Renewable energy sources have one thing in common; they all existed before man appeared on this planet. Wind, wave, hydro, solar, geothermal and tidal power are all forces of nature and are mostly intermittent energy sources, geothermal is the only consistent phenomenon. Geothermal renewable energy sources where probably the first to be fully utilised by man. Early civilisations tapped this heat to cook, fire clay pottery, create baths and spas and even heat their homes. Roman villas had under floor heating from natural hot springs over 2000 years ago.

Shallow geothermal resources (<400 m depth by governmental definition in several countries) are omnipresent. Below 15-20 m depth, everything is geothermal. Figure 1 show a summary of the soil thermal properties. The temperature difference between the ground and the fluid in the ground heat exchanger drives the heat transfer – so it is important to determine the ground temperature. The temperature field is governed by terrestrial heat flow and the local ground thermal conductivity structure (groundwater flow). In some countries, all energy stored in form of heat beneath the earth’s surface is per definition perceived as geothermal energy. The same approach is used in North America. The ubiquitous heat content of shallow resources can be made accessible either by extraction of groundwater, or more frequent, by artificial circulation like the Borehole Heat Exchanger (BHE) system. This means, the heat extraction occurs–in most cases–by pure conduction; there is no formation fluids required. The most popular BHE heating system with one of more boreholes typically 50-200 m deep is a closed circuit, heat pump coupled system, ideally suited to supply heat to smaller, de-central objects like single family or multifamily dwellings (Figure 2). The heat exchangers (mostly double U-tube plastic pipes in grouted boreholes) work efficiently in nearly all kinds of geologic media (except in material with low thermal conductivity like dry sand or dry gravel). This means to tap the ground as a shallow heat source comprise:

• Ground water wells (‘open’ systems),
• Borehole Heat Exchangers (BHE),
• Horizontal heat exchanger pipes (including compact systems with trenches, spirals, etc.), and
• ‘Geo-structures’ (foundation piles equipped with heat exchangers).

A common feature of these groundcoupled systems is a heat pump, attached to a low-temperature heating system like floor panels/slab heating. They are all termed ‘Ground-Source Heat Pumps’ (GSHP) systems.

In general, these systems can be tailored in a highly flexible way to meet locally varying demands. Experimental and theoretical investigations (field measurement campaigns and numerical model simulations) have been conducted over several years to elaborate a solid base for the design and for performance evaluation of BHE systems. While in the 80s, theoretical thermal analysis of BHE systems prevailed in Sweden monitoring and simulation was done in Switzerland, and measurements of heat transport in the ground were made on a test site in Germany.

In the German test system at Schöffengrund-Schwalbach near Frankfurt/ Main, a 50-m BHE was surrounded by a total of 9 monitoring boreholes at 2.5, 5 and 10 m distance, also 50 m deep. Temperatures in each hole and at the BHE itself were measured with 24 sensors at 2 m vertical distance, resulting in a total of 240 observation locations in the underground. This layout allowed investigating the temperature distribution in the vicinity of the BHE. The influence from the surface is visible in the uppermost approximately 10 m (Figure 1), as well as the temperature decrease around the BHE at the end of the heating season. Measurements from  this system were used to validate a numerical model for convective and conductive heat transport in the ground. Starting in 1986, an extensive measurement campaign has been performed at a commercially delivered BHE installation in Elgg near Zurich. The object of the campaigns is a single, coaxial, 10 m long BHE in use since its installation in a singlefamily house. The BHE supplies a peak thermal power of about 70 W per m of length.

The ground temperature results are highly informative with respect to the long-term performance. Atmospheric influences are clearly visible in the depth range 0-15 m, and below 15 m, the geothermal heat flux dominates. The results show that in the near field around the BHE, the ground coils down in the first 2-3 years of operation. However, the temperature deficit decreases from year to year until a new stable thermal equilibrium is established between BHE and ground, at temperatures that are some 1-2 K lower than originally. Thus, a ‘thermal collapse’ (i.e., sudden drop of heat extraction efficiency) will not happen. After calibration of a numerical model with the data from the Elgg system, the extrapolation for an operation over a 30-year period as well as the thermal recovery for 25 years following the end of the operation period has been simulated. Temperature close to the BHE in winter drops quickly in the first years, only to stay more or less stable over the next years. In summertime, initial temperatures are not achieved again, but the temperature drop is decreasing from year to year. After termination of the operation, a rapid thermal recovery can be seen in the first spring, followed by a slowing down of the recovery process due to the decreasing temperature gradients. In the numerical simulation, a complete recovery will occur only after an indefinitely long time period; nevertheless, the remaining temperature deficit 25 years after the operation is stopped, is only in the order of 0.1 K. The long-term reliability of BHE-equipped heat pump systems, along with economic and ecological incentives, led to rapid market penetration. This was accomplished by the development of design standards and easy-to-use design tools.

