Chilling Out With Geothermal Air Conditioning
Geothermal air conditioning units work by exploiting the relatively constant temperature below the earth's surface to draw heat away from a building's interior and transfer it into the ground, where it can be passively dissipated. In essence, a geothermal air conditioner uses the Earth as a heat sink to siphon thermal energy away from a structure and direct it downwards. By exploiting the naturally occurring temperature gradient between the ambient air aboveground and below the surface, geothermal air conditioning units can be made to operate with much greater efficiencies than conventional air conditioners.
How It Works
Pipes are buried in the ground either horizontally or vertically, depending on the available space. The pipes, which contain a liquid refrigerant, are hooked up to a heat pump that can either heat or cool a building. A basic split system heat pump contains an evaporator, a compressor and condenser. The aforementioned refrigerant is circulated through the compressor, which converts it into a high temperature, high pressure vapor that is then feed to the condenser to be converted into a liquid. An expansion valve reduces the liquid's temperature further as it condenses. The cooled liquid is then pumped inside a building to the evaporator, which absorbs heat from the interior and transfers it outside to the compressor where the cycle is repeated.
Advantages
Geothermal air conditioning is clean, quiet, efficient and environmentally sound, as it reduces the amount of harmful greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere. Since heat pumps have few mechanical parts, installations are durable and oftentimes rated for 25 to 30 years of service under normal operating conditions. In some states, energy providers offer incentives for installation such as low-interest loans and reduced electric rates once the geothermal units have been set up. The biggest benefit, however, is the potential savings over the lifetime of the unit. Studies have shown that electricity costs can be reduced anywhere from 20 to 50 percent by using geothermal cooling.
Further Considerations
Initial installation costs for geothermal air conditioning units are going to be higher than that of conventional air conditioning systems. Once the initial investment is recouped, however, cooling costs are reduced substantially. The only energy required is the electricity to run the condenser and the fan. For some heat pumps, costs can be reduced further with a super deheater. These devices siphon off residual thermal energy from the evaporator to heat water, which can make a notable dent in one's utility bill. Determining exactly how much can be saved by the individual household requires a detailed analysis of annual energy costs and a comparison of the potential savings of making the switch versus the cost of installation. As a result, geothermal air conditioning makes prudent financial sense for many homes and business throughout the country.
How It Works
Pipes are buried in the ground either horizontally or vertically, depending on the available space. The pipes, which contain a liquid refrigerant, are hooked up to a heat pump that can either heat or cool a building. A basic split system heat pump contains an evaporator, a compressor and condenser. The aforementioned refrigerant is circulated through the compressor, which converts it into a high temperature, high pressure vapor that is then feed to the condenser to be converted into a liquid. An expansion valve reduces the liquid's temperature further as it condenses. The cooled liquid is then pumped inside a building to the evaporator, which absorbs heat from the interior and transfers it outside to the compressor where the cycle is repeated.
Advantages
Geothermal air conditioning is clean, quiet, efficient and environmentally sound, as it reduces the amount of harmful greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere. Since heat pumps have few mechanical parts, installations are durable and oftentimes rated for 25 to 30 years of service under normal operating conditions. In some states, energy providers offer incentives for installation such as low-interest loans and reduced electric rates once the geothermal units have been set up. The biggest benefit, however, is the potential savings over the lifetime of the unit. Studies have shown that electricity costs can be reduced anywhere from 20 to 50 percent by using geothermal cooling.
Further Considerations
Initial installation costs for geothermal air conditioning units are going to be higher than that of conventional air conditioning systems. Once the initial investment is recouped, however, cooling costs are reduced substantially. The only energy required is the electricity to run the condenser and the fan. For some heat pumps, costs can be reduced further with a super deheater. These devices siphon off residual thermal energy from the evaporator to heat water, which can make a notable dent in one's utility bill. Determining exactly how much can be saved by the individual household requires a detailed analysis of annual energy costs and a comparison of the potential savings of making the switch versus the cost of installation. As a result, geothermal air conditioning makes prudent financial sense for many homes and business throughout the country.
Source...