Ground heating. How to use the free heat of the earth and water? Geothermal heating of the house: principle of operation
A progressive method of geothermal heating of a house uses the operating principle of using the heat of the earth to heat the room. Since traditional fuels are exhaustible natural resources, then you should worry in advance about the transition to the latest inexhaustible energy sources.
Scandinavian countries are leaders in the production and operation of geothermal heating systems for homes. They popularize this installation option and offer it to regions that have wide potential for its use.
Application of equipment
It is incorrect to believe that heating from the ground can only be used where there are hot water springs, warm geysers and other natural underground heating sources. The latest technologies make it possible to successfully operate geothermal heating at home and in temperate latitudes.
Today in our country this type of heating is still classified as alternative ways receiving heat. However, in most cases it is almost ideal for country houses or country houses. Do-it-yourself installed geothermal heating at home can operate in two modes:
- heating in winter time;
- cooling during hot weather.
This creates the most favorable atmosphere in the room.
VIDEO: How geothermal heating works
System Operation
A heat pump needs to be installed in the house. It will take energy from the soil or groundwater, giving it to the coolant circulating in the house through the pipes. This operating principle was identified back in the 19th century by the French physicist Sadi Carnot.
The components of the base node are:
The compressor is responsible for “compressing” heat and moving it to consumers. The device itself requires an external power source.
The heat pump operates according to the following algorithm:
- The heat intake collector must contain inside a liquid having low temperature freezing. Often, when making geothermal heating with your own hands, water with a high salt content, alcohol diluted with water, and glycol mixtures are poured inside.
- In the evaporator module, heat is transferred to the refrigerant, which has no high temperature boiling, at which time it boils and turns into a vapor state.
- The compressor installed in the circuit increases the steam pressure, which results in an increase in the temperature of the substance to 78-80 0 C.
- Once the refrigerant substance enters the condenser, it enters the liquid phase, and at the same time energy is released for the heating circuit.
- The resulting liquid is returned to the compressor through the throttle valve.
Since a heat pump for heating a home operates on the principle of a refrigerator, it is often called a “reverse refrigerator.” In many cases, energy from the ground is used to install underfloor heating.
Correctly carried out calculations and well-executed installation of the heat exchanger can provide a fivefold increase in output power from one kilowatt consumed by the pump.
VIDEO: How a geothermal heat pump works
Heat exchanger installation
The current installation types are the following:
- vertical, when you need to drill several wells;
- horizontal, where trenches are dug below the freezing depth;
- underwater, when laying is carried out along the bottom of the nearest body of water.
Drilling of the wells
For effective use thermal energy of the earth, if the area near the building is small, it is necessary to drill deep wells. A stable positive temperature remains several meters deep in the earth. The use of such geothermal wells provides heat to the heat exchanger circuit. This heat is then transferred to a second internal circuit located in the room.
Often, drilling several wells costs even less than laying them along the bottom of a reservoir. Thanks to this, the process becomes accessible to more people.
The process is carried out with a small-sized drilling rig and a small amount of auxiliary equipment. This practically does not affect the surrounding area. Construction of a well is allowed even in water, but it should not be closer than 2-3 m from a residential building.
The maximum usable depth is up to 200 m, but often efficiency appears from a level of 50 m. next stage The well is being constructed. A plastic tube with a diameter of 40 mm is placed inside the cavity. From one to four collector loops are passed into it.
The cavity between the soil and the outer wall of the tube must be filled with heat-conducting material. The heating main is being wired and connected to the heat pump.
Water energy
This option is the most rational in terms of cost, since it does not require the preparation of trenches, foundation pits and other earthworks. But this capability is not available to everyone - the minimum volume of the reservoir is sufficient to heat a house of 100 sq.m. must be at least 200 cubic meters and located no further than 100 meters from the housing construction.
Pipes are laid along the bottom of reservoirs to prevent them from freezing during the peak of frost.
Carrying out calculations
To perform a system calculation, it is necessary to take into account the basic parameters:
- at a depth exceeding middle lane Russia 15-20 m, temperature is maintained at +8-+10 0 C;
- For vertical structures It is customary to take in calculations the resulting power value of 50 W per 1 m height, and more exact values depend on the degree of moisture in the rock, the presence of groundwater, etc.;
- dry rock gives 20-25 W/m;
- moistened clay or sandstone 45-55 W/m;
- hard granite rocks will provide up to 85 W/m;
- Availability groundwater gives up to 110 W/m.
Using a Heat Pump
The longevity of the system depends on the characteristics and conditions in which the heat pump operates. In geothermal installations it is capable of operating approximately 1800 hours per year. This is the average value for latitudes without thermal underground springs.
Working principle of a heat pump
The operating principle of the thermal heating system is identical and has nothing to do with the country of origin or brand. Geothermal pumps can vary in design, size, appearance, but the heat production coefficient will always be the same for pumps from different companies and different countries. This is due precisely to the peculiarities of processing natural energy to thermal.
The pump should not be used too much, as this process can lead to a significant decrease in the temperature of the soil around the well, and sometimes leads to its freezing.
The consequences of such miscalculations ultimately lead to disastrous consequences - the soil sags unevenly, in some places it goes very deep, as a result of which the protective plastic pipes are damaged. If the house is located nearby, deformation of the foundation or walls may occur due to geological changes.
Periodically, it is necessary to take measures to “regenerate” the soil, for which additional thermal energy is supplied to the heat exchanger. This can be the energy of a solar collector or heating a probe when a heat pump is used in room cooling mode.
In conclusion, it should be noted that geothermal installation is not yet available to everyone. In some cases, the payback period may last more than 10 years, but in the end, these methods of heating a house in the near future will become not just alternative, but the only possible ones.
Do-it-yourself geothermal heating of a house: diagram, drawing, cost, photo and video instructions
How to make geothermal heating with your own hands. The operating principle of a heat pump. How the energy of earth and water can heat a house without firewood or gas.
