Introduction
Ground and Air Source Heat pump systems harness this power and convert
it to provide heating and hot water for either domestic or commercial
installations.
Ground Source units
Ground source systems collect the Earth’s natural heat through a series
of pipes called a loop, which is installed below the surface of the ground
or submersed in a pond or lake. At a depth of approximately 1.5 metres,
the ground in the UK remains a stable 10 degrees centigrade all the year
round, which is the heat that the heat pump technology captures.
A special mixture of water and an environmentally friendly anti-freeze solution circulates through the loop in a closed circuit system, moving the heat from the ground to the heat pump. An indoor heat pump uses electrically driven compressors and heat exchanges in a vapour compression cycle. This is the same principle employed in the operation of a fridge but without the harmful CFC emissions.
The pump concentrates the earth’s energy and releases it inside the building at a higher temperature, through radiators, under floor heating, and into a hot water tank. Apart from the small amount of electricity used to power the function of the heat pump, all the heat required for central heating and hot water can be generated from the ground.
A comfort cooling system by reversing the process and putting heat back into the ground can be a benefit available in warm months. Typical systems costs can be recovered in 6-8 years by savings on present day fuel costs.