HEAT PUMPS

Heat pumps work on a similar principle to domestic refrigerators, extracting heat from one source and transferring it to another. A key ingredient in the heat pump is the refrigerant in its coils, usually a substance called Freon, which vaporises into a gas at a boiling point far lower than the 100ºC that water requires to boil. When the refrigerant boils, it changes from a liquid to a gas, absorbing heat from its surroundings. As the refrigerant changes back into liquid form it gives up its heat to the surrounding atmosphere. An expansion valve and an electric compressor control this process of transformation from liquid to gas and back again.

Earth Energy (EE) heat pump is one of the most efficient means available to provide space heating/cooling for homes and offices (Figure 3). It transfers the heat located immediately under the earth’s surface (or in a body of water) into a building in winter, using the same principle as a refrigerator that extracts heat from food and rejects into a kitchen. A heat pump takes heat from its source at low temperature and discharges it at a higher temperature, allowing the unit to supply more heat than the equivalent energy supplied to the heat pump. An Earth Energy system relies on the 51% of solar energy that is absorbed by the land and water.

TERMINOLOGY

Due to the large demand for EE as cooling devices, the earth energy industry uses the term ‘ton’ to describe a unit that will provide approximately 12,000 Btu of cooling capacity. On average, a typical 2,000 square-feet new residence would require a 4-ton unit for sufficient heat. Within the full swing of heat pump applications in Europe, ground-coupled heat pumps play a significant role.

The development started around 1980 when the first BHE coupled heat pump systems were built in Germany and Switzerland. Following a larger number of new units installed during the oil price crises and a subsequent low (except for Switzerland), the number of new installations is again increasing in the 90s.

AIRFLOW

EE units work efficiently because they provide a small temperature rise, but this means that the air coming through the register on the floor is not as hot as the air from a gas or oil furnace. A unit must heat more air to supply the same amount of heat to the houses, and duct sizes must be larger than those used for combustion furnaces to accommodate the higher CFM (cubic feet per minute) air flow.

The major advantage of an EE system is that the heat obtained from the ground (via the condenser) is much greater than the electrical energy that is required to drive the various components of the system. The efficiency of a unit is the ratio of heat energy provided versus the electrical energy consumed to obtain that heat, and it is called its Coefficient of Performance (COP). EE units must exceed 3.0 (i.e., for every kilowatt of electricity needed to operate the system, the heat pump provides three kilowatts of heat energy).

SOIL TYPE

Loose dry soil traps air and is less effective for the heat transfer required in EE technology than moist packed soil. Each manufacturer provides specifications on the relative merits of soil type; low-conductive soil may require as much as 50% more loop than a quality highconductive soil.

AUXILIARY HEAT

When the outdoor air temperature drops below the design balance point, the EE unit cannot meet the full heating demand inside the house (for units sized to 100% of heat loss, this is not an issue).

The difference in heat demand is provided by the supplementary or auxiliary heat source, usually an electric resistance element positioned in the unit’s plenum. Like a baseboard heater, the COP of this auxiliary heater is 1.0; so excessive use of backup heat decreases the overall efficiency of the system and increases operating costs for the homeowner.

BALANCE POINT

The outdoor temperature at which an EE system can fully satisfy the indoor heating requirement is referred to as the balance point, and is usually -10°C in most regions of North Europe. At outdoor air temperatures above this balance point, the unit cycles on and off to satisfy the demand for heat indoors. At temperatures below this point, the unit runs almost continuously, and also turns on the auxiliary heater (called second stage heat) to meet the demand.

HEAT TRANSFER FLUIDS

Closed-loop units can circulate any approved fluid inside the pipe, depending on the performance characteristics desired. Each manufacturer must specify, which fluids are acceptable to any particular unit, with the most common being denatured ethanol or methanol (the latter is not approved for use).

