Alex Perry asked:


Did you know that in northern countries like the UK, the earth just a few feet below the surface keeps a constant temperature of between 11 and 12 degrees Centigrade, even in winter? It traps the heat of the sun, and stores it underground, all year round. A Ground Source Heat Pump transfers this heat to your home to provide space-heating. Using a compressor (a bit like the one in your fridge), it increases this heat to around 45 or 50 degrees, and transfers it to radiators or underfloor heating. The heat can also be used to pre-heat your hot water, meaning you need less gas or electricity for this also.

Because they make use of the renewable energy stored in the ground, Ground Source Heat Pumps provide one of the most energy-efficient ways of heating buildings. The only energy used by Ground Source Heat Pump systems is the electricity to power the pump. Normally a system will deliver 3 or 4 times as much thermal energy (or heat) as the electrical energy used to drive the system. If you can source your electricity from a renewable source such as wind or solar, then your heating will be completely clean and non-polluting.

Ground Source Heat Pumps have been widely used for many years in both Europe and North America. There are now several hundred thousand in operation. In Germany, tens of thousands of systems are installed each year. They typically cost more to install than conventional heating systems. In the UK you should currently expect to pay around £8,000 (plus VAT) or more to heat a medium-sized house, although government grants can refund some of this cost (up to £1,200 is available in England and £4,000 in Scotland). However, Heat Pumps have very low maintenance costs, and can be expected to provide reliable and environmentally-friendly heating for over 20 years.

In a modern, well insulated house, a Ground Source Heat Pump system can also save you money on running costs. It is likely to be cheaper to run than an oil-fired boiler, and less than a third of the running cost of electric heating. Currently it is likely to be just a little bit cheaper than the very best of the modern condensing gas boilers, but gas prices may well rise in the future in many countries.

There are 3 main elements to a Ground Source Heat Pump system. The first is the ‘ground loop’ which is a length of pipe buried in the ground, either in a borehole or a horizontal trench. For a modern detached house you will typically need two trenches about 40 to 50 metres long to supply enough heat for the house. The ground loop collects the heat from the earth. The second main element is the heat pump, which is typically the same size as a fridge-freezer. This transfers and increases the heat from the ground loop. Finally you need a distribution system which basically means underfloor heating or radiators.

Ground Source Heat Pumps are most suitable for homes that are well insulated, because otherwise they can become very expensive to install. The cost of a system is directly related to its size, which is in turn driven by the heat it needs to deliver. If you live in an older building with very high heat loss, this can add substantially to the capital cost on installing a heat pump. Money spent on upgrading wall, floor and loft insulation can save a large amount on this capital cost. Unfortunately, some older buildings can never be made sufficiently energy efficient to use the modern heating distribution systems that go with Ground Source Heat Pumps, such as low temperature underfloor heating, or low temperature radiators.

You should consult a professional installer if you are considering such a system. They will be able to give you detailed advice on the suitability of your home. Issues that you should consider are things like whether you have enough space to dig the trench for the ground loop, what kind of heating distribution system you want (e.g. underfloor heating), and the size of Heat Pump you will need.

With over 40% of carbon dioxide emissions coming from the heating of buildings in countries like the UK, energy-efficient systems like a Ground Source Heat Pump are looking more and more attractive. If your home is well insulated, and you have some outside space like a garden, it really is worth investigating a system like this to help cut your personal contribution to Climate Change, by making better use of the free heat supplied by the earth.



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Dilbert asked:


Also known as geoexchange heat pump or ground source heat pump.

How much did it cost them, and how well does it work for them? Do they ever have to supplement it with ordinary heating or air conditioning, or is it always plenty, even in the most extreme weather?

ADHD in Children

Alan Jacobson asked:


Ground source heat pumps (GSHPs), often called geothermal heat pumps, tap into the heat naturally generated many meters below the surface of the earth. Just a little ways down, the earth’s temperature is warm and relatively stable, so these systems can bring controllable and effective heating, cooling, and hot water to residential and commercial buildings. Best of all, they allow people to do all this without having to use expensive and carbon-producing fossil fuels such as oil and gas.

There are two types of ground source heat pump systems: those with closed loops and those with open loops. In closed loop systems, liquid (usually with some sort of antifreezing/antiboiling agent mixed in) circulates through pipes buried beneath the earth’s surface. During the winter, when the goal is warming a house, the fluid absorbs heat from the earth and carries back to the building. This very hot liquid can be effectively used to heat a home, and also quite obviously becomes a free-flowing source of useable hot water. During the summer, the system is designed to actually draw heat out of the building, and either use it to heat water for household use or deliver it back into the ground. Open looped systems are similar, except that the water supply within the pipes is continually refreshed.

