The Ground Connection
As its name suggests, a ground source heat pump is simply a heat pump that is connected to the ground. The ground connection is the link which allows the heat pump to use the earth as a heat source or heat sink, depending on if heating or cooling is required.
There are several types of ground loop designs that can be made, but they all fall under two basic categories: and open loop.
Closed-loop Systems
Closed-loop systems generally consist of a buried piping system constructed from high density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe and fittings. This piping system is filled with a water or water-antifreeze solution and is buried in the ground, usually in horizontal trenches or vertical wells, to act as the primary heat exchange device for the home.
The fluid is circulated through pipes where it either absorbs heat from the ground (heating mode) or rejects heat to the ground (cooling mode) before returning to the GSHP unit.
Open-Loop Systems
Open-loop systems extract water directly out of a water well or pond and run it through the water-refrigerant heat exchanger in the GSHP unit. After the transfer of heat between the extracted water and heat pump takes place, the water is then expelled back into a well, into a pond, or into a drainage ditch depending on local codes.
Contact our engineering department to discuss possible options for your GSHP system and for geothermal design services.