LOOP DEPTH

EE technology relies on stable underground (or underwater) temperature to function efficiently. In most cases, the deeper the loop is buried, the more efficient it will be. A vertical borehole is the most efficient configuration, but this type of digging can be very expensive.

LOOP LENGTH

The longer the amount of piping used in an outdoor loop, the more heat that can be extracted from the ground (or water) for transfer to the house. Installing fewer loops than specified by the manufacturer will result in lower indoor temperature, and more strain on the system as it operates longer to compensate for the demand.

However, excessive piping can also create a different set of problems, as well as additional cost. Each manufacturer provides specifications for the amount of pipe required. As a broad rule of thumb, an EE system requires 400 feet of horizontal loop or 300 feet of vertical loop to provide heat for each ton of unit size.

LOOP SPACING

When the distances between buried loops are greater, then the efficiency is higher. Industry guidelines suggest that there should be 3m (10 feet) between sections of buried loop, in order to allow the pipe to collect heat from the surrounding earth without interference from the neighbouring loop. This spacing can be reduced under certain conditions.

LOOP CONFIGURATION

Closed loops generally are installed either in a vertical or in a horizontal configuration, depending on the land available and a number of other factors. Earth Energy ground pipe comes in two common diameters: 0.75″ and 1.25″. Two coiled loops (commonly called the Svec Spiral and the Slinky) require less trenching than conventional straight pipe. As a result, the lower trenching costs and the savings in property disruption offset the higher cost of the coiled pipe.

VARIETIES OF HEAT PUMPS

Air conditioning systems are an example of an air-to-air heat pump. They are becoming increasingly prevalent, particularly because new cars are often fitted with air conditioning systems and people are beginning to ask for more controlled internal environments. However in the UK, the need for air conditioning is often a result of overheating because of unsatisfactory shading and poor natural ventilation. Every attempt should be made to design buildings, which do not require air conditioning, because of the additional energy load required.

In addition to air-to-air heat pumps there are air to water heat pumps and water to air systems. These can draw water from a well or pond and expel the used water to a discharge well. Because the source of heat is fairly constant (about 10ºC) the heat pumps are more efficient than air-to-air systems. Water to water heat pumps are even more efficient, taking the energy from geothermal supplies which are at a constant year round temperature and transferring heat to about 53ºC.

Because heat pumps do not produce very high temperatures, they work best when heating well insulated houses, which are designed to be heated by low temperature systems. Traditional radiators, which are oversized, will give a larger area to dissipate heat and so work at lower surface temperatures. Underfloor water based heating systems are ideal as they work on the radiant heating principle, which creates a comfortable environment at a lower temperature.

The heating loads for a house will vary considerable over the year. At the coldest time of the year, the energy requirements will be greatest. If to design to these levels of maximum load, the heat pumps size can get very big, and as a result costly. It is thought best to design the heat pumps to only cover about 50 to 70% of the annual heating demand, and where demand peaks over a smaller period, to provide supplementary direct electrical heating (or alternatives) to meet this demand.

TYPES OF GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS

There are a number of different methods to heat a building using geothermal energy:

• Groundwater GSHP, of which there are two variations, open loop and closed loop. An open loop groundwater GSHP supplies ground water directly to each heat pump and then returns the well water to the source. This system is normally not recommended because of fouling and corrosion concerns. The closed loop uses an isolation plate and frame heat exchanger between the ground water and the building water loop.
• Surface-water GSHP, which uses multiple heat exchangers made from spooled plastic pipe submerged in a body of surface water and connected to the building heat pumps.
• Ground heat exchanger GSHP, which relies on a ground-coupled heat exchanger installed either horizontally in trenches or as ‘U’ tubes in vertical bores.

The heat exchangers are connected together in parallel, and run-outs are tied to the building’s water loop. The selection of a particular design depends on the available land area. Table 1 provides the guidelines on the surface-area requirements for horizontal/ vertical configurations. The decision to use any of the above systems depends on the results of geotechnical / hydrogeological investigations.

WATER DISCHARGE QUALITY

There are environmental regulations, which govern how the water used in an open-loop system can be returned to the ground. A return well is acceptable, as long as the water is returned to the same aquifer or level of water table. A discharge pit is also acceptable, as long as certain conditions are followed.

