Archive for the ‘Geo Thermal’ Category
June 27th, 2010 | 
Author: The man of the Old Stone Age found a useful purpose in a hot spring-a natural geothermal heater that was used for bathing and simple preparation of foods that were hunted and gathered. Modern man, however, has gone far beyond discovering what a body of hot groundwater can do. Modern man has invented modern geothermal heating systems to tap into the energy of the Earth and take full advantage of this constant and renewable source of energy to meet our daily requirements for electricity.
A geothermal heating system, also known as a geothermal heat pump, a geoexchange system, or a ground-sourced heat pump, uses the heat energy produced by the radioactive decay of minerals deep in the recesses of the Earth and the ground's absorption of energy from the sun. While climates vary all across the United States, six feet under, the temperature remains at a constant range of 45 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit, making geothermal heating a viable and greener alternative to conventional heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems. To save home energy and the environment, more and more families have geothermal heaters installed in their homes.
The Mechanics of Ground-Sourced Heating
The nature of geothermal heating systems is comparable to that of underground caves. In the summer, they keep a constant temperature that is cooler than the temperature of the air outside. By contrast, in the winter, they are constantly warmer than the cold air around them. This is the basic premise through which a geothermal heat pump works. It keeps your home comfortably warm in the winter, and cool and mild in the summer. There are three main components of a geothermal heating system: a loop of dense and durable polyethylene pumps buried underground or submerged in a body of water near your house, an indoor compressor and heat exchanger to transfer the heat from the ground to your home or vice versa, and a flow center to connect the two. In the summer, the indoor heat exchanger works very much like a refrigerator by removing the heat inside the home and transferring it into the ground through the loop. The process is reversed in the winter, when the loop circulates an anti-freeze solution to collect heat from under the ground and carries this heat to the interior of the house, which is then distributed to the rooms through its network of ducts and pipes.
There are add-ons that can increase the efficiency of your already very efficient geothermal heaters. These special equipment may include variable speed blowers and multiple-speed compressors that allow you to adjust how quick cooling or heating the house can take. Additionally, some geothermal heating systems may be installed with desuperheaters, devices that take advantage of the excess heat extracted from the house during the hotter periods of the year to produce domestic hot water.
Save More Energy with Geothermal Heat Pumps
There are considerations to mull over before installing geothermal heat pump. Although ground temperatures are constant all across the country, there are other factors such as geology, water availability, and land availability that can affect the effectiveness of a geothermal heating system. For example, if the ground on the site where you are planning to place your heating system is composed of very hard rocks, you might consider installing shallow horizontal loops instead of space-saving vertical pipes. The availability of ground or surface water may also affect your decision as to what type of heat pump to install. Open-loop systems take advantage of a nearby repository of water, which may be prone to groundwater contamination if not checked properly with the local water facility. It is important that you check with the authorities first before installing a geothermal heating system for your home.
About the Author:
Brian Carver is a house energy expert. He has focused on finding ways to preserve the earth's natural resources and helping people conserve energy and use it efficiently. For more information on energy saving system, visit http://www.houseenergysavingtips.com
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