Commercial Ground Source Heat Pumps
Utilising a collector array commercial Ground Source Heat Pumps absorb or inject heat to the ground. This is achieved by utilising either a closed or open loop system.
Using the natural heat of the ground as a heat source or sink, and accessing this via an installed collector pipe work array or the direct extraction and reinjection of water from an aquifer, the heat pump can transfer the energy from the ground to useful thermal conditioning to a building.
Commercial ground source heat pumps can be expected to achieve efficiencies of 300-500% Co-efficient Of Performance (COP) in heating mode and up to 700% Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) in cooling mode, making them one of the most efficient mechanical thermal conditioning systems available.
To maximise the benefits of a commercial ground source heat pump installation the feasibility and system design phase is of extreme importance such that the distribution system is compatible with the GSES.
Closed Loop Commercial Ground Source Heat Pump Systems
Vertical Boreholes
Vertical boreholes are drilled to a depth ranging from 50m to 250m, a "U-Tube" or Geo loop is then inserted and the borehole is backfilled using a high conductivity grout for maximum thermal transfer.
Featured Case Study: HMP Grampian (Coming Soon)
Energy Piles
During the construction of the buildings structural piles where CFA drilling is used a collector pipe(s) (geo-loop) is placed within the structural cage of the pile itself. These loops are then used to abstract or inject heat from the ground to the building as a typical borehole solution would.
Horizontal Trenches
Trenches are excavated to a depth ranging from 1.2m to 2m, pipe work is laid along the length of the trench, typically 50m to 150m long.
Horizontal Slinky
Similar to the horizontal trench, however the pipe work is coiled helically within the trench, with the trenches ranging from 15m to 30m.
Open Loop Commercial Ground Source Heat Pump Systems
Vertically Drilled Aquifer
Two boreholes are drilled and paired, an abstraction and injection. Ground water from the abstraction borehole is pumped via a heat exchanger and rejected into the injection borehole.
Boreholes for open loop commercial ground source heat pumps are subject to obtaining a license from the local environment agency and are subject to successful testing from ground water sustainability.
Featured Case Study: Brodieshill (Coming Soon)
Reservoir Abstraction
Utilising a body of water, (for example a lake, river, port, dock or even the ocean), water is pumped via a filtration unit to a heat exchanger.
For further information on commercial ground source heat pumps or to discuss a renewable energy project contact your local REC office or contact us online.