Open water systems depend on a source of water that is adequate in temperature, flow rate and mineral content. EE units are rated under the nation performance standard (CSA C446) based on their efficiency when the entering water temperature is 10°C (0°C for closed loop units), but this efficiency drops considerably if the temperature of water is lower when it comes from the lake or well. Each model has a specified flow rate of water that is required, and its efficiency drops if this rate is reduced. The CSA installation standard demands an official water well log to quantify a sustainable water yield. Water for open-loop systems must be free of many contaminants such as chlorides and metals, which can damage the heat exchanger of a unit.

SELECTING A GSHP

GSHPs are very similar to conventional heat pumps. Their specifications differ from conventional Water-Source Heat Pumps (WSHP) only in the following areas:

  1. GSHPs operate over a very wide range of entering water temperatures from source (ground), typically, 20oF to 110oF, whereas the conventional WSHP operates over a very narrow range (60 to 90°F). This requires the use of an extendedrange heat pump to preserve the ability of the system to operate at low groundwater temperatures. Table 2 gives the typical temperature ranges for the water loop of GSHPs.
    2. GSHPs with the ground as a heat exchanger must be rated under ARI 330 or CSA 446 closed-loop conditions. GSHPs are to be rated under ARI 325 or CSA 446 open-loop conditions. Conventional heat pumps are rated under ARI 325 or CSA 656 conditions.
    3.GSHPs usually use a thermal-expansion valve as opposed to the capillary expansion device used in WSHPs.
    4.GSHPs typically encounter low suction temperatures and, therefore, need to be specified with low-temperature/pressure controls for freeze protection.
    5.GSHPs usually employ larger liquid side and airside heat exchangers and insulated internal components to prevent internal condensation.
    6.In conventional WSHPs, the insulation on the loop piping is not required because the loop temperatures are always maintained above 45°F. GSHP system piping will require insulation, and, in some cases, antifreeze solutions will be required to prevent freeze up.
    7.Specify copper heat exchangers for heat pumps on closed-loop ground source, groundwater, or surface-water applications. Use only cupronickel heat exchangers for open ground-water systems.
    8.While calculating the loads for the groundsource heat pumps, it is necessary to perform the calculations with an hour-byhour and month-by-month simulation program because these calculations will be required to design the well field.


    SELECTION AND PREINSTALLATION CONSIDERATIONS

The ground source heat pump (GSHP) system represents the natural evolution of a traditional Water Loop Heat Pump (WLHP) system. The GSHP system offers all the advantages of the WLHP system, combined with considerable reductions in building operating costs. The beauty of this system is that it can perform both heating and cooling without the use of separate boilers/furnaces and A/C systems.

A GSHP system does not create heat; it moves heat from one area to another. GSHP systems use the ground (earth, ground water, or surface water) as heat sink in the summer and a heat source in the winter.

This system is considered to be the most energy-efficient, environmentally safe, and cost-effective system available. Among the many components of a GSHP system, the most important is the heat pump itself.

HEAT PUMP ACCESSORIES AND CONTROLS

Considerations for heat pump:

• Heat pumps, whether water or ground source, should not be used to handle large outdoor air loads. These outdoor air loads should be handled through separate A/C units, preferably with heat-recovery capabilities and conditioned outdoor air ducted to each heat pump.
• Heat-pump sizing is very critical. It doesn’t need to oversize heat pumps. In general, size at no less than 95 percent for adequate latent-heat capacity. Do not size greater than 125 percent of the zone peak sensiblecooling load unless the heat pump has multi-speed fan/compressor and automatic means of adjusting flow.
• Pay special attention to the specifications for the on/off automatic valve in the source water-supply connection to the heat pump, which is interlocked with the compressor to permit compressor operation only after it is fully open. Though seemingly a small component in the overall system, this is prone to frequent failures if it is not of good quality. Its failure will lead to expensive compressor failures.

• Heat-pump schedules must include the minimum acceptable coefficient of performance for heating performance and energy efficiency ratio for the cooling performance to take advantage of the most efficient heat pumps available on the market.

GEOTHERMAL HEATING SYSTEMS

Geothermal energy is a natural resource, which can be used in conjunction with heat pumps to provide energy for heating and hot water. CO2 emissions are much lower than gas fired boilers or electric heating systems. Geothermal heating is more expensive to install initially, than electrical or gas fired heating systems. However, it is cheaper to run, has lower maintenance costs, and is cleaner in use than other sources of heating.

