Geothermal Energy In Hvac- An Emerging Technology

Geothermal Energy in HVAC [Heating And Cooling Systems]:

Geothermal energy in hvac industry for heating and cooling systems has become the fastest growing method to make us of geothermal energy. The question is, how does geothermal heating and cooling work?. And difference between a geothermal closed and open loop?. These are all complicated questions that you will know the answer to after finishing this blog.

Space heating is a major energy consumer in both the residential and commercial sector. This is why geothermal heat pumps have had a very large growth lately. Infact, worldwide 12GW capacity over a million of unit installed. Furthermore, these appliances have an annual growth of about 10% in total energy capacity.

Geothermal Heat Pumps:

Most widely used form of Geothermal energy in hvac systems is a geothermal heat pump. Also known as a ground source heat pump (GSHP) which works exactly like a normal heat pump would work. The one key distinction is it does not moves heat between a building and the outdoor air. he energy transfer takes place between a building and a ground source.

The geothermal heat pump is packaged in a single cabinet. It includes the compressor, loop-to-refrigerant heat exchanger, and controls. Systems that distribute heat using ducted air contain many component. They are the air handler, duct fan, filter, refrigerant-to-air heat exchanger, and condensate removal system for air conditioning. For home installations, the geothermal heat pump cabinet is usually located in a basement, attic, or closet. For commercial building installation, the unit’s location above a suspended ceiling or installed as a self-contained console.

Open And closed Loop Systems:

Open loop systems are the simplest. Used successfully for decades. In case 1, ground water is drawn from an aquifer through one well. The ground water passes through the heat pump’s heat exchanger. Ground water discharges to the same aquifer through a second well at a distance from the first. It can be less expensive than closed loops. However mineral build-ups can happen. Also, in an open loop geothermal system, you have to get rid of the water somehow.

Closed loop geothermal systems are the popular system.  Pipes are laid in series underground. The heat-absorbing carrier fluid, usually with anti-freeze properties, is pumped through. This carrier fluid extracts energy from the thermal heat source. It then dissipates it in the thermal heat sink. It then returns to the source again, completing the cycle.

Anatomy of Geothermal heat Pump:

The cool, liquid refrigerant enters the indoor coil during cooling. As it enters the coil, the temperature of the refrigerant is between 40 and 50 degrees. As warm, moist room air passes over the cool coil, the refrigerant inside absorbs the heat. The new cooler, drier air is circulated back into the room with a blower fan. The refrigerant moves into the compressor. This acts as a pump that raises the pressure so it will move through the system. The increased pressure from the compressor causes the refrigerant to heat to roughly 120 to 140 degrees.

The hot vapor consequently moves into the condenser (the underground loops). This is where the refrigerant gives up its heat to the cooler ground. Hence, the refrigerant condenses back into a liquid. As the refrigerant leaves the compressor, it’s still under high pressure. It reaches the expansion valve, for pressure reduction. The cycle is complete as the cool, liquid refrigerant re-enters the evaporator to pick up room heat. During the winter, the reversing valve switches the indoor coil. So now it function as the condenser, and the underground piping to act as the evaporator.

Benefits of Geothermal Energy in Hvac systems:

1. Efficiency: Geothermal heat pumps are much more efficient than air source heat pumps. The reason is because earth temperatures are much more uniform through the year than air temperatures.Geothermal systems are efficient, environmentally-sensitive, comfortable, and economical.

2.Operating Costs: On a full fuel cycle basis, emerging geothermal systems are the most efficient technology available. Overall, the EPA found emerging geothermal heating and cooling systems operating cost. As per them, it has the lowest operating cost of all technologies analysed. This study includes air-source heat pumps and natural gas furnaces.

3. Payback Period: Operating savings often provide paybacks of considerably less than five years. Sometimes less than two years.

4. Environmental Benefits: The key is that geothermal heat pumps use electricity to move heat. It do not generate it by the burning fuel or using electric resistance elements.

No existing space conditioning technology offers greater comfort, economy, or environmental benefits than the geothermal heat. The cooling systems now available for residential and commercial installations.

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