Geothermal Heat Pumps

 

Geothermal energy is energy generated by heat stored in the earth. Although outdoor air temperatures fluctuate with the seasons, temperatures about a meter underground remain fairly constant.

Geothermal heating works using a closed loop pump to circulate liquid through pipes buried in the ground.  As the liquid circulates underground it soaks up heat from the ground and, on its return, the now warmer liquid passes through the heat pump which uses electricity to extract the heat.  The now cooled down liquid is circulated through the ground again thus continuing the cycle.  The heat extracted is used to heat your home through under-floor heating or aluminium radiators or your hot water system.  Switching the direction of heat flow means that the same system can be used to cool your house in the summer.

Geothermal heating has three main components:

1. A series of plastic pipes are buried in the ground, either in a horizontal trench or a vertical borehole near the building to be heated or cooled.
2. A heat pump which removes the heat from the liquid circulating in the pipes and upgrades it to a higher temperature for use in the building.
3. A heat distribution system which is used to transfer the heat extracted from the ground by the heat pump.  The heat is often in the form of hot water and is distributed around the dwelling by aluminium radiators or a low temperature under-floor heating system.

Definitely the two most important benefits of geothermal heating are its running costs and that it is so environmentally friendly.  Geothermal heating has a coefficient of performance of 1:4, and costs a fraction of the running costs of traditional heating systems in Ireland today.