The temperature of the earth under 2 metres of the surface is a fairly constant 10ºC throughout the year. At a depth of about 100 metres, the temperature of any water or rock is at about 12ºC throughout the year. The heat stored at this depth comes largely from the sun, the earth acting as a large solar collector. For very deep wells, in excess of about 170 metres, there is an added component of heat from the core of the earth. As an approximation, one can add 3ºC of heat gain for every 100 metres of depth drilled into the earth.

A closed loop system takes the heat gained from the bedrock itself. In a vertical system a borehole of a diameter of about 150mm is drilled, depth varies between 32 and 180 metres but will depend on the energy requirements. Multiple boreholes can be drilled. A pair of pipes with a special U-bend assembly at the bottom is inserted into the borehole and the void between pipe and hole backfilled with a special grout solution so that the pipe is in close contact with the rock strata or earth. Fluid (referred to as ‘brine’ is then circulated through this loop and is heated up by the bedrock. Different rock types will give different results. In some cases a number of boreholes will be made (for example, over a car park) to provide sufficient energy for the heat pump supply. If the ground is not suitable, horizontal loops can be laid or even trench filled ‘slinky’ loops, which are very simple to install. However trench filled systems and horizontal systems require much more ground than vertical systems. If one has a pond or lake nearby then can lay a closed loop at the base of the pond (it needs to be about 2 metres deep), or simply extract the water directly out of the lake at low level and re-distribute it elsewhere in the lake.

Heat pumps can be cheaper to operate than other heating systems because, by tapping into free heat in the outdoor air, ground or water supply, they give back more energy-in the form of heat-than the equivalent amount of electrical energy they consume. For example, in heating mode, a highly efficient heat pump could extract energy from the earth and transfer it into a building. For every 1 KWh of electrical energy used to drive the heat pump, around 3 to 4 kWh of thermal energy will be produced. In cooling mode, the heat pump works in reverse and heat can be extracted from a building and dissipated into the earth. Heat pumps which work in a heating mode are given a ‘coefficient of performance’ or ‘COP’ calculated by dividing the input kWh into the output kWh. This will give a COP figure, which varies with the input temperature and is the ratio of energy in to energy out. In cooling mode, the ratio is called the ‘energy efficiency ratio’ or ‘EER’. When the EER and COP ratios higher, the more efficient the unit. Geothermal/GSHPs are selfcontained systems. The heat pump unit is housed entirely within the building and connected to the outside-buried ground loop.

THERMAL STORAGE

If the use off peak electricity and want to ensure the even distribution of hot water, then it is worth considering a thermal store. The water, which is heated by the heat pump, can be stored in a large insulated tank at about 50ºC and only used when needed. The thermal store can also link into solar water panels providing an additional source of renewable energy. Thermal storage requirements will vary in size depending on house construction and insulation.

The key to the diffusion of any innovation is the ability to reduce the uncertainty or risk associated with the innovation. There are several diffusion attributes of a technology that help us identify the technology’s ability to overcome uncertainty and achieve potential adoption. The key attributes have been divided into five categories, presented below with our assessment of the status of GSHP relative to these attributes (Table 3).

APPLICATIONS FOR EARTH ENERGY

The decision to use geothermal heat pumps should be based on the results of geotechnical/ hydrogeological investigations. Sites may be encountered that are inappropriate for geothermal heat pumps. The geothermal heat-pump system is an all-electric system. A life-cycle analysis, using gas and electric rates, initial costs, maintenance costs, and replacement costs, must be conducted before selecting these systems. These systems may not be cost effective in locations with high electric rates and inexpensive gas. The geothermal heat-pump concept is not a good candidate for buildings that are not expected to have heating loads. EE units can be used for the dehumidification of indoor swimming pool areas, where the unit can dehumidify the air and provide condensation control with a minimum of ventilation air. The heat recovered from the condensed moisture is then used for heating domestic/pool water or for space heating. EE systems are also used as heat recovery devices to recover heat from building exhaust air or from the wastewater of an industrial process. The recovered heat is then supplied at a higher temperature at which it can be more readily used for heating air or water.