Not everyone knows that creating geothermal heating at home does not require specific knowledge or skills. But compared to alternative types of heating, geothermal is not so popular, and the reason for this is extremely simple - large financial costs that will pay off only after eight years. Under such conditions, few want to invest money, and in vain.
DIY geothermal heat pump
In a word, take a closer look at geothermal heating, especially since the cost of electricity and gas is constantly growing and it is unclear which energy source will be cheaper to use in a few years.
Note! This heating method was first used in America during the financial crisis of the eighties. Over time, the new product became popular in Europe. In Sweden, for example, today ¾ of all heat is synthesized through heat pumps.
Construction of geothermal systems
Construction of geothermal systems
Even from the name it is clear that the essence of this type of heating is to use the energy of the earth. According to the principle of operation, it vaguely resembles air conditioners or refrigerators.
The main element is a heat pump connected to two circuits.
- The internal circuit refers to the heating system that is familiar to us; it consists of radiators and piping.
- External is a very large heat exchanger installed underground or in a reservoir. It contains a coolant (and it may be plain water or antifreeze), having reached the temperature environment, is supplied to the heat pump, from where the accumulated heat enters the internal circuit. This is how heating appliances in the house heat up.
The main element of the system is the heat pump - a device that takes up no more space than gas stove. The performance of the heat pump is quite high: for every kilowatt of energy used, it produces up to five kilowatts of heat.
Heat pump operation diagram
Note! A conventional air conditioner, whose operating principle is very similar, produces exactly as much energy as it consumes, that is, one to one.
Of course, geothermal heating is the most labor-intensive and expensive today. Most of the money will have to be spent on excavation and related equipment, including a heat pump. And many people wonder whether it is possible to save money on this and build, say, a homemade heat pump. To find out, you need to understand the types and features of the equipment.
Pros and cons of the system
Here are the main advantages of this heating method:
- use of the inexhaustible energy of the earth;
- high productivity factor;
- no risk of fire;
- efficiency;
- ease of maintenance and operation;
- no need for fuel storage;
- autonomy;
- environmental friendliness and safety.
The only disadvantages include the high cost of installation, but, as already mentioned, these costs will certainly pay off.
Note! Geothermal heating is most beneficial in tandem with “warm floors”, as well as in houses whose area does not exceed 150 square meters.
Methods for constructing geothermal systems
Methods for constructing geothermal systems
One of essential elements is the thermal circuit. When positioned vertically, it can lie at a depth of 20 m to 150 m, depending on the geological circulation of heat. Horizontal circuits are installed at a depth of up to 2.5 m and are heated due to temperature fluctuations due to solar heating or heat loss.
1. Direct heat exchange
Thermal devices with direct heat exchange are in direct contact with the soil. The coolant leaves the device body, moves along an underground copper line, exchanging thermal energy, and returns back.
Such heat exchange is called direct because the liquid is in contact with the ground without any “intermediaries”. Of course, it does not interact with the soil directly, but only exchanges heat with it through the walls of the pipes. Today, such pumps are rarely used; they should not be confused with devices in which heat exchange takes place through intermediate circuits.
Be that as it may, the efficiency of direct heat exchange is quite high, and the financial costs of installation are lower than in most closed systems. The thermal conductivity of copper plays an important role in this, as well as the absence of an electric water pump and an exchanger between the coolant and water, which, as is known, is the main source of heat loss.
It is also worth noting that copper pipelines are expensive, and more coolant is required than for other types of systems.
2. Closed systems
Most of these systems consist of a primary circuit filled with refrigerant and a secondary circuit filled with water and installed underground. For the manufacture of the secondary circuit they are mainly used polypropylene pipes, and fill it with water with a small amount of antifreeze.
Water leaves the heat exchanger, moves along the outer circuit, exchanging thermal energy with the soil, and returns. It is characteristic that the outer contour is below the soil freezing level, where the temperature is stable; they also immerse him in the nearest body of water.
Note! Systems submerged in water or located in moist soil are much more productive than dry circuits. Therefore, in dry soil next to the circuit, it is advisable to install a drainage hose that would moisten it.
Closed systems are less efficient than the previous option because they require labor-intensive drilling and a long pipe system. Also note that closed circuits are installed in two ways - vertically and horizontally.
The vertical circuit consists of two pipes going underground at right angles to a depth of 20-120 m. Their lower parts are connected to each other by a U-shaped connector. Shafts dug for pipes are usually filled with a special solution that improves heat transfer and protects underground aquifers from pollution.
If the system is placed horizontally, the pipes are buried below the freezing level of the soil. Naturally, they run horizontally. For obvious reasons, this method is cheaper than vertical placement (read: drilling), so it is used wherever there is enough space on the site.
3. Horizontal drilling contours
Horizontal Drilling Contours
An alternative to the two previous options may be to lay the contour through horizontal drilling. This makes it possible to install pipes under a garden, yard, road and other objects without destroying them.
In terms of cost, such a system is somewhere between horizontal and vertical installation. Her distinctive feature is that the loops can be connected to only one chamber, and this reduces the area required for installation.
Note! Contours using horizontal drilling are installed after the building is built.
4. Water circuits
Closed circuits that are immersed in reservoirs are a pipeline laid in loops. They can be placed in any lake or pond that is located in close proximity to the house.
5. Open systems
In such systems, the outer contour is filled natural water. It then moves to a heat exchanger located in the body of the device, where the heat is extracted and transferred to the primary circuit. After this, the water returns back. The supply and return lines must be placed far from each other to efficiently feed the heat source.
Note! All elements of the system must be well protected from corrosion, since the chemical composition of the circulating water cannot be controlled. This is why it is advisable to use closed circuits if the level of minerals and salts in the water is high.
Although the effectiveness open systems an order of magnitude higher than closed ones, problems may arise during installation, mainly of a legal nature. Installation permits may be required because these systems contaminate wells and deplete aquifers.
6. Columns of liquid
Circuits with liquid columns are one of the types of closed-type systems. In this case, water comes from the bottom of a deep well, passes through a pump and falls back, exchanging heat with the surrounding soil.
