The term Geothermal originates from two Geek words 'GEO' and

'THERM'. The Greek word geo meant the earth whilst their word for
therm meant heat from the earth.

Geothermal energy is energy derived from the heat of the earth. The
earths centre is a distance of approximately 4000 miles and is so hot
that it is molten. Temperatures are understood to be at least 5000
degrees centigrade. Heat from the centre of the earth conducts
outwards and heats up the outer layers of rock called the mantle.
When this type of rock melts and becomes molten it is called magma.
Magma can reach just below the earths surface.
Rain water sometimes seeps down through geological fault lines and
cracks becoming super heated by the hot rocks below. Some of this
super heated water rises back to the surface of the earth where it
emerges as hot springs or even geysers. Sometimes the hot water
becomes trapped below the surface as a geothermal reservoir.

One way of producing electricity from geothermal energy is by

drilling wells into the geothermal reservoirs. The hot water that rises
emerges at the surface as steam. The steam is used to drive turbines
producing electricity. If the water is not hot enough to produce steam,
it can still be used to heat homes and businesses, saving gas/electricity.

DRY STEAM POWER PLANT

Dry Steam Plants produce electricity directly from the steam that
emerges at the earths surface. The steam drives turbines.

BINARY CYCLE
POWER PLANT

If the water that reaches the surface is not hot enough to produce
steam, it can still be used to produce electricity by feeding it into a
Binary Power Plant. The hot water is fed into a heat exchanger. The
heat from the water is absorbed by a liquid such as isopentane which
boils at a lower temperature. The isopentane steam is used to drive
turbines, producing electricity. The isopentane then condenses back to
its liquid state and is used again.

FLASH STEAM POWER PLANT

Flash Steam Power Plants are the most common form of geothermal
power plant. The hot water is pumped under great pressure to the
surface. When it reaches the surface the pressure is reduced and as a
result some of the water changes to steam. This produces a blast of
steam. The cooled water is returned to the reservoir to be heated by
geothermal rocks again.

Fundamentals - 1
HP = machine causes heat to flow uphill
From lower to higher temperature
Work done pump used to describe
Refrigeration unit reversible
Heat absorbed = source
Heat delivered = sink
Difference in temperature = lift
The greater the lift greater power input

Fundamentals - 2
Geothermal (ground-source) heat pumps
Uses geothermal resource between 40 and 90F

Either removes heat from a low temperature

resource to a higher temperature reservoir
(heating)
Or removes heat from a high temperature
resource to a lower temperature reservoir
(cooling)

Geothermal use a constant temperature

resource

The ground or groundwater (below about 30 ft.)

Fundamentals -3
Air-source

heat pumps dependent

outside air temperature, which is:

on

Lowest when heating demand is highest, and

Highest when cooling demand is highest
Thus,

supplemental energy (electric) source

needed

Advantages of GHP
(as compared to air-source)

They consume less energy to operate

They tap a constant temperature resource
They do not require supplemental energy

during extreme outside air temperature

Simpler in design and maintenance
Does not require a unit outside exposed to
the weather
Longer equipment life

Disadvantages of GHP
(as compared to air-source)

Higher initial cost due to excavation for

piping or drilling of a well

Lack of trained and experienced designers
and installers
Shallow horizontal heat exchangers are
affected by surface (air and sun)
temperature variations thus, requiring 30
to 50% more pipe in the ground

Definitions - 1
General terms:
Ground-Source Heat Pumps (GSHP)
Used by engineers and technical types, and
The
International Ground Source Heat Pump
Association
Geothermal Heat Pumps (GHP)
Used by individual in marketing and government
Often confused with direct-use geothermal
Geoexchange
Used by Geothermal Heat Pump Consortium
Geothermal Systems in many countries

confusing
Below ground = geothermal

Definitions 2
Ground-coupled

or
earth-coupled
(closed loop) tubing network directly
buried in the ground - generally a thermallyfused plastic pipe (HDPE) with water or
antifreeze (20% propylene glycol) solution
circulated through the tubing
Horizontal
Vertical
Spiral coil in vertical hole
Slinky in a horizontal trench
Encased in a foundation pile
Direct expansion (no heat exchanger)

One or more loops in a single hole or pile

Definitions - 3
Groundwater or water-source (open

loop) systems use well or lake water.

Water quality may be a problem due to
calcium carbonate (hardness) and/or iron
bacteria causing scaling or fouling of the
heat exchangers
Well water
Lake water
Mine water
Tunnel water
Standing column

Hot water
tank
Heat pump
Low-temperature
underfloor heating

Borehole
heat exchanger

Trenching
Horizontal loops
Spiral slinky

Benefits of Geothermal Heat Pump Systems

The biggest benefit of GHPs is that they use 25%50% less electricity
than conventional heating or cooling systems. This translates into a
GHP using one unit of electricity to move three units of heat from the
earth. According to the EPA, geothermal heat pumps can reduce
energy consumptionand corresponding emissionsup to 44%
compared to air-source heat pumps and up to 72% compared to
electric resistance heating with standard air-conditioning equipment.
GHPs also improve humidity control by maintaining about 50%
relative indoor humidity, making GHPs very effective in humid areas.
Geothermal heat pump systems allow for design flexibility and can be
installed in both new and retrofit situations. Because the hardware
requires less space than that needed by conventional HVAC systems,
the equipment rooms can be greatly scaled down in size, freeing
space for productive use.

GHP systems also provide excellent "zone" space conditioning,

allowing different parts of your home to be heated or cooled to
different temperatures.
Because GHP systems have relatively few moving parts, and because
those parts are sheltered inside a building, they are durable and
highly reliable. The underground piping often carries warranties of
2550 years, and the heat pumps often last 20 years or more. Since
they usually have no outdoor compressors, GHPs are not susceptible
to vandalism. On the other hand, the components in the living space
are easily accessible, which increases the convenience factor and
helps ensure that the upkeep is done on a timely basis.
Because they have no outside condensing units like air conditioners,
there's no concern about noise outside the home. A two-speed GHP
system is so quiet inside a house that users do not know it is
operating: there are no tell-tale blasts of cold or hot air.

Conclusions
Geothermal (ground-source) heat pumps are

not a new technology Lord Kelvin

developed the concept of heat pump in 1852.
GHP popularity started in the 1960s and
70s
Growing at least 15%,yr; now 20%/yr
Are economically competitive in areas of
high alternate fuel cost
Best suited for large building loads, such as
schools, commercial buildings, etc.
Best suited for new construction, as retrofits
are expensive