Efficient heating performance makes EE a good choice for the heating and cooling of commercial and institutional buildings, such as offices, stores, hospitals, hotels, apartment buildings, schools, restaurants and penitentiaries. EE systems can heat water or heat/cool the interior space by transferring heat from the ground outside, but they can also transfer heat within buildings with a heatproducing central core. The technology can move heat from the core to perimeter zones where it is required, thereby simultaneously cooling the core and heating the perimeter.

HEATING AND COOLING

A GSHP extracts solar heat stored in the upper layers of the earth; the heat is then delivered to a building. A re-circulating piping system connects the heat pump. The piping system adds or removes heat to the circulating water. GSHPs can reduce the energy required for space heating, cooling and service waterheating in commercial/institutional buildings by as much as 50% (Figure 4).

GSHPs replace the need for a boiler in winter by utilizing heat stored in the ground; this heat is upgraded by a vapour-compressor refrigeration cycle. In summer, heat from a building is rejected to the ground. This eliminates the need for a cooling tower or heat rejecter, and also lowers operating costs because the ground is cooler than the outdoor air.

Water-to-air heat pumps are typically installed throughout a building with ductwork serving only the immediate zone; a two-pipe water distribution system conveys water to and from the ground-source heat exchanger. The heat exchanger field consists of a grid of vertical boreholes with plastic u-tube heat exchangers connected in parallel. Simultaneous heating and cooling can occur throughout the building, as individual heat pumps, controlled by zone thermostats, can operate in heating or cooling mode as required. Unlike conventional boiler/cooling tower type water loop heat pumps, the heat pumps used in GSHP applications are generally designed to operate at lower inlet-water temperature.

The GSHP are also more efficient than conventional heat pumps, with higher COPs and EERs. Because there are lower water temperatures in the two-pipe loop, piping needs to be insulated to prevent sweating; in addition, a larger circulation pump is needed because the units are slightly larger in the perimeter zones requiring larger flows. GSHPs reduce energy use and hence atmospheric emissions. Conventional boilers and their associated emissions are eliminated, since no supplementary form of energy is usually required. Typically, single packaged heat pump units have no field refrigerant connections and thus have significantly lower refrigerant leakage compared to central chiller systems. GSHP units have life spans of 20 years or more. The two-pipe water-loop system typically used allows for unit placement changes to accommodate new tenants or changes in building use. The plastic piping used in the heat exchanger should last as long as the building itself. When the system is disassembled, attention must be given to the removal and recycling of the HCFC or HFC refrigerants used in the heat pumps themselves and the anti-freeze solution typically used in the ground heat exchanger.

RADIANT HEATING AND COOLING

There is an alternative source of heat beneath our feet. GSHPs are 380% efficient, 75% renewable and 100% reliable. The land absorbs radiant energy from sun, even on the darkest days (Figure 5). This is stored, every day, and all for free. Solar energy from above and geothermal heat from below maintains the subsurface UK ground temperature within a range of approximately 10°C – even in winter. GSHPs tap this low-grade energy and turn it into usable heat through the simple principle refrigeration- an idea recognised as long ago.

Conventional radiators have been used for many years to heat buildings. The radiators are located around the building perimeter. Because of the small surface area of the radiators, they must be operated at a high temperature to deliver sufficient heat. Modern systems are different in that they cover a large area of floor or ceiling and operate at temperatures much closer to room air temperature, approximately 15°C in cooling mode and 35 to 50°C in heating mode. The system cannot be operated at lower temperatures in cooling mode without the risk of condensation (Figure 6). The small temperature difference means that about 30% to 50% of the ceiling or almost the entire floor area must be available as heat transfer surface. Ventilation air is provided by a small-dedicated ductwork system and works particularly well with displacement ventilation concepts. Several companies have developed metal radiant panels that can be ceiling mounted, either attached directly to the ceiling or as part of a T-bar suspended ceiling. For floor systems, flexible plastic piping is embedded in the concrete floor or in gypsum topping on a wooden sub-floor. Ceiling mounted systems are usually best for combined heating and cooling systems. Floor systems are best for heating-only systems (provided the floor isn’t covered with heavy carpets). The amount of heat transfer depends on the direction of heat flow. Air in contact with a cooled ceiling panel will naturally fall as it is cooled increasing the movement of air over the panel. Conversely, air in contact with a warm ceiling will stratify at the ceiling and have low convective heat transfer. As a guide to system sizing, the total heat transfer rate (combined radiation and convection) is about 11 W/m2/°C temperature difference for cooled ceilings and heated bare floors. This value drops to 6 W/m2/°C for heated ceilings and cooled floors. Floor coverings such as carpeting reduce the output of heated floors. Radiant systems are more energy-efficient than air-based systems. They require less parasitic energy (pump and fan energy) to deliver heat. The low operating temperatures mean that boilers can operate more efficiently. Finally, because the walls are radiantly heated, the air temperature can be cooler to achieve the same level of comfort. These lower air temperatures result in lower heat losses to the outdoors (Table 4).

