Geothermal Heat Pump Types – Radiant Heat, Forced Air, Combo and Split

There are 4 different types of geothermal heat pumps available today.

Each one has a different method of connecting to the heating distribution system in your home or building. Some types are more efficient than others at delivering space conditioning to the building, but that is a property of the distribution.

All of these GSHP types still get their energy from the ground loop, which transfers the absorbed heat into the internal refrigerant loop. It’s what happens to the heat after that is what makes the difference between types.

The four different types of geothermal heat pumps are water to air, water to water, combo and split heat pumps.

Water to Air
The first and probably most used geothermal heat pump is the water to air heat pump. This heat pump is used for houses with forced air systems, and basically replaces a traditional furnace. The ground loop brings in absorbed heat to the refrigerant loop (the water portion of “water to air”). That refrigerant is then compressed and cycled in front of a fan coil unit to be sent through duct work distribution to the house (the air portion of “water to air”. This process can also be switched in reverse to provide cooling to a structure.

One possible design issue is the sizing of the ductwork. Because geothermal systems are considered a low temp heat source, a higher volume of air is needed to deliver the same heating or cooling load. This will either require larger ductwork to accommodate for the greater air volume, or a specialized, small-duct, high-velocity forced air system like Unico or SpacePak.

Water to Water
The second type is a water to water, or hydronic. This type functions the same as all other heat pumps on the ground loop side of the refrigerant, but instead of sending the compressed and heated refrigerant to a fan coil, it is transferred directly into another water loop that circulates through the heat pump, and into the water-based distribution. This hydronic distribution is most commonly radiant heat (Radiant and Geothermal Article), but it can also be used in conjunction with a domestic hot water or a outside snow melt system.

Combo
The third type of heat pump is a combo unit. This combines the previous two types, providing both forced air and hydronic distribution. This is perfect in homes or buildings where both types of distribution are present. Some zones may be high heat loss, such as rooms with big windows, or near an exit door, and will require more heat in the space than just radiant or just forced air could provide alone. This is where a combo unit that can handle both could come in very handy.

Split
The last type on the market is known as a split unit. This type is basically the same as a regular geothermal heat pump on the water side, but it sends the refrigerant in a long loop to a remote air handler. This makes it easier in larger jobs to keep the heat pump in a mechanical room with all the loop field and flow center connections, and still have an air handler delivering heat to a remote location, such as the second story of a large house. This allows for greater flexibility in the overall design of the heating system.

Retrieved from “http://www.articlesbase.com/construction-articles/geothermal-heat-pump-types-radiant-heat-forced-air-combo-and-split-2271314.html

GeothermalHelp.com is your online resource and community for everything having to do with geothermal heating (aka ground source heat pumps, geoexchange, etc.). We have a large database of information about anything having to do with geothermal, including ground loops, costs, tax credit issues, maintenance, and much more. We also provide product reviews for the new products entering the industry. There is also a large directory of installers and other geothermal professionals throughout the United States and Canada. Have a question? Shout it on our forum and get expert advise from qualified professionals around the country.

Tagged with:
 

Having a Geothermal Pump Installed

As a residential sales manager at Patterson Heating and Air Conditioning, a company that handles all types of heating and AC repair issues for clients in Charlotte, Ric Hendrickson says that geothermal pumps have become an especially popular option for homeowners who are looking for a safe and environmentally friendly way to heat and cool their homes during the winter and summer months.

Also known as ground source heat pumps or geothermal coolers, geothermal pumps are devices that utilize the consistent ground temperature to heat or cool homes in a completely natural way. Usually, HVAC companies have designed systems that will run a pump deep into the ground to capture the temperature and bring energy into the home without using any fossil fuels or gasses.

The Concept

Many HVAC companies have begun to utilize the concept of ground temperature consistency—which ensures that the temperature underneath the ground at certain levels will stay the same year round, no matter what the weather or climate—to heat and cool homes without using as much electricity. The way a geothermal pump works is somewhat complex. When a heating and air conditioning company comes out to install one of these systems, it will determine how deep the system needs to be placed in order to reach a certain ground temperature.

From that point, the installer will put in tubing and a pump, which is what actually moves water through the ground and creates the energy to be used to heat and cool the home. Once the energy starts flowing, it will circulate from the source deep in the ground beneath the home or building that it will service. A device known as a “ground loop” is installed underneath the building as a way to extract the temperature from the ground into the system. Once the heat extracted by the ground loop is brought back up into the home, it can be compressed and turned into whichever temperature the homeowner wants, depending on the season.