The bulk of geothermal (GSHP) systems are the pipes that are buried far underground, so what is needed in your home is a unit likely no bigger than your current hot water heater and furnace. If you currently use oil, you may be able to get rid of or at least substantially downsize the size of your oil tank. Many people worry about the longevity and upkeep costs of this type of system because the bulk of the cost goes into burying the pipe underground. Recently however many companies have been offering 40-75 year warranties on the parts of the system that is buried.

If you already have a forced air oil or gas-fed furnace system it may be easy for you to convert to what is called a “dual system”. In this case you would choose which heating and cooling system would be primary at any particular time - most likely the geothermal system - and the other system will only work when needed, such as during an extremely cold spell in the winter.

GSHPs are quiet and safe. There are no exposed parts, fans, storage tanks, etc. that can hurt kids or pets. Nothing is burned so there is no flame. The heating source is the earth so there is nothing to wear out. They are also quiet because the earth is doing the work of the motors in your current furnace.

The initial cost for ground source heat pumps is greater than that of a conventional oil or gas system. However, that initial cost is often made up in three to six years depending on the cost of fuel and the temperature in your area. The greatest benefit of these systems is that you no longer have to use oil or gas at all, so not only are you not subject to the price fluctuations and uncertainty of these fuels, but you also reduce your own “carbon footprint” in the process.

Ground source systems are easy to install, particularly when they are replacing another forced-air system. In this case it is as simple as a retrofit after the pipes are placed. However, they can also be installed to completely replace the system you already have. If you don’t already have central air conditioning, that can be an automatic and immediate benefit of these systems. Contact an experienced installer and he or she can tell you exactly what would be involved in installing a geothermal heat pump in your home.



ADHD in Children

James Bratley asked:


Solar power is becoming a way of life for many people across the globe. From isolated communities to inner city suburbs, solar energy is becoming a very popular choice to better the environment.

Solar energy has been in existence ever since life on our planet began. We have been using the strength of the sun in many different ways, past and present. The more modern technique of using solar energy has been through the use of solar panels.

Solar energy is 100% reliable, if our planet did not receive this energy, or if the energy increased or dropped significantly, then the earth would more than likely struggle to support mankind. However, some methods regarding how we use solar energy are by no means 100% reliable.

The more modern method of harnessing solar energy has been through the use of solar panels. The technology used to turn sunlight into electricity is still in its infancy. Newer and better technologies are emerging every year, and one day we can be hopeful that solar panels could easily support a large household in a reliable way.

Many people have had great success using solar panels to power their home, and this can be down to a range of factors. The main problem associated with the reliability of solar panels is the cost. Due to the more expensive panels been out of the price range of your average consumer, more and more people are opting for budget solar cells, which provide a much lower output, resulting in the disappointment of the consumer.

The people who achieve a reliable and efficient power output from solar cells either integrate these solar panels with a small home wind turbine or ground source heat pump.

The “green dream” is by no means a dream. We do have the technology available to provide 100% of a households power supply, yet cost is the bridge that places the green dream a long way away.

http://www.clean-energy-ideas.com



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James Bratley asked:


The phrase “geothermal energy” has been around for hundreds of years. The term “geothermal” derives from the Greek words; geo (meaning earth), and therme (meaning heat). This instantly gives us the quick definition, “geothermal energy is heat from the earth”.

A common misunderstanding of geothermal energy lies in the source of this heat. The two sources which heat our earth are the earth’s core, and the sun.

The earth’s core is predicted to be between 3000 and 4000 degrees Celsius, and this heat warms the earth right up to the land beneath our feet, decreasing in temperature all the way.

The suns surface is approximately 5600 degrees Celsius. The heat from the sun only warms the first few meters of our earth, and then this heat is lost during the night.

So where does the misconception concerning geothermal energy actually come from? Well, many people believe that the fairly modern method of heating water by laying pipes under around 1 meter of earth, is geothermal energy. Many scientists disagree with this, as geothermal energy should be used to describe the heat energy dispersed by the earth’s core.

The variant of geothermal energy which comes from the sun, should really be described as a ground heat source, due to the fact that solar energy is only able to heat the edge of our earth’s crust, before the sun goes down and the heat is lost.

Over recent years, companies who used to promote “geothermal boilers” are now switching to the use of the term “ground source heat pumps”, as a ground source heat pump uses the suns energy, not the heat energy from the earth’s core.

The correct process of geothermal energy extraction is associated with geothermal power plants. This extraction is only made possible by drilling very deep holes into the earth, so they can reach a substantial level of geothermal energy to heat water and extract steam to drive turbines.

So, there we have the basic understanding of geothermal energy and the variant of this energy.

http://www.clean-energy-ideas.com/geothermal_power.html



ADHD in Children

Nancy asked:


 

If you need a heat transfer fluid for your heating or cooling system, you may want to consider a propylene glycol heat transfer fluid. These fluids can also be used in HVAC systems, thermal energy storage systems, hydronic heating, solar systems, and ground source heat pumps.