HEAT DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

The heat pump works by promoting the evaporation and condensation of a refrigerant to move heat from one place to another (Figure 6). A heat exchanger transfers heat from the water/antifreeze mixture in the ground loop to heat and evaporate refrigerants, changing them to a gaseous state. A compressor is then used to increase the pressure and raise the temperature at which the refrigerant condenses. This temperature is increased to approximately 40°C. A condenser gives up heat to a hot water tank, which then feeds the distribution system. Features include: Lower utility bills, less maintenance, no visible outdoor plant, reduction in emissions, and versatility of system.

Because GSHPs raise the temperature to approximately 40°C they are most suitable for under floor heating systems, which require temperatures of 30 to 35°C, as opposed to conventional boiler systems, which require higher temperatures of 60 to 80°C. GSHPs can also be combined with radiator space heating systems and with domestic hot water systems. However top-up heating would be required in both cases in order to achieve temperatures high enough for these systems. Some systems can also be used for cooling in the summer. Geothermal heat pumps are the most energy efficient, environmentally clean, and cost effective space conditioning systems available according to the Environmental Protection Agency in the United States of America. Ground Source Geothermal heating and cooling is a renewable resource, using the earth’s energy storage capability. The earth absorbs 47% of the suns energy amounting to 500 times more energy than mankind needs every year.

The closed loop portion of a ground source heat pump system consists of polyethylene pipe buried in the ground and charged with a water/antifreeze solution. Thermal energy is transferred from the earth to the fluid in the pipe, and is upgraded by passing to a water source heat pump. One 100 metres vertical closed loop borehole will typically deliver 14000 KWh of useful heating energy and 11000 KWh of useful cooling energy every year for life. For typical commercial building early trials indicate annual HVAC energy consumption in the order of 75 kWh/m² compared with 156 kWh/m² ‘good practice target’, and 316 kWh/m² typical consumptions published by the Department of the Environment in Energy Consumption Guide No.19. Low energy consumption means associated lower CO2 emissions than from conventional systems.

Energy savings of 40% compared with air source heat pumps and by over 70% compared to electric resistance heating are being achieved, and CO2 emissions are reduced to 40 kg/m², less than half that associated with DOE typical HVAC design. With the heat source buried in the ground, the system is both invisible and silent. There is no need for boiler, flue, cooling tower, water treatment or associated plant rooms, and the total building resource content is reduced.

This invention relates to a cooling and heating system, which operates on the absorption and phase change heat exchange principle. More particularly it relates to a continuous heat actuated, air cooled, double effect generator cycle, absorption system. In further aspects, this invention relates to a system constructed for use with an absorption refrigeration solution pair consisting of a nonvolatile absorbent and a highly volatile refrigerant, which is highly soluble in the absorbent. A disclosed refrigerant pair is ammonia as the refrigerant and sodium thiocyanate as the absorbent. An absorption cycle is disclosed using the thermo physical properties of sodium thiocyanate/ammonia, absorption/refrigerant pair. Also, disclosed is the construction and configuration of a reverse cycle air cooled double effect generator absorption refrigeration system for use with the sodium thiocyanate/ammonia refrigeration pair, as well as sub-compositions, subsystems and components that improve the system efficiency and reduce cost.

At a depth of 5.5 metres, the earths temperature will be constant at a temperature equal to the average mean ambient temperature throughout the year in any location meaning temperature in winter higher than the air temperature, and in summer lower than air temperature thereby providing higher efficiencies in both heating and cooling modes and ensuring a lower peak load throughout the year.