Often liquid columns are used where free space is limited. It is not advisable to use this system on clay or sandy soil.
We also note that the structure can consist of several pillars at once and is used mainly in small buildings.
Stage one. Before starting to manufacture a pump, it is necessary to carry out a number of measures to improve the energy efficiency of the house. These measures include insulating floors and walls, replacing leaking doors and windows, and thermal insulation of the roof and ceiling.
Stage two. Then you need to conduct geological exploration to find out the depth of soil freezing. After this, you should draw up a project based on the selected technology.
Stage three. Purchasing everything you need - heating system parts, pipes and a compressor for the pump.
The compressor - the heart of any geothermal pump - should be discussed separately. It is impossible to make it yourself and the only option left is to buy a finished product.
It is better to buy a device with a power of more than 7 kW, used in high-performance air conditioners (such compressors are sold in service centers specializing in servicing household appliances).
DIY geothermal heat pump
Stage four. Then you can begin assembling the internal heat exchanger. Let us remind you that it is necessary to transfer the accumulated thermal energy to the heating network. The materials for a given element, as well as its volume, completely depend on specific climatic conditions. For coolant circulation, they are usually used copper tubes, while the container is made of non-corrosion material. Ideally, this capacity should be a 150-liter stainless steel tank.
Stage five. The pre-prepared copper coil must be placed in the tank. It will not be possible to do this without damaging the latter - it must be cut into two parts, and after fixing the coil, welded to its original state.
Stage six. Then you should drill shafts or trenches and install a pipeline there. Upon completion of work, it is necessary to conduct a test run of the system.
Note! In view of high degree Due to the complexity of the work, it is better to entrust the design and installation of such heating to experienced specialists. The same can be said about the manufacture of a heat pump.
DIY geothermal heat pump
Learn how to build your own geothermal heat pump! Geothermal heating system, types of heat pumps, manufacturing stages, photo + video.
Do-it-yourself geothermal heating at home: a comparative review of design methods
Many owners of private houses still believe that geothermal heating is a term almost from the realm of science fiction, and it is relevant only for those regions where hot springs bubble and there is high volcanic activity. And since such natural phenomena are rare, the prospects for using this alternative energy in our conditions they look vague for many. In fact, a geothermal pump successfully generates heat even at low temperatures, so even in temperate climate it can be used quite effectively. But is it possible to install geothermal heating at home with your own hands? Let's try to figure this out.
Classification by construction type
The operating principle of geothermal heating is similar to that of an air conditioner or refrigerator. The main element is a heat pump included in two circuits.
Operating principle of a geothermal (heat) pump
The internal circuit is a traditional heating system consisting of pipes and radiators. External - an impressively sized heat exchanger located underground or in the water column. Both a special liquid with antifreeze and ordinary water can circulate inside it. The coolant takes on the temperature of the medium and, “warmed up,” enters the heat pump, the accumulated heat is transferred to the internal circuit. In this way, water is heated in pipes and radiators.
Geothermal (heat) pump – key element systems. This is a compact unit that takes up no more space than the one we’re used to. washing machine. If we talk about performance, then for every 1 kW of electricity consumed, the pump “produces” up to 4-5 kW of thermal energy. While a conventional air conditioner, which has a similar principle of operation, will “respond” to 1 kW of heat for 1 kW of electricity consumed.
Scheme of geothermal heating in a private house
It must be admitted that the installation of this type of heating is the most expensive and labor-intensive to date. The lion's share its cost is the purchase of equipment and, of course, excavation work. Naturally, a thrifty owner wonders whether it is possible to save money, for example, on installation and make geothermal heating with his own hands? In order to answer this question, it is necessary to understand which systems are used most often and understand the features of their design.
Horizontal heat exchanger
Quite often, a horizontal circuit is used, in which pipes are laid in trenches to a depth greater than the freezing level of the soil in a given area.
The disadvantage of a geothermal heating system with a horizontal circuit is the large area occupied by the collector
The disadvantage is that the area occupied by the circuit must be much larger than the house itself, so to heat a building with an area of 250 m², about 600 m² will go under the pipes. Not every developer can afford such luxury.
In addition, inconveniences arise if the site is already landscaped; for example, you have to observe the distance from trees (1.5 m) and many other nuances.
Vertical heat exchanger
A more compact, but also more expensive option is a vertical heat exchanger. Its installation does not require a large area, but it will require special drilling equipment.
Installation of a vertical heat exchanger requires the use of special drilling equipment
The depth of the well, depending on the technology, can reach 50-200 m, but its service life is up to 100 years. This method is especially relevant when planning geothermal heating country house with a developed adjacent territory, it allows you to preserve the landscape in almost its original form.
Water-based heat exchanger
The most economical geothermal installation uses thermal energy from water. It is recommended if the distance to the nearest body of water does not exceed 100 m.
A water-based heat exchanger is the most advantageous and therefore more appropriate for the device
A circuit of pipes in the form of a spiral is laid on the bottom; the depth should be less than 2.5-3 m, that is, deeper than the freezing zone. Reservoir area – from 200 m². The main advantage is that there is no need to perform labor-intensive excavation work, but it is necessary to obtain permission from special services. Having spent significant amounts of money on expensive equipment, you should not save on high-quality installation. After all, the quality and efficiency of the entire system will depend on it.
As you can see, installing geothermal heating at home with your own hands is not so easy. Of all the listed types, perhaps only the last option will be quite easy to implement on your own. But even in this case, it is worth weighing all the pros and cons.
About the advantages and disadvantages of the system
For the first time, geothermal heating was looked at closely in the United States during the crisis in the 80s. Quite expensive installations were installed in the homes of the richest and most advanced, but gradually they became more accessible and popular. Europe took note of the new product and began to actively implement it in its open spaces. Now this type of heating is no longer a curiosity; in Sweden, for example, about 70% of all heat is synthesized using heat pumps.
