Ground Source Heat Pumps

Ground source heat pumps are used to extract renewable ground source heat energy and to produce useful heat energy for heating homes and commercial buildings. Ground temperatures in most locations are relatively constant thoroughout the year and in most cases useful heat energy can still be extracted even when the outside air temperature falls below freezing point.

After installation, geothermal heat energy extracted by a ground source heat pump can be used to provide lower cost heating and hot water to both homes and commercial buildings. Carbon emissions from heat generated by a eground source heat pump are also be lower than emissions from traditional gas-fired, oil-fired or electric heating.

A ground source heat pump system works using similar technology to that used by an ordinary domestic refridgerator, where heat is pumped out of the refridgerator which in the case of a refidgerator is dispersed as waste heat. In the case of a ground source heat pump the extracted heat is useful heat which is used to heat a building and sometimes also a hot water supply.

A ground source heat pump system consists of a loop or loops of polyethylene pipe similar to that used to supply mains water supply is buried in the ground. A water/antifreeze mixture which is chilled to be a lower temperature than the ground temperature is then then pumped around the loop. As the chilled liquid passed through the loop heat energy is gradually absorbed into the liquid from the ground it passes through which is warmer. Whe the liquid has passed completely through the loop it emerges just a few degrees warmer than when it entered the loop.

The heat energy from the "warmed" liquid is then extracted using refridgerator technology using a compresser and an expansion valve. This causes the liquid to be rechilled and ready for another circuit to absorb heat from the ground source loop. Electricty is is required to power the heat extracting process process but on a well installed system appoximately 4 Kw of heat are produced for each Kw of electrical energy consumed.

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