there is little if any space for horizontal loops. If your property is located in an earthquake-prone region and cannot support a horizontal loop system, a vertical loop system may be the best option.

If you have lots of water lakes or ponds can be the ideal option for your home. This type of system works exactly like vertical or horizontal ground loop geothermal heat pump but the water is used to heat and cooling instead of the earth. It’s important to remember that a geothermal system that uses lakes or ponds will not work in the event of a power failure. A backup generator needs to be installed to supply an electrical source during this period.

Desuperheater

Geothermal heating and cooling is a very efficient alternative to traditional methods. But when it comes to switching to geothermal, homeowners must balance upfront costs against total savings on energy. Many factors are involved, including the soil composition and the local climate. But one of the biggest choices is whether to put in ground loops or build an external hot water tank. The latter option is less expensive, but it may not provide the same efficiency.

A desuperheater is a piece of equipment used to transfer heat from a geothermal source into your hot water tank at home. It is designed to work in the winter when the cooling cycle of the system produces heat that is not needed. The desuperheater utilizes this heat to improve the efficiency of heating in your home. It helps reduce your energy consumption by using resources already in use.

The ideal design of a desuperheater is dependent on several physical geometric, thermal, and factors. These include the temperature of the spray water and the angle of the injection, and the design of the nozzle. These are all elements that can affect the performance and efficiency of the desuperheater.

In a climate dominated by heating, a desuperheater can save you as much as 80% more than a conventional water heater during the summer. This is due to the fact that the desuperheater utilizes the energy removed from the house during the cooling process and converts it to useful heat for the hot water generator. This enables the geothermal system to make domestic hot water for 3 to 5 months of the year at only a fraction of the cost of other energy sources.

The desuperheater also helps in winter when geothermal systems are operating at its lowest capacity. The device takes away the extra heat produced by the cooling system and adds it to the domestic hot water tank. This allows the domestic hot water tank to utilize this free energy, and increases the heating capacity of the system. The desuperheater may also be used to cut down on the length of time a geothermal system is active in a heating dominated climate.