Manufacturers of miracle equipment and green people unanimously talk about the advantages of this type of heating over all others, the main advantages that are emphasized are:
- Thermal energy of the earth is used for heating, which is renewable and inexhaustible;
- there is no risk of fire;
- there is no need for delivery and storage of fuel materials;
- When the equipment operates, no harmful emissions are generated, the system is absolutely safe and environmentally friendly;
- the system operates autonomously and does not require constant monitoring and intervention;
- it is economical and requires virtually no maintenance costs from the owner;
- With all the variety of models, the equipment productivity coefficient remains consistently high.
The geothermal heating system has performed well in combination with “ warm floors" This duo ensures uniform temperature distribution and prevents the formation of overheating zones.
Important! This type of heating is most beneficial for houses with an area of up to 150 m²; the owners of such small cottages assure that the costs are recouped in just 3-4 years.
Note that these systems have not yet become popular in the post-Soviet space. This is largely due to the fairly significant capital investments that will need to be made at the very beginning, and the rather long payback period. It is quite difficult to convince our fellow citizens that this is, after all, economically profitable. Although, if we take into account the annual rise in price of conventional coolants and the fact that the system is designed for an average of 100 years efficient work, then the choice will seem quite justified.
Do-it-yourself geothermal heating of a house - is it possible?
Geothermal heating system - device, principle of operation. Which geothermal heating for a country house to choose. Is it possible to make geothermal heating at home with your own hands?
Do-it-yourself geothermal heating at home
When building a house, each owner tries to think about the weight of the design nuances. Heating no less important point which requires consultation with specialists. For many, geothermal heating seems unattainable, because it is associated only with places where hot springs bubble. However, in practice, a special pump can generate energy, so this option Suitable for any climatic conditions and terrain. However, is it worth doing geothermal heating at home with your own hands, because the equipment itself is already expensive. To find the answer to this question it is worth studying existing options and features of installation work.
How Geothermal Heating Works
Geothermal heating works on the same principle as air conditioning. The components are two circuits and a heat pump.
The internal circuit includes pipes and radiators located throughout the house. The external circuit is a heat exchanger, which is placed either underground or under water. Liquid with antifreeze or plain water circulates inside. The heated liquid enters the pump, which accelerates it through the elements of the internal circuit, due to which the water in the radiators is always warm.
The pump does not take up much space, but performs one of the key functions in the system. For every kW of electricity used, it produces 4 times the heat output. The air conditioner is not so productive, because after taking 1 kW of electricity, it gives out the same amount.
Classification depending on the type of structure
This type of heating arrangement in a house is considered one of the most expensive and this is due to the price of equipment and earthworks. At such moments, many consumers wonder what they can save on, and the only thing that comes to mind is installation. However, to understand whether this is so, it is worth evaluating the features of the device and possible options designs.
- Horizontal heat exchanger. When choosing this design, the pipes are laid underground, and the depth must be greater than the freezing level of the soil. However, this option requires the allocation of territory for the contour. Just imagine, if you need to heat a house with an area of 250 m2, then you will need 600 m2 to arrange the circuit. In addition, it is necessary to take into account some technical points. For example, all elements should be located on minimum distance from the tree - 1.5 meters. If the site is landscaped, then this already creates certain inconveniences.
- Vertical option does not require selection large area, however, the use of drilling equipment will incur significant costs. Creating a well is a labor-intensive process, however, this structure will last for at least a hundred years. This option is suitable for areas that are already developed.
- The water-based option uses the energy of water and allows you to significantly save on arrangement. The only requirement is the presence of a reservoir within 100 meters, its area must be at least 200 m2, and the structure must be located no deeper than three meters.
As practice shows, it is difficult to carry out installation with your own hands. Considering that there will be a lot of money invested in equipment, you should not skimp on the installation process and should turn to professionals.
Benefits of Geothermal Heating
Previously, such installations could be found in luxurious and wealthy homes, but now they have become more affordable. They were first used by residents of the United States in the 80s, and now residents of European countries have taken note. This solution allowed us to save on heating costs overall. Twenty years ago, 12 million European citizens took advantage of a similar design, but today their number has increased dramatically.
In Sweden already most of heat is produced using heat pumps. Accordingly, their popularity has increased due to a number of advantages over all alternative systems:
- The inexhaustible and renewable energy of the earth is used to heat your own home;
- There is no risk of fire;
- You don't have to look for it cheap fuel and think about where to store it;
- An environmentally friendly system, without the formation of harmful emissions, due to which it is actively supported by environmentalists;
- Lack of regular monitoring and intervention; the system operates autonomously at all levels;
- Unlimited amount of energy available at any time and in any quantity;
- You don’t have to spend money on system maintenance;
- High performance compared to existing alternatives.
Experts recommend combining the installation of a geothermal system and heated floors to achieve maximum effect benefits. Firstly, uniform temperature distribution is guaranteed, and secondly, the formation of overheating zones will be avoided.
In order for the costs to pay off in full in 3-4 years, it is worth considering that this type of heating is beneficial to owners of cottages up to 150 m2. Taking into account the fact that conventional heating networks regularly become more expensive and fail, a decision towards a geothermal system will allow you to forget about heat supply for at least 100 years. The chosen option will quickly justify itself. In the post-Soviet space, this option is less popular due to the large investment. It is still difficult to convince our fellow citizens that it is better to spend money once and forget about the problem.
Installation features
If gas and electricity are constantly becoming more expensive, and with them the heating of a private home, then when choosing a geothermal system you can forget about this feature. In addition, you do not have to take into account that gas reserves will exhaust themselves over time. Application solid fuel an even more expensive solution. When burning wood and coal, harmful substances are released. Among all the alternatives, this option is the safest, however, unlike gas heating and solid fuel, installation of the system is more labor-intensive and expensive. Therefore, it should be entrusted to professionals with extensive experience in this field. Only they know all the nuances of installation. If the work is carried out correctly, the heating issue will be resolved for many years.
