Geothermal HVAC

Contrary to traditional HVAC systems that rely on natural gas, fuel oil propane, electricity or fuel oil, geothermal provides two-in-one cooling and heating. The temperatures of the earth below the surface remain fairly constant throughout the year.

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

Ground Loop

The Ground Loop is the main element to a geothermal system’s effectiveness and longevity. It consists of pipes that are either trenched or drilled in the backyard, and then connected to the heat pump in your home. The pipes will be filled with water-based solution and circulated to absorb or distribute heat depending on the requirements of your home. The ground’s temperature is relatively constant four to six feet below the surface, making it a natural energy source for a geothermal system.

When the system is heating up, the heat transfer liquid absorbs heat from the earth. It then transmits that heat to the heat pump in your home. The fluid is then returned to the loop where it begins to circulate again. In cooling mode, the system utilizes the reverse process to remove the heat that is left and return it to the loop, where it starts a new cycle.

In closed loop systems, the pipes are filled with a water-based product and placed in the ground. The solution is safe and not harmful to the environment, and doesn’t pollute the underground water supply. The system can also make use of lakes or ponds as the source of heat transfer fluid, which is even more sustainable.

Open and closed systems can be horizontal or vertical, according to the space you need. The vertical system requires fewer trenches than a horizontal one and is less disruptive to your landscaping. It is commonly used in areas with shallow soil depths or in areas where existing landscaping needs to be preserved.

Whatever the kind of ground loop system you choose, it is important to choose a reliable installer. Geothermal systems require a lot of energy to operate and it is vital to have an efficient and well-designed system in place. A properly installed system will ensure the durability of your system, and will help you save energy costs in the long-term. It is crucial to flush the system on a regular basis to get rid of any mineral deposits that can reduce the efficiency and flow of the heat transfer liquid. GeoDoctor experts can assist you to determine the right system for your home.

Vertical Loop

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

The thermal energy that is transferred from the ground to your building is stored in a set of underground pipes. These pipes are an essential element of any geo thermal HVAC system. The pipes are made of Polyethylene with high density and circulate water and propylene glycol which is food-grade antifreeze. The temperature of soil or water is relatively constant 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.

These loops can be placed in a horizontal trench, or put into boreholes made to the depth of 100- 400 feet. Horizontal trenches are ideal for large properties with lots of land while vertical boreholes are ideal for homes and businesses with limited space. Installation of a horizontal ground-loop involves digging trenches that can take a lot of time and effort. The ground is also to be compacted to ensure that the loops remain fixed to the soil.

On the other side, a vertical loop system can be installed quicker and with less effort than a horizontal loop field. The technician makes holes that are 4 inches in diameter, spaced about 20 feet apart. He then installs the pipe to form an enclosed circuit. The number of holes you need will be determined by your building’s dimensions and energy requirements.

It is crucial to maintain the loop fields in order to keep your geothermal system running at its best. This includes cleaning the loop fields and performing periodic testing for bacteriological issues.

Horizontal Loop

Geothermal heat pumps transfer energy between your home, the ground or a nearby body of water instead of the air outside. The reason is that the temperatures of the ground and water is relatively constant, unlike outdoor air temperatures which fluctuate. There are four main types of geothermal heating loops, and the one you choose to use depends on the size of your property as well as its layout. The type of loop you choose and the installation method used determine the effectiveness and efficiency of your geothermal heating system.

Horizontal geothermal heat pump systems make use of a set of pipes buried horizontally within trenches that are four to six feet deep. The trenches are designed to accommodate three to four pipe circuits. The pipe circuits are connected to a manifold, which is the central control unit. The manifold is a conduit for heated or chilled water into your home’s heating or cooling ductwork.

In the beginning, these piping systems were installed in vertical trenches which required a larger amount of land to encase them. As technology improved and technology improved, it was discovered that layering a single longer pipe back and forth varying depths in shorter trenches could help reduce the space required and cost without sacrificing performance. This led to the development of the “slinky method” of installing horizontal geothermal circuits.

A vertical ground loop system can be a great alternative to horizontal geothermal heat pump system for situations in which there is not enough land space available. It’s also a great alternative for homes in urban areas, where the topsoil is a bit thin, and there is not much space for horizontal loops. Vertical loops can also be the best solution for properties that are located in an earthquake-prone zone and cannot be supported by an horizontal loop.

A pond or lake geothermal heat pump is the best option for your home if you have access to an ample amount of water. This type of system works exactly like vertical or horizontal ground loop geothermal heat pump except the water is used to heat and cooling, not the earth. It is important to keep in mind that a geothermal system using lake loops or ponds will not work in the event of a power outage. Installing a backup generator can supply electricity during this time.

Desuperheater

Geothermal heating and cooling is a highly efficient alternative to conventional methods. When it comes to switching, homeowners have to balance the initial costs with the total energy savings. There are many factors to consider including the soil’s composition and climate of the area. One of the most important choices is whether or not to dig ground loops or to use an external tank for hot water. The latter option is more affordable, but it may not provide the same efficiency.

A desuperheater is a device that transfers heat from geothermal heating systems to 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 uses this waste heat to increase the efficiency of heating in your home. It lowers your energy use by using existing resources.

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

In a climate that is dominated by heating, a desuperheater will save you up to 80% more than an ordinary water heater during the summer. The desuperheater converts the energy removed from the house during cooling into heat for the hot-water generator. Geothermal systems can provide domestic hot water for 3 to 5 months of the year, at a fraction of the cost of alternative energy sources.

The desuperheater can also be useful in the winter, when a geothermal heating system is at its lowest capacity. The device can add the additional heat produced by the cooling system to the domestic hot-water tank. This enables the domestic hot water tank to make use of the energy that is free, and increases the heating capacity of the system. Desuperheaters are also a great way to reduce the time that a geothermal heating system is operating when it’s in a climate that has a large demand for heating.