Explain Working of Geothermal Systems
We seem to put ourselves in a fix. On one side we are trying to reduce our carbon footprint while on the other side we are trying to satisfy our hunger for energy. One of the possible ways of doing this is by using geothermal energy.
Geothermal energy falls into three different categories geothermal heat pumps, direct heating, and electric power generation. This article will focus on the first two. It is a well known fact that the temperature of the earth increases with depth. At the core of the earth the temperature is around 7600F. We of course are not going tap the energy available at this temperature. Our aim is to make use of the heat available below the surface of the earth. You can untilize this energy to both heat and cool your business or home.
There are different types of geothermal systems available in the market. The first system that you should know is the open loop system. In this system you utilize a pond, lake, or any underground aquifer as a cooling as well as a heating source. An open loop system can be used provided you are close enough to one.
The second system being used is the closed loop system. This system as suggested by its name is a closed system. It makes use of a combination of an environmental friendly anti-freeze and water inside a closed system. Vertical and horizontal loop systems are also there, but to understand them you must first understand how the geothermal heating as well as cooling system works. The closed loop vertical system is the most commonly found and used in residential applications. Here a series of pipe systems are buried in the land surrounding the building. Also a series of holes is dug for this pipe system. The pipe will run up to a depth ranging anything from 100 feet to around 300 feet.
A mixture of anti-freeze and water is pumped into this pipe system. During winter the geothermal energy generated by the earth is used to heat this mixture, while in summer the same earth is used to reduce the temperature of this mixture. The horizontal loop system follows the same principle. The difference is that the pipes run horizontally across the ground and the pipes are buried at a more shallow depth. Therefore the horizontal loop system requires more piece of land than vertical loop system for installation. Thus in densely populated areas vertical loop system is more popular. Your water heating bill will be reduced by up to 35%.
The initial installation may cost a lot but the amount money one saves over the years will more than make up for this cost.
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