At the same time, inside the room there will be the same pipes and radiators through which heat will flow. The main elements will be hidden underground - a well and a heat exchanger. The house must have a device that will convert heat. It is for this that it is necessary to allocate as much space as possible. With its help, the owner of the premises can regulate the temperature and supply of thermal energy. As a rule, in private homes the generator is located in the basement or a separate room.
Do-it-yourself geothermal heating of a house: diagram and installation features
Features of the selection and installation of geothermal heating. Installation of pumps and additional equipment in the house with your own hands.
The topic of this article is the use of earth's heat for heating. Is it possible to take thermal energy from the depths?
And if so, are we talking exclusively about complex and expensive high-tech designs, or can something be done with your own hands?
Prerequisites
Why, in fact, do you need heating from the ground? After all, the modern market offers a lot ready-made solutions on electricity, gas, solar and solid fuel...
It's simple. Energy prices are rising, significantly outpacing the growth in incomes of Russians. At the same time, it is not difficult to predict further exponential growth: since gas and oil reserves will come to an end within the lifetime of our generation, their remains will be sold at exorbitant prices.
It is logical to switch to renewable sources of thermal energy. But which ones?
Let's evaluate the possibilities.
- The sun is an excellent source of heat. But too fickle: several weeks clear weather may give way to snow and a gray veil overhead.
In addition, the night will force you to either accumulate heat or use it only as an auxiliary source of energy.
Helpful: In warm, sunny climates, heating on solar collectors in principle, it is operational, but with a huge area and in the presence of a capacious heat accumulator.
However, backup source heat is still needed in case of prolonged bad weather.
- The wind is also too fickle. In addition, it cannot be used everywhere: valleys and folds of terrain create many areas with constant calm.
But heating a house with the heat of the earth using geothermal energy does not have such a problem. At a depth of one to five or six meters, the soil everywhere and always has a constant temperature, which increases with increasing depth.
Geothermal pump
How can you use the heat of the earth for heating?
Ready-made solutions have been around for a couple of decades. These are geothermal. How are they built?
Imagine how a refrigerator works.
- The refrigerant gas is compressed by the compressor, becoming very hot.
- It is then passed through a heat exchanger, dissipating excess heat and cooling to room temperature.
- The cooled refrigerant enters the cooling circuit of the freezer, where it expands and, like any substance when its state of aggregation changes from liquid to gaseous, it cools sharply and... cools the space around it.
- The refrigerant then flows back to the compressor for compression - and further in a circle.
We are curious about two facts:
- A refrigerator is able to take heat from a cold object and give it to a warm one. In this case, heat is transferred from the freezer from its -18C to the air in the room.
- The amount of pumped thermal energy is several times greater than the energy consumption for operating the compressor.
Now replace the freezer with soil at a shallow depth with its constant temperature - and you will get working model geothermal heat pump. Note that for the most part it uses the energy of the earth to heat your home. Electricity costs cover no more than 30 percent of its thermal capacity.
It is clear that earth heating requires not only a radiator to release heat, but also a heat exchanger on the second side of the circuit, which will remove heat from the ground. What could he be like?
Vertical collector
Most often, heat transfer is carried out by vertical probes submerged to a depth of several tens of meters. At a short distance from the house, several wells are drilled into which pipes (usually made of cross-linked polyethylene) are immersed. Great depth means absolutely stable and high temperature; In addition, heat exchangers do not require a large area to be placed.
A significant drawback of heating a house with earth's energy in this implementation is the high cost of installation work. More precisely, the price of drilling: it starts from 2000 rubles per linear meter of a well. The total cost of 2-4 wells with a depth of 50-60 meters is easy to calculate.
Horizontal collector
However, in those regions of the country where the winter is not too severe and the depth of soil freezing does not exceed a meter to one and a half meters, horizontal collectors are often used. The same heat exchanger pipes are laid in a trench, which is easy to dig yourself. It is clear that the cost of installation will be reduced many times over.
Please note: do not underestimate the scale of the work. For example, the total length of the collector pipes for a house with an area of 275 m2 will be approximately 1200 meters.
In addition to shovel calluses, heating the earth with heat in this implementation promises you another problem. The collector will occupy a large area, many times larger than the total area of the house. Moreover, you will not be able to use it for a vegetable garden or garden: the roots of the plants will be frozen by the collector.
The photo shows the installation of a horizontal heat exchanger.
Air manifold
Fortunately, in addition to the cost of tens of thousands of evergreen units, you can find other ways to implement heating of a country house from the ground. One of the simplest is the air-earth collector.
Remember: to heat the air to an acceptable level in a living room, you need a certain amount of thermal energy. Moreover, the lower the initial air temperature, the higher the costs.
But increase the air inlet temperature ventilation system absolutely free. Constant temperature soil, remember?
The instructions for using earth-energy heating are extremely simple:
- We bring the ventilation air intake into the ground below the freezing point.
- We lay with ordinary sewer pipes straight, curved or multi-pipe manifold. The shape is determined by your personal plot. Approximate total length collector - 1.5 meters per square meter area of the house.
- We make an air intake at the end of the collector farthest from the house, bringing the pipe to a height of at least one and a half meters from the ground and equipping it with an umbrella-deflector. It is clear that air will have to be forced into the house.
Make no mistake: the described heating from the heat of the earth will not solve your problems with thermal energy completely and free of charge.
But it will allow you to implement one of the simple and inexpensive schemes:
- Incoming air with a temperature of about 10C can be heated by any heater (electric, gas, solar, etc.) and distributed throughout the rooms by ventilation ducts. Costs compared to the need to heat cold street air will be reduced many times over.
- An alternative solution is to use air forced from underground to blow over the outdoor unit of an air-to-water heat pump or conventional air conditioner. At +10C ANY external unit of any device of this class can operate effectively. The main technical problem is to provide the required air flow.
Conclusion
And finally - a little personal experience. The author of the article lives in a private house in a region with a fairly warm climate. Under the house there is a basement with a concrete floor of 75 m2, with all year round the temperature is the same 10-12 degrees. It is clear that with such a heat exchanger area, the air temperature in the basement is quite stable.
