Geothermal Heat

Heat contained in the earth, so called geothermal heat, is used indirectly to heat water. eco hometec Ground Source Heat Pumps taking heat from the ground are referred 'ground to water'. Heat is extracted using an underground collector usually MDPE (Medium Density Polyethylene) plastic pipes. A heat carrying liquid is pumped through these pipes, which in turn is connected to the heat pump evaporator. The heat carrying liquid is non-freezing and ecologically harmless. For more information please browse our Ground Source Heat Pump page or submit your building plans here.

The Ground Source Heat Pump Cycle Process

Circulating liquid is cooled down in the eco hometec Ground Source Heat Pump evaporator and it is re-warmed in the underground collector by means of geothermal heat. In order for the heat transfer, throughout the heating period to be even and constant, it is important to make sure the location of the ground collector is suitable and the area large enough to recover the energy removed by the heat pump.

Underground collectors can be installed in two ways. Either as a horizontal collector, set in a depth of 1.5 to 2m under ground level or as a vertical one set in one or more boreholes.

Horizontal Heat Collectors	Vertical Heat Collectors	Water Bore Holes

Bore holes being significantly deeper than pipes in shallow trenches are less susceptible to seasonal temperature changes and the energy available to the eco hometec Ground Source Heat Pump is more even throughout the heating season.

When compared to an installation using horizontal collectors are, vertical bore holes and their collectors experience less seasonal temperature changes and earth-water heat pump can achieve higher CoP's.

An eco hometec Geothermal Heat Pump works just like your fridge. The components are very similar - an evaporator, compressor and condenser. The element that makes the whole process possible is a gas we call the refrigerant which boils at incredibly low temperatures, typically -35°C.

If you place a can of beer, in your fridge to cool, the cycle begins with the refrigerant boiling and evaporating as it is circulates through the part that makes the ice cubes, technical name the evaporator. The can of beer and other contents of the fridge provide the heat to evaporate the refrigerant. The refrigerant is then pumped, as a very cold gas, through the compressor where under compression it turns back into a very hot liquid. At the back of the fridge is the condenser and it is this that dissipates this heat to the surrounding air. The more times you complete the cycle the cooler the beer and fridge contents get as the heat is pumped away.

eco hometec Heat Pumps work exactly the same way, the only difference, the heat required to evaporate the refrigerant comes from the air, earth or water and the heat generated is used to heat a building or other application.

As you can see the process is very simple but in both applications very efficient. To achieve higher efficiencies from a heat pump, output temperatures of 35°C - 45°C are best.

This makes an eco hometec heat pump ideal when using underfloor heating in a solid floor construction. In these situations, for every 1kW of electric power used, to run the heat pump, you will get up to 5kW of energy back (CoP5). No other appliance can match a heat pump for efficiencies and low running costs.

Geothermal Heating

Geathermal Heating(1) Geothermal Heating

The Heat Pump kW formula for Hot Water & Space Heating

Heat Pumps Diagram

Please browse our website for more information about eco hometec and our range of Ground Source & Air Source Heat Pumps then click here to submit your plans or contact us on Freephone 0800 8620278 to speak to one of our team or e-mail us at sales@eco-hometec.co.uk.