 

Choose an inhibited Propylene Glycol

Avoid uninhibited glycols if corrosion or rust protection is a long-term concern. Uninhibited glycols can be exposed to heat and/or oxygen. This exposure will breakdown the glycol and form acids that will lower the

pH and attack the metals in your system.

 

Inhibitors can be added to propylene glycol to protect your system by coating the metal with a microscopic layer of film so that the glycol mixture does not come in contact with the metal, preventing corrosion.



Types of Propylene Glycol Available for Heating and Cooling Systems

 

Dynalene PG—Inhibited Propylene glycol is a clear, non-toxic fluid that the FDA considers “generally recognized as safe”. This inhibited propylene glycol is non-toxic, and offers superior corrosion protection. It has a low oral toxicity which allows it to be used in applications where incidental contact with food or beverage products may occur. The substance is made up of Propylene Glycol : 94.5% and Inhibitors : 5.5%. It has a reserve alkalinity (min.) of 10.6 ml and a flash point (closed cup) of 102°C (215°F), with

pH of 9.0 — 9.6. The recommended temperature ranges for a closed system are -29°C (-20°F) to 121°C (250°F).

 

The Prime Applications Benefits of using Dynalene PG are:

• HVAC/R

• Solar applications

• Thermal Energy Storage

• Processing Cooling/Heating

• Line Heaters

• Snow Melting

• Refrigeration Systems

• Plastic Extrusion

• Pre-mix solutions

• Custom blends

• Ability to be re-inhibited

• Proven performance

• Available throughout North America

• Cost effective

• Equivalent chemistry

 

Dynalene BioGlycol—Inhibited Glycol that is a non-toxic corn derived glycol, unlike propylene and ethylene which are derived from petro-based fluids. Dynalene BioGlycol®, “Nature’s First Glycol®”, is an excellent choice for today’s environmentally conscious customer. It offers greater thermal stability while possessing similar or better physical properties compared to ethylene and propylene glycol fluids. In addition, it performs better than propylene glycol, while giving it’s users an environmentally safer product than ethylene glycol fluids. This fluid is an exclusive blend using Susterra™* propanediol, manufactured by DuPont Tate & Lyle and our highly effective inhibitor package. Dynalene BioGlycol® provides a 30% lower viscosity at low

temperatures, compared to traditional petroleum derived propylene glycol.

 

 

 



ADHD in Adults

Stig Kristoffersen asked:


Geothermal heat pumps are a relatively new technology. This technology can save homeowners soe energy bill money. These ground-source heat pumps use the natural heat storage capacity of the earth or ground water to provide energy efficient heating and cooling.

Geothermal heat pumps use the relatively constant temperature of the ground or water several meters below the earth’s surface as source of heating and cooling. Geothermal heat pumps are appropriate for retrofits or in new homes, where both heating and cooling are desired. In addition to heating and cooling, geothermal heat pumps can provide domestic hot water. They can be used for virtually any size home or lot in almost any region with the existence of ground water.

A geothermal heat pump system consists of indoor heat pump equipment, a ground loop, and a flow center to connect the indoor and outdoor equipment. The heat pump equipment works like a reversible refrigerator by removing heat from one location and depositing it in another location. The ground loop, which is invisible after installation, allows the exchange of heat between the earth and the heat pump.

Geothermal heat pumps can either be open- or closed loop. Open-loop systems draw well water for use as the heat source or heat sink, and after use, return the well water to a drainage field or another well. Closed-loop or earth-coupled systems use a water and antifreeze solution, circulated in a ground loop of pipe to extract heat from the earth.

Ground loops can be installed in a vertical well or a horizontal loop. Vertical wells are usually more expensive and used where space is limited. The length of loop pipe required will vary with soil type, loop configuration, and system capacity. Loop length can range from 100 to 300 meters per ton of capacity.

Special heat pump features can include variable speed blowers and multiple-speed compressors. These features can improve comfort and efficiency in areas where heating and cooling loads are quite different. Add-on features include the capability to produce hot water.

Desuperheaters can be added to supplement the production of domestic hot water when there is a demand for space heating or cooling. These devices make use of excess heat during the cooling cycle and use some of the heat during the heating cycle to supplement hot water production. Dedicated water heaters can be added which operate whenever there is a demand for hot water.

Geothermal heating can be more efficient than electric resistance heating. These systems are also typically more efficient than gas or oil-fired heating systems. They are more energy efficient than air-source heat pumps because they draw heat from, or release heat to, the earth, which has moderate temperatures year round, rather than to the air (which is generally colder in winter and warmer in summer than the earth, resulting in less effective heat transfer).



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