One of the heating appliances in the house is ordinary household air conditioner with an external unit in the basement and an internal one on the ground floor. As a result of this arrangement, even when the outside temperature is noticeably below zero, the air conditioner operates with maximum efficiency, taking heat from the air in the basement and further from the ground.
The external unit of the split system is traditionally located on the street. However, if your basement is at a stable temperature, why not move it there?
As usual, some additional information you can find it in the video attached to the article. Warm winters!
IN modern world Almost every owner of a private house dreams of his home being truly comfortable in any season: in the summer the building was a little cool, but in the cold of winter it was warm.
Today there is great amount types of fuel for heating houses are wood, electricity, peat, gas and coal, as well as geothermal heating of a country house.
It is worth noting that equipment that can operate on gas, coal, peat and other flammable materials cannot be considered safe for the environment. The harm from such types of heating is obvious.
In addition, the cost of fuel is constantly increasing. Today, many consumers want to use heat obtained from the earth to heat a private home.
Modern type of heating
The advantages of geothermal heating are economy, environmental friendliness, cleanliness and safety.
Users are confident that gas heating a private home is the most the best option, however, it is worth paying attention to some very negative qualities. The disadvantages of such a heating system are obvious.
It is, in principle, impossible to install just such heating if a gas line has not been installed to the house or cottage. Installation itself gas installation requires almost constant maintenance and strict compliance with all safety standards.
Owners must also have special permits for this type of heating of the premises.
Geothermal heating is considered the most optimal solution to the problem of heating a country house or just a private cottage.
Almost every day, the number of users who have become convinced of the effectiveness of this system and are now using it is growing very quickly.
This type of heating has a huge number of advantages. One of the most significant advantages is the economy of this heating system, as well as its environmental friendliness, cleanliness and safety.
How to heat a country house with the help of nature?
IN last years Some consumers began heating their homes with earth's heat. Today, many are interested in the following question: “What is a geothermal installation?”
The design and operation of this system itself is quite complex to perceive and understand, so for greater clarity it is worth giving an example.
A geothermal heating system works in some ways like a refrigerator, but in reverse. The role of the freezer in this scheme is played by the evaporator, which is located very deep underground.
A condenser is made in the form of a copper coil, which is used to bring air or water to the desired temperature. It is worth noting that the temperature of the evaporator, which is located underground, is significantly lower than above the surface.
Manufacturers of such heating systems boldly state that the temperature fluctuates in the range of 5-8 degrees Celsius. Today, ground heating is a proven practice that is becoming increasingly popular in different corners countries.
It is thanks to the use of reliable and durable compressors, as well as other innovative technologies refrigeration systems, it became possible to create unusual and unique ways of producing “low-quality heat”, which on the surface of the earth can be converted into “quality heat” and subsequently freely used in geothermal heating of a country house.
The effectiveness of such a heating system has been proven by experts, so there is every reason to start industrial production The main element of this method of heating a room is heat pumps.
How Geothermal Systems Work
Operating principle of a heat pump. Click to enlarge.
Heating using the heat of the earth is no longer a myth, but a common practice.
Geothermal heating systems can operate on the principle of physically transferring thermal energy from the environment to a refrigerant.
A similar process is observed in the operation of a conventional refrigerator.
More than 75% of the total volume of heat that can be released during the operation of a system that heats a house with the heat of the earth is environmental energy.
Experts point out that this type of energy has an amazing self-healing ability, so geothermal system heating does absolutely no harm or damage to the energy or ecological balance of the environment and our planet.
The heating system has one important advantage - it is absolutely safe to use.
Equipment that won't take up much space.
Heating a private house with the heat of the earth began to be actively introduced quite recently. Experts call the main reason for the emergence of such heating systems for private homes energy crises, which often appeared in the 70s of the 20th century.
At first, heating with earth's energy was considered a luxury, so only the richest and most elite families could afford absolutely innovation system heating the house.
Further, in connection with active development science, technology and the emergence of completely new technologies, geothermal heating systems became increasingly widespread, and the cost of their installation and maintenance decreased.
The heat pump takes up very little space in your home. Click to enlarge.
Today, a small family, even with an average income, can afford to install a system for heating the house without seriously disrupting its family budget. Modern geothermal equipment has been qualitatively improved and modernized.
Improvements to systems continue to this day, as the creation of new units leads to reduced energy consumption and greater savings.
The functioning of such heating systems, because new and unusual fuel, such as earth energy, is used for air conditioning and heating a private home.
Heating a private home with the heat of the earth is popular in all corners of the planet.
After all, it is precisely this energy that can create cozy, comfortable and optimal conditions for the life of every person, does not pollute the environment with harmful and negative substances, as happens during the combustion of peat, coal or gas.
Geothermal heating can easily operate without any combustion processes, so owners do not have to worry about the issue of fire and explosion of the system, it is completely safe to use.
Benefits of Geothermal Heating
In addition to all the above advantages, another important advantage is the absence of the need to purchase additional chimneys or hoods, which can possibly be used for the uninterrupted functioning of other types of heating systems.
The geothermal heating system is practical in that it does not emit harmful fumes, odors, etc.; it is also worth noting the absence of noise. The equipment itself is compact, that is, it saves space.
Heating from the ground is also practical because its equipment is invisible to people, unlike liquid fuel and solid fuel heating systems. The integrity of the facade and interior of the cottage or country house will not be affected.
Comparative characteristics various systems heating. Click to enlarge.
In addition, there is no need to waste time on issues such as the acquisition, storage and delivery of fuel, because experts believe that the planet’s energy is inexhaustible.
Another very remarkable fact is the amazing ability of a geothermal pump to heat rooms during winter, and in summer, when it’s hot, again, with the help of the pump, to cool the house.
Yes, using heat obtained from the ground for heating a private house or country cottage requires considerable costs. Thus, it costs several times more than gas or diesel equipment.
