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Geothermal
Product 1 Geothermal

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Synergy 3

 

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Geothermal Heating and Cooling

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Premier 2 Waterfurnace


Geothermal in Alberta

 

How a Geothermal System Works......
Earth Energy
The earth remains at a relatively constant temperature throughout the year, warmer than the air above it during the winter and cooler in the summer, just like a cave. The GHP takes advantage of this by exchanging heat with the earth through a ground heat exchanger, using an open or closed loop system.		 diagram1.jpg (47377 bytes)

The GHP System
The most common approach uses a closed loop system of high density polyethylene pipe. The pipes are buried horizontally at 6-7feet deep or vertically 150-250 feet deep, and are filled with a water solution. In the winter, the fluid within the pipes extracts heat from the earth, and carries it into the building. In the summer, the system reverses itself. Heat is pulled from the building, carried through the pipes and deposited in the cool earth. A fan located inside the residence distributes the warmed or cooled air throughout the interior much like an air conditioner.

Since the GHP only uses electric power to move heat, not create it, over 70% of the energy required for heating comes from the earth itself. During summer cooling, the heat from inside the residence is returned to the earth with the same high efficiency.

Kinds of Loops
There are several different ways to bury the plastic pipe loops. The method chosen will depend on the available land area and the soil and rock type at the installation site.
diagram2.jpg (41657 bytes) Horizontal installations, when a trencher or backhoe can be used, are less expensive, but take up more land area.

Vertical installations, where well drilling equipment is used, are generally a little more expensive, but are ideal where land is scarce.

Retrofit installations, where there is an existing house, can use horizontal boring. This method disturbs the least amount of yard.
And open loop system can be installed where an adequate supply of suitable water is available and open discharge is feasible.

Free Hot Water - Waste heat from air conditioning can be used to provide domestic hot water at no cost in the summer and at a substantial savings in the winter.
 

 

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Copyright © 1999 DFK Engineering Canada Ltd
Last modified: March 28, 1999