Energy Efficiency

These days, more and more homeowners have decided to have geothermal pumps installed at their homes. The best thing about geothermal heating and cooling systems is that homes with these types of systems in place can be heated and cooled without using nearly as much energy or fuels as traditional HVAC systems. It is actually one of the easiest, but yet most efficient ways to heat and cool a home.

While these geothermal heating and cooling systems do cost a fair amount to install, they cost far less to operate on a day-to-day basis than traditional systems and run far more efficiently than a gas furnace or air conditioner.

The Cost

Although there are many upsides to having a geothermal pump installed at your home or office, there is one main downside as well – cost. Having a geothermal pump installed is oftentimes going to be more expensive than having a traditional HVAC system put in. However, the continuing costs after that initial investment are likely to be far lower than with a traditional system. Needing a costly repair on regular AC in Charlotte is more common than someone needing a costly repair on a geothermal heat pump.

Additionally, the U.S. government is offering a number of tax incentives intended to encourage homeowners to take the plunge and have these environmentally friendly pumps installed on their properties. The government is supplementing the installation of these pumps up to 30%, with no price caps. So depending on what type of pump you are having installed, you could end up getting a 30% discount on the price by acting quickly, while the tax incentive is still in effect. Even though the initial investment is a little bit higher, that still is almost one-third off the cost of installation. Adding to the reduced cost of maintenance and energy bills, homeowners who choose to have geothermal pumps installed oftentimes end up coming out on top.

Patterson Heating and Air Conditioning is a premier installer of geothermal pumps in Charlotte, and the technicians at the company know all about how to handle heating and repairs on these systems. In fact, the staff at Patterson Heating and Air Conditioning has received training in many types of soil issues and geological conditions—which makes installing geothermal pumps a much easier and more eco-friendly process for everyone involved.

Liked this article? Click here to publish it on your website or blog, it’s free and easy!

Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/having-a-geothermal-pump-installed-3535791.html

Photovoltaic pool pump. Who knows were to order them?

Tagged with:
 

If you are looking for a cost-effective heating or cooling system, a geothermal heat pump may fit the bill despite having a high initial outlay. These types of heat pumps consume up to 44% less energy than air-source heat pumps and as much as 72% compared with other conventional heating and cooling solutions. Geothermal pumps work by taking heat from beneath the earth’s surface and transferring it to your home, in contrast with air-source pumps that take heat from the air outside. And if the geothermal pump has a two-speed compressor and variable fans, you can enjoy even more cost-savings on your energy bills. They are also quieter compared to air-source units, last longer and need less maintenance, and operate efficiently even if the air outside is cool.

Another benefit of geothermal systems is that their design flexibility allows them to be installed as part of newly-constructed homes or in retrofit situations; their hardware also takes up less room, freeing up space that can be used for other productive purposes. They are also durable since they have only a few moving parts, and warranties on the heat pumps routinely last 20 years or more.

Geothermal pumps, however, cost several times that of an air-source unit to install; these costs however, will be more than recouped from savings in energy bills over five to ten years. A more affordable alternative, however, is a dual-source heat pump that uses both geothermal and air-source systems and has a cheaper installation cost and will work nearly as well as geothermal heat pump units.

Tagged with:
 

I have a solar plant, that runs a well, that fills up a 6000 gallon tank. The tank has a float switch in it. A couple days ago i noticed the tank was empty, and cannot get the pump to come on. It seems the fuses are ok, and i have moved the float switch around with a stick trying to get it to come on. Does anone have any other ideas on how to fix this problem?

Tagged with:
 

Hi
I want to operate motor which require to collect water from land under 1300 ft. I want to run that motor on solar system rather than on electricity. I do not know how much walt needed to operate it?
can u give me your idea and information in this matter?

Tagged with:
 

Where can I get a solar powered water pump for a sprinker? I want the pump to pull water out of a river next to my yard and water my garden and lawn.

Tagged with:
 

i find it hard to move the vanes of the solar radiometer only to find out it needs a vacuum pump for the vanes to move. We are having difficulty finding vacuum pump so do u have any idea how we can make the solar radiometer works?

Tagged with:
 

Looking for something?

Use the form below to search the site:

Still not finding what you're looking for? Drop a comment on a post or contact us so we can take care of it!

Visit our friends!

A few highly recommended friends...

© 2010 newpathenergy.com

Powered by Yahoo! Answers