However, it must be remembered that such a system consumes significantly less energy, therefore, if you count on its long-term use, then such a system will completely pay for itself.
Perspective and economic expediency The use of precisely such equipment is becoming increasingly obvious today.
Space saving when installing heat pumps
Today there are three ways to save space when installing heat pumps:
- exploitation of thermal groundwater;
- operation of underground umbrellas;
- laying special umbrellas in a horizontal position, which will be located below the level of winter glaciation at the bottom of the reservoir.
The search for alternative energy sources led to the invention of devices that are capable of accumulating heat, which is found in large quantities in the human environment. Sun rays, geyser springs, soil - all this, to one degree or another, can satisfy the need for heating the coolant for the heating system and hot water supply.
Although geothermal heating using the heat of the earth is a relatively new direction, the prospects for such a solution are obvious. Thanks to the installation of special equipment, it becomes possible to obtain a cheap, almost endless type of thermal energy.
How to get heat into a house from the ground
The ground does not freeze completely even in winter. This feature is used by installation crews who lay the pipeline below the freezing point. Surprisingly, the temperature of these layers rarely drops below +5 +7°C degrees.Is it possible to take advantage of the earth's ability to accumulate heat, extract it and use it to heat the coolant? Certainly! But to do alternative heating For a private house using earth heat, it is possible to solve the following problems:
- Receiving heat - you will need to accumulate thermal energy and direct it to a storage tank.
- Heating the coolant. The heated antifreeze must transfer thermal energy to the liquid that circulates in the heating and hot water system.
- Cooled antifreeze must be returned to the heat exchanger for further heating.
How does geothermal heating work at home, principle of operation
Underground deep heating from the ground is no longer a fantasy. Such installations can be easily purchased in Russia. Moreover, geothermal installations are able to operate both in northern and southern latitudes. But what principle do they use in their work?Even in the last century, it was noted that when certain types of liquids evaporate, they can cool the surface. This is exactly what happens when they wipe the skin with alcohol before an injection or water a paved area heated under the sun. This principle was taken as the basis for the development of refrigeration equipment.
Then the idea arose: why not run the cooling process in the opposite direction and get hot air instead of cold air. Most modern air conditioners are able to not only cool the air in the room, but also work to heat it. But the disadvantage of such devices is that they are limited by the ambient temperature. So, after the mark reaches -5 degrees, they stop working.
Geothermal pumps for heating private houses from the ground are completely devoid of this disadvantage, although they use a principle that is in many ways reminiscent of the operation of an air conditioner to heat a room.
How does geothermal heating work?
As already noted, a geothermal heating system from the bowels of the earth is in many ways similar to the operation of an air conditioner in heating mode. What is happening at this moment? - In the lower layers of the soil, at the bottom of a river or lake, water collectors are installed through which antifreeze circulates. Collectors absorb heat and release cold.
- The heated antifreeze rises to the top using a pump.
- Heat exchange occurs in the buffer tank. Heated antifreeze transfers thermal energy to the coolant or heats the water.
- The cooled antifreeze flows back to the collectors.
There are installations that are able to independently heat large rooms, others are used exclusively as auxiliary equipment capable of providing 50-75% of the room’s heat needs.
Geothermal equipment for using the heat of the earth
The principle of operation of a deep home heating system, using the energy of the earth, is based on the use of special equipment. It performs the following functions: accumulates heat from the environment and transfers it to the coolant of the heating system. The following nodes are used for this: - The evaporator is located deep underground. The function of the evaporator is to absorb thermal energy found in the surrounding soil.
- Condenser - brings antifreeze to the required temperature.
- Heat pump - circulates antifreeze in the system. Monitors the operation of the entire installation.
- Buffer tank - collects heated antifreeze in one place to transfer energy to the coolant. It consists of an internal tank containing water from the heating system and an internal coil through which heated antifreeze moves.
Although natural low-temperature geothermal heating of a house with the heat of the earth provides enough thermal energy, the most practical heating option for this solution is to connect it to a “warm floor” system.
Installation and installation of geothermal heating
The main difficulty regarding the installation of geothermal equipment is associated with the installation of the heat exchanger circuit in the soil-ground. Although you can find it on the Internet a large number of advice on how to do this work yourself, practice shows that most of the advice cannot be applied without special specialized education, therefore, all work must be performed by professional installers who are representatives of the manufacturer.After contacting specialists, geothermal heating systems for private houses using the heat of the earth are installed in the following several stages:
- Engineer visiting your home. During the first visit, soil samples are taken, the features of the area are determined, and a decision is made on the most effective installation of the geothermal system. The efficiency of the installation can also be affected by the source of the intended heat. It is considered more productive to install heat exchangers at the bottom of a reservoir or at the sources of thermal sources.
- Conclusion of a contract and acquisition necessary equipment . Prices may vary significantly depending on the complexity of the installation work and other nuances. But on average, if a high-quality German manufacturer is chosen, the cost of installation will be approximately equal to its price. Turnkey purchase of Vaillant installation for a house of 350 sq. m. will cost approximately 21 thousand $
- Installation work . Heating a private house with underground geothermal heat sources, or rather, its efficiency largely depends on correct implementation works at the installation stage. After the water heat exchangers are installed in the ground, a connection is made to the geothermal installation and home heating system.
- Commissioning works. The engineer starts the system and makes fine adjustments to the device. After setup, the Work Completion Certificate is signed.
According to current legislation, the company installing the equipment may provide additional warranties subject to payment for these services. Such guarantees will cost an additional $1000.
Is geothermal heating effective in the North?
To create the minimum conditions necessary for the operation of a geothermal installation, it is sufficient to comply with the following conditions:- The temperature of the soil layer in which the heat exchangers are located should not fall below +5.+7°C degrees.
- Throughout the entire system through which antifreeze flows, conditions have been created to prevent it from freezing.
- Geothermal heating of a country house was carried out after all the necessary calculations and design documentation.
