GEOTHERMAL HEAT PUMPS - INSTALLATION METHODS

There are three basic installation methods available which are represented below. :

1. Installation utilizing drillings. Water is pumped out the borehole and reentered after passing through the exchanger of the GHP. The water absorbs or rejects the heat load and the heat pump refrigerates or heats the building. This system has increased cost of manufacture, because of the required equipment (submersible pumps). Moreover, the power consumption of the submersible pumps is considerable. The basic advantage is the minimal requirements in space on the building ground..

2. Closed vertical loop with circulation of the heat carrier fluid. Boreholes are drilled to relatively small depths pipes are installed creating vertical loops which constitute the geothermal exchanger. The method is used in cases of big buildings with extended needs of cooling and heating so a very big length of piping is required and the unoccupied building ground is small. The cost is comparable with case 1 because the necessity of drillings.

3. Closed horizontal loop with circulation of the heat carrier fluid. Trenches of about 1,5m depth are created on the unoccupied building ground or a complete excavation is made. This method is used almost always when the unoccupied building ground is sufficient because is the most inexpensive solution.