There is unlikely to be a potentially larger mitigating effect on greenhouse gas emissions and the resulting global warming impact of buildings from any other current, marketavailable single technology, than from groundsource heat pumps. Over its first year of operation, the ground source heat pump system has provided 91.7% of the total heating requirement of the building and 55.3% of the domestic water-heating requirement, although only sized to meet half the design-heating load. The heat pump has operated reliably and its performance appears to be at least as good as its specification. The system has a measured annual performance factor of 3.16. The occupants are pleased with the comfort levels achieved and find the system quiet and unobtrusive. The heat pump is mounted in a cupboard under the stairs and does not reduce the useful space in the house, and there are no visible signs of the installation externally (no flue, vents, etc.). The ground source heat pump system is responsible for lower CO2 emissions than alternative heating systems (the emission figures for an all-electric system and oil- or gas-fired boilers are given in table 4). For example, compared with a gascondensing boiler, the heat pump system resulted in 15% lower CO2 emissions (assuming a CO2 emission factor for electricity of 0.46 kg/kWh). When compared with a new oil-fired boiler system or an all-electric system, the emissions of CO2 are cut by over 40% and nearly 60% respectively.

Annual fuel costs, based on the fuel prices and are about 10% higher than those for a gas condensing boiler and about 20% higher than for a new regular oil boiler, but servicing costs are likely to be lower. Running costs are substantially cheaper than for an all-electric heating system. At present, suitable products are not readily available in the UK, so the heat pump had to be imported.

This had some drawbacks, e.g., limited documentation in English and possible difficulty in obtaining spare parts. The controller supplied with the heat pump was not designed for use with an Economy 7 type tariff structure. There is however potential to improve the operation of the system by scheduling more of the space and water heating duty during the reduced tariff period.

The performance of the heat pump system could also be improved by eliminating unnecessary running of the integral distribution pump. It is estimated that reducing the running time of this pump, which currently runs virtually continuously, would increase the overall performance factor to 3.43.

This would improve both the economics and the environmental performance of the system. More generally, there is still potential for improvement in the performance of heat pumps, and seasonal efficiencies for ground source heat pumps of 4.0 are already being achieved.

It is also likely that unit costs will fall as production volumes increase. By comparison, there is little scope to further improve the efficiency of gas- or oil-fired boilers.

CONCLUSIONS

Conventional heating or cooling systems require energy from limited resources, e.g., electricity and natural gas, which have become increasingly more expensive and are at times subjects to shortages.

Much attention has been given to sources subject to sources of energy that exist as natural phenomena. Such energy includes geothermal energy, solar energy, tidal energy, and wind generated energy. While all of these energy sources have advantages and disadvantages, geothermal energy, i.e., energy derived from the earth or ground, has been considered by many as the most reliable, readily available, and most easily tapped of the natural phenomena.

This study has dealt with the modelling of vertical closed-loop and ground source heat pump system. The challenges associated with the design of these systems originate from the fact that they present a unique type of heat transfer problem.

First, there are inherent inabilities to make direct observations in the subsurface environment with respect to both space and time. Secondly, heat transfer within the subsurface environment can be highly transient. Consequently, a considerable amount of research in the past decade has been geared towards optimising the design and performance of GSHP systems and this study is part of those efforts.

The installation and operation of a geothermal system may be affected by various factors. These factors include, but are not limited to, the field size, the hydrology of the site the thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity of the rock formation, the number of wells, the distribution pattern of the wells, the drilled depth of each well, and the building load profiles.

The performance of the heat pump system could also be improved by eliminating unnecessary running of the integral distribution pump. This would improve both the economics and the environmental performance of the system.

The results of soil properties investigation have also demonstrated that the moisture content of the soil has a significant effect on its thermal properties. When water replaces the air between particles it reduces the contact resistance.

Consequently, the thermal conductivity varied from 0.25 W/m/K for dry soil to 2.5 W/m/K for wet soil. However, the thermal conductivity was relatively constant above a specific moisture threshold.

In fact, where the water table is high and cooling loads are moderate, the moisture content is unlikely to drop below the critical level. In Nottingham, where the present study was conducted, soils are likely to be damp for much of the time. Hence, thermal instability is unlikely to be a problem. Nevertheless, when heat is extracted, there will be a migration of moisture by diffusion towards the heat exchanger and hence the thermal conductivity will increase.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The financial support for this research work is from the Energy Research Institute (ERI). Thanks to my wife Kawthar Abdelhai Ali for her warmth and love. Her unwavering faith in me, her intelligence, humour, spontaneity, curiosity and wisdom added to this article and to my life.


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