Geyser heating of a private house
The performance of a geothermal pump largely depends on the temperature of the soil or water in which the heat exchanger is located. In this regard, the residents of Kamchatka are in a more advantageous position. On the peninsular Kamchatka there are a huge number of thermal springs - geysers that do not cool down even in the winter season.Before installation of equipment, geological exploration must be carried out. If a warm source is located on the territory of the house, it makes sense to place heat exchangers at the bottom of this reservoir. In this case, geothermal energy will pay for itself much faster.
How to heat a house using a geothermal pump
The technology of heating a house with underground heat is most in demand in the West. This is primarily due to the mentality of the residents Western countries. They are used to making long-term investments that pay off fully only after a few years. And there are few people who are able to pay about $20 thousand at a time for the installation of equipment. But the number of people who want to become independent from other heating sources is constantly growing.Alternative methods of geothermal home heating are becoming more popular, especially given the ever-increasing cost of gas.
Thermal energy literally lies under your feet. It's just a matter of bending down and “picking up” it. A geothermal installation can help with this. Installation of the pump allows, depending on the area, either to completely compensate for the needs for thermal energy, or to satisfy them partially, significantly reducing the load on the main heating source and DHW system private home.
Every owner of a country house faces such an important issue as ensuring the supply of heat to all living spaces. Today, various manufacturers offer their own options for individual heating of private cottages outside the city. A new development in this area is geothermal heating. Of course, most home owners are confident that such a convenient and economical heat supply system can only be installed in areas where there are geysers, volcanic formations and hot water springs. Modern installations This type can also work successfully in temperate latitudes, with warm springs at low temperatures.
Features of geothermal heating
Geothermal heating refers to an alternative method of supplying heat to a home. This option for a thermal installation can be called almost ideal for arranging a private home or country house. To work in the system it is used geothermal energy, which is extracted from various natural heat sources. The basic principle of operation in such an installation is similar to the operation of a walking system. The main difference is the following: if in a refrigerator the refrigerator produces cooling for air from the resulting system, then here it produces thermal energy. Coordinated work is possible even with low temperature characteristics.
The main feature of geothermal heating in a house is that during the warm summer season the air in the house is cooled, but in winter it heats up. At the same time, the costs of such heating are very low compared to other thermal installations. In some ways, the operation of such a system is similar to air conditioning. It helps to create the necessary warmth and coziness in the house, providing the owners with comfortable living conditions in the house.
Geothermal heating principle
The geothermal installation operates autonomously, clearly regulating the required temperature in the room. The principle underlying its operation is the same for all installations, therefore it is independent of various manufacturers of component parts. The main work is assigned to special pumps, which may have some differences among themselves design solution, varieties, but at the same time coefficient data In terms of heat performance, they are all similar. Regarding the energy used, the geothermal system works successfully with various types earth energy.
The system consists of two circuits, namely:
- internal;
- external
The first of those mentioned is presented as familiar to many heating installation from the connection of pipes and radiator elements. The outer contour is dimensional heat exchanger, which is mounted under the thickness of the earth or in a body of water. A special liquid with the addition of antifreeze circulates inside it, and sometimes it is also filled with ordinary water. The coolant is gaining ambient temperature, and the already heated one goes further into the geothermal pump. The heat thus accumulated is transferred further to the internal circuit. This allows water to be heated in radiator elements and pipes throughout the house.
Methods for implementing a geothermal installation
This type of heating differs in the way the heat exchanger is installed. Today there are three varieties in use:
- Vertical heat exchanger: it is compact and has a higher installation cost compared to other types. To install a vertical heat exchanger, you do not need to use a large area, but you will need to use specialized drilling rigs. Depending on the chosen technology, the depth of the finished well can reach up to 200 meters, the minimum value is 50 meters. The service life of the system is up to one hundred years. It is beneficial to install this type of geothermal heating if it is installed on an already developed area. The landscape of the area will remain virtually untouched.
- Horizontal heat exchanger: this type is used quite often. When installing a horizontal heat exchanger, the pipes are laid to a sufficiently large depth, which necessarily exceeds soil freezing level. The main disadvantage of using exactly this type of wiring is that it requires a large area to be used for installing the collector. It is difficult to install such a system on an already developed site.
- Water-based heat exchanger: this installation is the most cost-effective among all the variety of geothermal heating, as it works due to energy of water bodies. This system is relevant for those homeowners who have a body of water hundreds of meters away. Such a heat exchanger the most profitable which makes its installation the most appropriate among all types of similar heating.
Pros and cons of geothermal heating
Geothermal heating became relevant in America during the crisis in the 80s. Initially, installation of the units cost big money and such heating was used exclusively by wealthy people, but later geothermal heating became more accessible for mass use by the population.
Advantages of using geothermal heating in a private home:
- Geothermal energy can be obtained and subsequently used almost anywhere;
- the supply of this type of heat is unlimited;
- the use of such energy is considered the most sustainable;
- geothermal energy does not contain various kinds harmful emissions from the combustion of carbon dioxide;
- heating based on a geothermal installation does not require constant maintenance of the house;
- heating is considered free for the home owner;
- installation pumps take a lot less space than similar ones thermal installations, a geothermal pump needs about the same amount of space for installation as, for example, a refrigerator;
- geothermal energy helps both heat the room and, if necessary, cool it; the operating principle is similar to the operating algorithm of air conditioners;
- If desired, such heating can be installed in conjunction with other heat supply systems, for example, with a gas system, diesel or powered by solar energy.
Despite a number of positive points use of this type of heating, geothermal installations also have their own flaws, the main ones are:
- high costs for installation of the entire system;
- long payback period.
Such shortcomings of the heating system pale in comparison with the current trends in global cost increases. various types fuel. Of course, the payback period is long, but in a hundred years a geothermal installation will show all its advantages and prove its efficiency on practice. This type of heating has already been appreciated in a number of European countries and America. For example, in Sweden, about 70% of private homeowners chose just such a system for heating.
Video
Sergey Elgazin found out everything about geothermal heating in one of the Finnish houses: