Geothermal heating. Geothermal heating of a private house: price

Due to the constant rise in energy prices, people are trying to become energy independent. Thus, the use of alternative heat sources is becoming more relevant. This is a geothermal heating system that involves the use of special pumps. Thanks to it, it becomes possible to obtain heat directly from the ground.

The principle of operation of the heating system

People have always tried to get the heat coming from the bowels of the earth. Thanks to the advent of geothermal heating, this has become possible.

In the center of the earth magma is located, warming the earth. Due to the presence of the top layer of soil, it does not cool. It was enough to learn how to apply such heat to discover an alternative source of heat. With its proper use, it will be possible to solve the problem of heat supply for any country houses.

Many people find the working principle of a ground source heat pump quite complicated. In fact, it is enough to deal with the features of heating from the ground. The operation of the system is possible due to the presence of an external circuit acting as a heat exchanger. It is located in water or underground. Inside this element is water or any other liquid that absorbs heat. The coolant enters the geothermal pump, which accumulates heat. This equipment distributes the received energy throughout the internal circuit.

It is worth noting that such heat pumps correspond to standard sizes, but their performance is really high.

Varieties of geothermal systems

There are several types of such heating systems. All of them differ only in the heat exchanger. Its choice depends on the characteristics of the site and some of the nuances of the area.

Many people find it difficult to make a choice. In order not to be mistaken, it is worth considering the financial possibilities and some features of the land. If there is a reservoir near the house that meets all the requirements mentioned, then it will be possible to organize geothermal heating with your own hands. And permission to use heat pumps and perform work from any authority is not required. If we talk about the use of other systems, then a vertical heat exchanger will require significant financial investments, and a horizontal heat exchanger will require a lot of unoccupied land.

The advantages of this heating method

There are many conflicting opinions about alternative heat sources. Naturally, geothermal home heating is no exception. However, the objective advantages of such a system are really many.

Independent organization of geothermal heating

As mentioned earlier, such a system is the most affordable, which means that every home owner can use the energy resources of the earth. At the same time, the organization of geothermal heating does not require significant investments or human resources. Do-it-yourself installation of the system is quite simple. In this case, the main thing is to perform the correct calculations.

Naturally, the installation of equipment and the heat pumps themselves depends on the type of heat exchanger chosen.

• The easiest way to do the installation is that the house is located near the reservoir. In this case, it is enough to hire several assistants and special equipment to lay the pipe at the bottom. After that, it remains only to connect the heat pump, after which the house will become warm.
• If you have chosen a horizontal heat exchanger, then you have to dig the site. Subsequently, it will not be possible to organize a garden or vegetable garden here.
• The most difficult is the installation of a vertical heat exchanger. The performance of such work should be entrusted to specialists with relevant experience and professional drilling equipment.

In addition to laying pipes, attention must be paid to the installation of the heat pump itself. Such a device must be correctly installed, otherwise the system will be ineffective.

Geothermal heating has only recently come into use. Thanks to him, it is possible to obtain cheap energy with a minimum of costs. For this alternative to be effective, all requirements must be taken into account, as well as the heat pump must be installed correctly.

The progressive method of geothermal home heating uses the principle of operation, which consists in using the heat of the earth to heat the room. Since traditional fuel is an exhaustible natural resource, it is worth worrying about switching to the latest inexhaustible energy sources in advance.

The Scandinavian countries are the leaders in the production and operation of geothermal heating systems for houses. They popularize this plant option and offer it to regions with a wide potential for its use.

Equipment Application

It is wrong to assume that heating from the ground can only be used where hot water sources are present, there are warm geysers and other natural underground heating sources. The latest technologies allow you to successfully operate geothermal heating at home and in temperate latitudes.

Today, in our country, this type of heating still belongs to alternative methods of heat production. However, in most cases it is almost ideal for country or country houses. Do-it-yourself installed geothermal heating at home can work in two modes:

• heating in winter;
• cooling during hot weather.

Thus, the most favorable atmosphere in the room is formed.

VIDEO: How geothermal heating works

System operation

The house needs to install a heat pump. It will take energy from the ground or groundwater, giving it to the coolant circulating in the house through pipes. This principle of operation was identified back in the 19th century by the French physicist Sadi Carnot.

The constituent elements of the base node are:

• compressor;
• evaporator;
• capacitor;
• throttle valve.

The compressor is engaged in "compressing" heat and moving it to consumers. The device itself needs an external power supply.

The operation of the heat pump is carried out according to the following algorithm:

1. The collector-heat intake must contain a liquid inside that has a low freezing point. Often, in the manufacture of geothermal heating with their own hands, water with a high salt content, alcohol diluted with water, and glycol mixtures are poured inside.
2. In the evaporator module, heat is transferred to the refrigerant, which has a low boiling point, at this time it boils and goes into a vapor state.
3. The compressor installed in the circuit contributes to an increase in vapor pressure, which results in an increase in the temperature of the substance to 78-80 0 C.
4. Getting into the condenser, the refrigerant substance passes into the liquid phase, at the same time energy is released for the heating circuit.
5. The return of the formed liquid to the compressor is carried out through the throttle valve.

Since a heat pump for heating a house works on the principle of a refrigerator, it is often called a “refrigerator in reverse”. In many cases, energy from the earth is used to install underfloor heating.

Correct calculations and well-executed installation of the heat exchanger are able to provide a five-fold increase in output power from one kilowatt consumed by the pump.

VIDEO: How a ground source heat pump works

Heat exchanger installation

The current installation types are:

• 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 reservoir.

Drilling of the wells

For the efficient use of the thermal energy of the earth, if the area near the building is small, it is necessary to drill deep wells. In the depths of the earth, a stable positive temperature is maintained for several meters. The use of such geothermal wells provides heat to the heat exchanger loop. Further, this heat is transferred to the second internal circuit located in the room.

Often, drilling several wells costs even less than laying along the bottom of a reservoir. This makes the process accessible to more people.

The process is carried out with a small-sized drilling rig and a small amount of auxiliary equipment. It practically does not affect the surrounding area. The arrangement 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. The next step is the construction of the well. A plastic tube with a diameter of 40 mm or more 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 a heat-conducting material. A heating main is being wired with a connection to a heat pump.

This cost option is the most rational, since it does not require the preparation of trenches, a foundation pit and other earthworks. But this is not available for everyone - the minimum volume of a reservoir sufficient to heat a house is 100 sq.m. must be at least 200 cubic meters and located no further than 100 meters from the housing construction.

In reservoirs, pipes are laid along the bottom 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 15-20 m in central Russia, the temperature is maintained at +8-+10 0 C;
• for vertical structures, it is customary to take in the calculations the resulting power value of 50 W per 1 m of height, and more accurate values ​​\u200b\u200bdepend on the degree of rock moisture, 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;
• the presence of ground water gives up to 110 W / m.

Using a heat pump

The durability of the system depends on the characteristics and conditions in which the heat pump operates. In geothermal installations, it is capable of operating for approximately 1800 hours per year. This is an average value for latitudes without thermal underground sources.

The principle of operation of the thermal heating system is identical and has nothing to do with the country of origin or brand. Geothermal pumps may 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 peculiarity of processing natural energy into thermal energy.

Too much pump output should not be allowed, since this process can lead to a significant decrease in the temperature of the soil around the well, and sometimes it comes to 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, then 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 solar energy or probe heating when the heat pump is used in space cooling mode.

In conclusion, it should be noted that the geothermal installation is not yet available to everyone. In some cases, the payback period can last more than 10 years, but in the end, it is these methods of heating a house that will soon become not only alternative, but the only possible ones.

VIDEO: Geothermal heat pumps

The development of any civilization is associated with the satisfaction of the requirements for one's home. Wherever a person lived in a cave or a modern skyscraper, caring for warmth and comfort was as important as getting food. Warming himself with a small fire, a stove or a modern heating system, he was forced to use firewood, coal, peat, diesel fuel, burning the priceless gifts of nature.

Technological development has made it possible to build powerful hydroelectric power plants, learn how to use wind energy, and, having comprehended the secrets of the inner layers of the earth, to think about creating an alternative method of using accumulated heat in the form of geothermal energy systems.

At the heart of the solution of the principle action of a geothermal heating system are the laws of physics discovered by scientists. The search for materials that can change their properties, while releasing a certain amount of heat, made it possible to create not only ordinary refrigeration units, air conditioners, but also powerful

It is with their help that it is possible to transfer the heat that always exists in the bowels of the earth to our home, carrying out the coordinated control of three special circuits that make up the heating system. The purpose of the external circuit is to take thermal energy from the ground or water. The coolant in it is a non-freezing liquid.

This heat is transferred through the heat exchanger to freon, which fills the second circuit of the system. Its physical properties, consisting in a low boiling point, allow energy to be obtained during the transition to a gaseous state. And for this, the temperature coming from the external circuit is quite enough. The third internal circuit of the heating system is the required number of radiators, pipes used in the house. It can be separate or shared with the hot water circuit included in the project.

Functional features of the system

The principle of operation and functional features of the geothermal heating system at home are to perform the following steps:

1. The solution located in the outer circuit acquires additional heating in the ground by about 5 degrees. Its final temperature may be in the region of 3.
2. Having entered the pump heat exchanger, the solution transfers its even small energy to freon, for which it is quite enough for evaporation. Passing into a gaseous state, freon enters the compressor, where it is compressed. The thermodynamic processes that take place in this case lead to a rise in temperature up to 100. And already hot gas is supplied to the heat exchanger, where it transfers energy to the heat carrier of the internal circuit, most often water. Thanks to the scientific work of physicists and engineers, this process has been studied in detail and laid down in the fundamental foundations of the operation of various types of modern equipment.
3. The coolant of the internal circuit reaches a temperature of 50-70 and enters the radiators, pipes. The cooled freon enters the expansion screen, its temperature and pressure drop to their original values, and the whole cycle can be repeated again. The solution of the outer circuit in the same way moves into the depths of the earth for a new portion of energy.

Designs and types of geothermal heating systems

The first issue that has to be addressed in the process of creating a highly economical geothermal heating system is the choice of the type of external circuit, which is a heat exchanger located underground or in water. At the same time, it is necessary to take into account not only your desires for the architectural fantasies of a new house, but also detailed geodetic studies of the area in which this house will stand or has already been built.

Not everywhere there are hot springs, geysers, volcanoes, but we are given the opportunity to use the warmth of mother earth almost anywhere on the planet. The main thing is to have a clear understanding of the technical side of the matter and the amount of necessary financial investments in any project to create a geothermal heating system.

The following types of heat exchangers are most widely used:

1. Horizontal heat exchanger. This option can be considered as an effective offer, only if there is a large free area near the house. It can only be used as a simple green lawn. Moreover, with the area of ​​​​the house, for example, 220 sq. m. the heat exchanger will be located on an area of ​​600 sq.m. Pipes are laid in special trenches, the depth of which should be below the level of soil freezing in this area.
2. Vertical heat exchanger. From a space-saving point of view, this option certainly has certain advantages. The problem may be the creation of special wells, the depth of which reaches 200 m, with a diameter of about 150 mm. Earthworks with drilling rigs are not cheap in any region. But the soil at such a depth always has a temperature of about 15, which ensures reliable operation of the system with a vertical heat exchanger.
3. Heat exchanger at the bottom of the reservoir. The most economical and simplest method of creating the outer contour of a geothermal heating system. Especially if you have your own reliable pond or permission to use a public reservoir. The distance to the reservoir from the house should not exceed 100 m, and its depth is 3 m.
4. There is a variant of an open heating system based on the use of water coming from an artesian well. It is driven through the heat pump as a heat carrier. For the reverse discharge of water, it is necessary to build a second artesian well. But such a system is not possible everywhere. At the same time, a very important factor is the return of water in the same amount to the deep layers of the soil to maintain pressure in the reservoirs.

Interestingly, the first attempts to drill wells to use heat were made in the middle of the 18th century, but it was not until 1907 that an Icelandic farmer was able to direct hot steam from a nearby source through a cement pipe to his house.

The next step was also taken in Iceland, and only in 1903 the first 3 km long pipeline appeared in Reykjavik. Currently geothermal heating system is very popular in many European countries, USA, Mexico, Japan, New Zealand.

Advantages and disadvantages

Geothermal energy, the reserves of which are so great that only 1%, hidden in the earth's crust with a total depth of 10 km, can provide a volume 500 times greater than all the world's oil and gas reserves.

There are four main types of geothermal energy:

1. This is the heat of the earth from shallow depths, used by heat pumps.
2. The energy of hot steam, water in the earth's crust, currently used to generate electricity.
3. Heat coming from deep layers without the presence of water and magma energy accumulated in volcanic zones.
4. The use of this amazing gift of nature is determined only by the existing level of technology, the possibilities of technology and economic calculation.

Modern designs of geothermal heating systems have both positive and negative points.

The main negative is the cost. But it only seems at the initial moment. All costs pay off according to various data for 4, 5 years. This is due to the fact that modern models of heat pumps use much less energy for their work than any other heating systems. When consuming 1 kW of electricity, their return is 5 kW.

Positive points:

1. They do not burn fuel and do not produce harmful emissions of various compounds into the environment.
2. Minimum maintenance costs with high efficiency.
3. Environmental Safety.
4. Reliable fire safety properties of the system.

Efficiency and payback

You can not call geothermal energy a free gift of nature. The creation of heating systems based on it can amount to over a million rubles without taking into account the cost of a heat pump. It all depends on the required volumes of heating, its functional purpose and type. Usually, the economic feasibility of geothermal heating systems is calculated by comparing the costs of its maintenance.

The cost of any kind of energy used is not constant and will never decrease. In this regard, the alternative replacement of them with the use of the heat of the inner layers is, of course, economically viable and expedient, since heat pumps do not consume much energy, and it is not necessary to build expensive factories and power plants to extract and process thermal reserves.

Moreover, each generation of scientists finds new solutions for creating equipment and technologies in this direction. In addition, it is more correct to estimate the cost of heating systems equally for all types of fuel from zero without using existing centralized supply systems, for example, gas. And then the payback of the system in 5 years will become a real value.

The use of geothermal heating systems is reminiscent of the question, why not drive a Zaporozhets car at the present time. Of course, you can, especially off-road and into the forest for mushrooms. But you want to be faster and more comfortable. So it is in this case. One idea that your own heating system does not violate the environment, does not interfere with the life of even the smallest and unknown creatures in nature, will confirm the correctness of choosing a geothermal system.

Mounting and installation

It is better to install such a heating system not on your own, but by attracting specialists at least for certain types of work with self-confidence.

The main steps are:

1. Calculation of the internal contour of the heating system. This includes in detail the total length of the pipeline, the number of radiators, the creation of heated floors, the use of heat to produce hot water in the house.
2. Calculation of the laying depth of pipes of the external circuit for the selected type of heat exchanger. It is necessary to take into account the geodetic data of the area.
3. Drilling of the necessary shaft and installation of pipes. In the absence of a centralized water supply at the same time, it is easiest to solve the issue of creating other wells for water. The technology of their creation is different and requires special knowledge.
4. Selection and installation of the required model of the heat pump.
5. Installation of automatic devices monitoring the operation of the entire system and regulating the microclimate in any area of ​​the room.

Overview of pumps: manufacturers and models

The efficient functioning of the entire system is determined by the right choice of heat pump. According to the principles of operation, the pumps belong to the modern environmentally friendly type of equipment. In the process of their work, no harmful substances are released into the environment.

They are divided into:

• compression;
• absorption heat pumps;

The former are powered by electricity, the latter can use the energy of other types of fuel.

Currently, there are a fairly large number of companies on the market for this type of equipment. This allows you to purchase a heat pump for any power through a combination of different models, which is convenient for creating geothermal heating systems on an industrial scale.

The classic option is the use of heat pumps from Waterkotte Germany. This is equipment with a constant efficiency of up to 500%, independent of external factors. Having started production of heat pumps since 1970, the company is constantly updating a wide range of modern models without losing high quality.

The new EcoTouch pump series, which has won numerous awards, confirms this fact. It includes DC 5027 models with output power from 6 to 26 kW and user-friendly intuitive touch controls. The best modern pumps include the Nibe F1245 model (Sweden), Korsa, Russia. The table shows the estimated cost of individual pump models.

Heat pump cost

Price overview for geothermal home heating

A complete calculation of the creation of a geothermal heating system can only be carried out on a specific application, taking into account all the requirements. It is correct to choose the nearest company working in this direction, and work out all the little things under the guidance of specialists. An example is the cost of the range of services of the Russian company Geoterm-Comfort.

The cost of the geothermal heating device:

Development prospects

Modern technologies in industry, used to create new equipment, allow almost every owner of their own home to take advantage of the warmth of the deep layers of the earth. The importance of the possibility of reducing the energy costs of maintaining a home will only increase over time. Therefore, the process of development and implementation of geothermal heating systems cannot be stopped even by expensive projects. For, in the final analysis, this is an undoubted gain and also concern for the ecological heritage for the next generations of our planet.

The limited reserves of natural energy resources make mankind search for alternative energy sources. Geothermal home heating is a great alternative to traditional heating methods. This can be confirmed by factual data on the widespread use of geothermal heating systems in Europe and America as the main sources of heat.

A bit of history! Geothermal heating systems "expanded" significantly in the late eighties of the last century, mainly in America. At the beginning, a solid investment in the installation of such an installation allowed only wealthy people to use it, and after a few years this fat system became affordable for less wealthy Americans, raising the importance of geothermal heating systems in the heating market.

In Europe, two decades ago, the number of geothermal installations exceeded 12 million, and today one can only guess about the size of the "settlement" of geothermal installations in private homes.

Why is this happening?

Everything is very simple! The most affordable and convenient gas heating system reduces fossil fuel stocks for money out of your pocket. And burning solid fuels (wood, coal, peat) is not only inconvenient, but also accompanied by the release of harmful carbon dioxide, soot and tar. It also needs additional space for fuel storage.

How the system works

Geothermal heating systems have a similar principle of operation to a refrigerator (air conditioner). Just a refrigerator refrigerator cools the air, and a geothermal heat pump heats the heating system coolant.

The heat (energy) of the Earth is used to heat the premises. A heat pump located in the house takes energy from groundwater or the soil itself, converting it into heat. Then this "heat" is used to heat the coolant of the house heating system itself.

The principle of operation of a heat pump is based on the reverse Carnot cycle, developed back in the 19th century.

The “heart” of such a system is the compressor, which “compresses” and “transfers” heat. To do this, he needs an external source of energy - an electrical network.

In the company, the compressors in the internal circuit of the heat pump are: condenser, evaporator and throttle valve.

The heat pump works like this:

• The intake manifold is filled with an antifreeze liquid (glycol mixture, water-alcohol mixture, or salt water) that will transport the "underground" or "underwater" heat to the pump.
• This thermal energy in the evaporator is transferred to the refrigerant with a very low boiling point, which leads to its rapid boiling and evaporation (turning into vapor).
• A running compressor increases the pressure of this vapor, which accordingly leads to an increase in its temperature.
• In the condenser, the refrigerant is cooled, transferring heat to the heating circuit of the house, and condenses.
• Through the throttle valve, the refrigerant enters the compressor, and the cycle repeats again ...

A heat pump can also be called in other words a “turned inside out” refrigerator. Indeed, in the refrigerator, the refrigerant is heated by the heat of the products placed in it (refrigerator), and is discharged through the tube system to the back wall, heating the air outside the refrigerator.

And in the case of a heat pump, this released heat heats the coolant in the heating system of the house itself. As heating devices in such heating systems, “warm floors” are most often and more efficiently used.

Notice! If there is a high-quality and correctly calculated "heat intake" circuit, when consuming 1 kW of electricity, the heat pump is able to give up to 5 kW of thermal energy to the system!

Types of heat exchangers for geothermal heating systems

Horizontal heat exchanger

Pipes of a horizontal contour are laid to a depth exceeding the thickness of the soil freezing layer.

This version of the thermal circuit is optimal when there is a large area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe personal plot without garden plantings (trees). The laying of the loop pipe is not allowed at a distance of less than 1.5 m from the tree crown.

When heating a house of 250 m 2, an area of ​​​​600 m 2 will be needed to accommodate the heat exchange circuit. And this area is not always available. Especially in densely populated cottage towns.

This factor can be called a disadvantage of this type of heat exchanger.

Vertical heat exchanger

A vertical heat exchanger is a luxury that not every developer can afford. To "arrange" such a heat exchanger, you will need special drilling equipment.

The heat exchanger circuit is lowered into a well with a depth of 50-200 m. To increase the thermal power, several such wells are used, the pipelines of which are connected through special collector units.

The advantage of organizing such a heat exchanger circuit system is the possibility of working on a developed territory - this method will not damage the existing landscape.

Heat exchanger placed in water

This option is the most economical in installation - there is no need to carry out excavation work, but it requires a reservoir with an area of ​​​​at least 200 m 2 at a distance of no more than 100 m from the house. The pipes of the circuit are laid to a depth greater than the freezing depth (at least 2-3 m) to the bottom.

Advantages and disadvantages of geothermal heating systems

One of the most significant advantages of geothermal heating systems is its environmental safety for your home. After all, the process of normal operation of the heat pump is not accompanied by any harmful emissions into the atmosphere. And the absence of combustible substances in the fuel pump in the presence of serviceable electrical wiring actually negates the risk of fire.

The absence of fuel means the absence of expenses for its delivery and storage.

Low electricity consumption with a relatively high heat transfer (from 1 kW of electricity to 5 kW of thermal energy) is another important (or most important) factor that determines the choice of a geothermal heating system for a country house.

The autonomy of a geothermal heating system frees you from the need to monitor and maintain it.

An important functional advantage of a geothermal heating system is its ability to work as an air conditioner in hot weather. In this mode, the opposite happens: the heat from the room warms up the refrigerant, which transfers it to an external heat collector.

The disadvantage of such a system is the complexity of its installation and, accordingly, the high cost of both installation work and the equipment itself.

A geothermal heating system is the most expensive to install and purchase equipment.

In this case, you can save money on installing this system yourself, but you need to pay considerable attention to calculations and consultations with the "pros".

Using a bivalent heating scheme

The bivalent system implies the parallel use of two heat sources during peak loads (at low ambient temperatures).

In such a system, an additional boiler, such as an electric boiler, is connected in parallel to the heat pump. It is used when it is necessary to use an intensive heating mode at low ambient temperatures.

If there are few “frosty” days a year in the region of your residence, then the presence of such an “assistant” allows you to save on the power of the heat pump, which significantly affects its cost.

The development of technology allows the use of self-regenerating energy sources - wind, water of the earth. Over the past decade, the production of installations that use geothermal energy has increased several times.

For example, in Sweden, more than 70% of new buildings use a heating system that uses the energy of the earth. Another advantage of such a system is that in the summer season it performs the function of a passive air conditioner.

The principle of operation of a geothermal heating system

The heart of a geothermal heating system is the heat pump. Using the Carnot cycle, it converts the low-temperature heat carrier of the geothermal circuit into a heat carrier of the heating system heated to 50 ° C. At the same time, the efficiency during such work is 350-450%. The motor resource of the heat pump before overhaul is 100 thousand hours.

A temperature of 50°C is optimal for maximum efficiency of the heat pump. Therefore, it is advisable to use underfloor heating or air heating to heat the house, since radiator heating systems are not well suited for operation in geothermal heating systems.

Ultimately, we get: for 1 kW of electrical energy used, we get about 3.5 kW of heat, which, due to the rise in the cost of heat carriers, is essential for saving our own budget.

Functional features of the system

The geothermal system of a private house consists of three circuits:

• Ground collector - a system of special pipes, with an installed recirculation pump. The temperature of the coolant of the external circuit fluctuates within 3-7°C. A delta of 4°C is enough for a heating system. The heat transfer medium is mainly ethylene glycol or a mixture of ethylene glycol and water.
• The heat pump circuit "takes" heat from the ground collector and transfers it to the heating system of the house. Depending on the area of ​​the house and the required heat output, it can generate up to 3500 kW of heat. The coolant for pumps from different manufacturers are: Thermia and Mammoth - ethylene or propylene glycol, for Heliotherm - Puron gas,.
• The circuit of the heating system, in which the coolant heated to 45-50 ° C enters the heating system.

Constructions of geothermal heating systems

When installing a geothermal system, the differences mainly concern only the external ground collector. There are four main outline layouts:

• Horizontal - the soil collector is placed below the depth of soil freezing (from one to one and a half meters - for different regions of the country). The following pipes are used as external collector pipes: metal-plastic, copper in a PVC sheath. The heat transfer of the earth is 10-25 W / m 2 and up to 50 W / m 2 for soil with a high level of groundwater. To obtain 7-9 kW of thermal energy, the collector area will be 300-500 m 2, depending on the installation conditions. With such a laying of the collector, it is not allowed to dig trenches near trees closer than 1.5 m. It is necessary to carry out landscaping and landscaping after the installation of the system is completed.

• Vertical placement - several wells are drilled for installation, in different directions and at different angles. Geothermal probes are laid in wells. In this case, the heat transfer is about 50 W/mp. Thus, to obtain the same 7-9 kW of thermal energy, 150-200 meters of wells are needed. At the same time, the landscape design of the site will not be affected, you need very little space to install the caisson and place the prefabricated collector in it.

• Water-placed circuit - an external heat exchanger is mounted in a nearby reservoir at a depth of 2-3 meters. One of the main requirements for such an arrangement of the heat exchanger is the proximity of the house to the reservoir up to 100 m, and the surface area of ​​the reservoir should be at least 200 m 2.

• Air heat exchanger - the external circuit takes heat from the air. They are effectively installed in the southern regions of the country. The main advantage of such a scheme is the absence of any earthworks, and the disadvantage of such an arrangement of equipment is the drop in plant efficiency to 100% at an air temperature of -15°C. And completely incapable of working at a temperature of -20 ° C.

Benefits of a geothermal heating system

Let's look at the main advantages of such a heating system:

• high efficiency - 350-400%;
• stable thermal characteristics of the heat pump;
• small installation volume;
• service lines for geosondes is up to 100 years, for a heat pump - up to 30 years;
• the ability to provide air conditioning;
• independence from energy carriers;
• maximum autonomy.

Prospects for the development of geothermal systems

Heating systems of geothermal type have low popularity due to their cost. So, for a house, about 200 m 2, a turnkey geothermal heating system costs about one million rubles, the lion's share - 30%, a heat pump.

In the Baltic States and Western Europe, when a house owner installs a system on self-regenerating heat sources, then the state compensates part of the costs of installing this system. At the same time, the payback period for a geothermal heating system is up to 5 years. Since the system is fully automated and does not require human intervention, the level of comfort is much higher than with heating with other types of fuel. The choice is yours.