Geothermal HVAC

Contrary to traditional HVAC systems that run on natural gas, fuel oil, propane or electricity, geothermal provides two-in-one heating and cooling. The temperatures of the earth below the surface are relatively consistent year-round.

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

Ground Loop

The Ground Loop is essential to the effectiveness and longevity of a geothermal heating and cooling system. It consists of pipes that are trenched or drilled in the backyard and connected to the heat pump in your home. The piping is filled with a water-based fluid and then circulated to absorb or distribute heat depending on the needs of your home. The temperature of the ground is constant four to six feet below the surface, which makes it a natural source of energy for geothermal systems.

When the system is heating up, the heat transfer liquid absorbs heat from the earth. It then transfers that heat to the heating pump in your home. The fluid is then transferred to the loop where it starts circulating again. In cooling mode, the system utilizes the opposite method 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 pipes are filled with a water-based solution and buried in the ground. The solution is safe and not harmful to the environment and doesn’t pollute the water supply in underground. The system can use the pond, lake or other body of water as a source for heat transfer fluid. This is even more eco-friendly.

Both closed and open systems can be horizontal or vertical according to the space you need. Vertical systems require fewer trenches and cause less disturbance to your landscaping than horizontal systems. It is typically utilized in areas with shallow soil depths or in areas where existing landscaping must be preserved.

No matter what type of ground loop system, it is essential to select an experienced 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 quality installation ensures the longevity of your geothermal system, and saves you money on electric bills in the long term. It is also crucial to flush the system regularly to remove any mineral buildup. This can hinder the flow of heat transfer fluid and reduce the efficiency of the system. A GeoDoctor expert can assist you to select 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. The energy is harnessed using underground loops which absorb the thermal energy and then transfer it to the building. Vertical ground loops are the most commonly used geothermal system. This type of system is commonly utilized in commercial and residential applications. This system makes use of the heat pump to transfer thermal energy from the earth to your home or office. In summer, it works in reverse to provide cooling.

The buried pipes store the thermal energy that transfers from the earth to your home. These pipes are an essential part of any geo-thermal HVAC system. The tubes are made from high-density Polyethylene, and they circulate water and propylene glycol which is food-grade antifreeze. The temperature of the soil or water remains relatively constant for only a few feet beneath the surface. This allows the closed-loop geothermal heat pump to work more efficiently than other heating systems, such as gas furnaces and boilers.

These loops can either be installed in the horizontal direction of a trench or placed 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 ideal for homes or businesses that have small spaces. The process of installing horizontal ground loops entails digging large trenches that require considerable time and effort. In addition, the ground must be compacted to ensure that the loops are able to hold a solid hold on the soil.

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

To keep your geothermal cooling and heating system operating at peak performance it is crucial to maintain the loop fields. This involves cleaning the loop fields as well as performing periodic testing for bacteriological issues.

Horizontal Loop

Geothermal heat pumps transfer energy between your home and the ground or a nearby body of water, instead of being able to draw energy from the air outside. The reason for this is that the temperature of the ground and water is generally constant, in contrast to outdoor air temperatures, which fluctuate. The size and layout of your property will determine which loop to 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 heat pump systems use a series of pipes that are buried horizontally in trenches that are four to six feet deep. The trenches are designed to hold three to four pipe circuits. The pipe circuits are connected into a manifold which is the central control unit of geothermal heat pumps. The manifold then delivers hot and cool water to your home’s cooling and heating ductwork.

Initially these pipes were buried in vertical trenches which required a larger area to cover the pipes. As technology improved it was discovered that laying a single, longer pipe back and forth varying depths in shorter trenches could decrease space requirements and costs without losing performance. This was the birth of the “slinky” method of constructing horizontal geothermal loops.

In situations where there isn’t enough land available, a vertical loop system is an ideal alternative. It can also be an option for homes situated in urban areas where the topsoil is a bit thin and there isn’t any room for horizontal loops. A vertical loop system could be a good option if your property is in an earthquake-prone region and cannot support a horizontal system.

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 kind of system is similar to a horizontal or vertical ground loop geothermal heating pump however instead of using earth for cooling and heating, the water is used. It is important to keep in mind that a geothermal system using lake loops or ponds will not function in the event of an electrical power failure. A backup generator needs to be installed to supply a source of electricity during this time.

Desuperheater

Geothermal heating is a reliable alternative to conventional methods. When it comes to making the switch homeowners must balance upfront costs with energy savings in the long run. There are many factors to consider including the soil’s composition and climate of the area. But one of the biggest choices is whether to plant ground loops or install an external hot water tank. The latter is more affordable, but it may not offer the same level of efficiency.

A desuperheater transfer heat from geothermal heating systems to your hot water tank. It is designed to work in the winter when the system’s cooling cycle produces excess heat. The desuperheater utilizes this wasted heat to improve the heating efficiency of your home. It lowers your energy use by using resources already in use.

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

During the summer months, a desuperheater can save up to 80 percent more in a climate with a high degree of heating than a conventional hot water heater. The desuperheater transforms the energy removed from the house during cooling into heat for the hot-water generator. This allows the geothermal system to produce domestic hot water for three months of the year, at only a fraction of the cost of other energy sources.

The desuperheater can also be useful in the winter months, when a geothermal heating system is operating at its lowest capacity. The device is able to add the extra heat produced by the cooling system to the domestic hot-water tank. This enables the domestic hot water tank to use this free energy, and maximizes the heating capacity of the system. The desuperheater may also be used to decrease the length of time geothermal systems are in operation in a heating dominated climate.