| Horizontal
Loop - Ground Source Heat Pumps |
These
are used when you have space in your garden to
lay the pipes horizontally through the ground.
Trenches are dug around 1.2m in depth and 250mm
- 400mm wide.
The collector pipes are then laid
into these trenches and back filled with the
removed earth. Trenches must be a minimum of
one metre apart and one metre from any foundations
or building services. The average property requires
400 metres of pipe, therefore 400 sq metres of
land for the trenches. |
|
The
trenches must be the same length to ensure equal
pressure drops across the collector system. The
surface above the collectors should not be built
on, and we supply a plan which shows the location
of the pipes in the ground. The collectors link
back to the ground source heat pump in your home. |
| Vertical
Bore Hole Loop - Ground Source Heat Pumps |
Bore holes
are dug into the ground, normally around 90 metres
deep. It is common to have two bore holes dug to
supply one home. The holes are roughly 200mm wide
and must be kept at least eight metres apart from
each other.
A loop is lowered into the borehole
with a weight to ensure it reaches the bottom
of the hole. The hole is then backfilled with
a grout
mixture which allows easy heat transfer from
ground to pipe. The loop is linked back to the
ground
source heat pump unit in your home. |
|
Open
Loop Bore Hole Systems - Ground Source Heat Pumps |
These are
the most efficient systems and are used with water
bore well supplies.
A separate extraction and discharge
bore well is dug into the ground. One will extract
water from the underground water table and one
will discharge that same water back into the ground
after it has passed through the heat pumps heat
exchanger.
Special design considerations are given
to avoid a flow short-circuit and flow direction
must be taken into account as well. |
|
Because
the extracted water is not contaminated in any
way, these systems often combine the extraction-well
with a well-pump to allow free drinking water
for the property. |
Open
Loop Water Source - Ground Source Heat Pumps |
This
system extracts and then re-discharges water
from a nearby stream or river. Properties with
a large pond or lake can also use this system,
as it takes in water from the source and uses
the energy in that water to power the heat pump.
These systems, like the 'well' type open loop
systems are the most efficient; and we should
see CoP's in excess of 5. Sometimes when water
permits are harder to come by, we actually lower
a compact collector into the water, thus not
extracting and therefore not requiring a license
from the Environmental Agency. |
|
.
Flow
temperature of heating system emitters |
The
emitter system is the method of delivery for
the heat pumps product of heat. It is important
that the emitter is sized to deliver and distribute
this heat evenly and effectively.
Your emitter system could be radiators;
steel, aluminium, or aluminium fan
assisted or underfloor heating. Whichever
option is currently in place or whichever
new
option you decide on it is important that they are sized correctly to meet
with the building’s demand and the heat pump’s
output. The design flow temperature
is a key factor in this process and
will dictate size of radiators
or pipe sizing and spacing for underfloor systems. |
|
Building
envelope insulation thickness and quality -
Extremely important! |
Without
good insulation in the building, the installation
of a heat pump ground source or air source is
not going to work or at best work very inefficiently.
Insulation measures to walls, roof, floors, windows, doors must all be taken
to ensure the heat created stays where it is intended. Lofts should have a minimum
of 300mm insulation while cavity wall should be fully insulated and floors where
possible.
Draughts caused by holes and gaps between the joining of materials in the building
fabric also need to have attention paid to; the more air tight a property the
better.
If you are planning a new build or
your house was built post 2010 to the
more stringent building regulations
you needn’t worry about the above
insulation measures, your house should
have been built to above acceptable
insulation standards
and make a heat pump the ideal choice, especially with the RHI payments you
could receive. |
Remember
the lower flow
temperatures of a heat pump
require good insulation to be
effective |
|
Help
from other renewable sources |
With
the use of thermal
stores at the centre of your renewable heating
system, alongside your ground source or air
source heat pump we are able to design you
(complete with schematic drawings) systems incorporating
energy from different renewable energy sources;
such as solar
thermal panels or a wood
burning stove. We are also able to combine
your renewable heating system with your own onsite
electricity generation station in the form of
solar PV panels. Remember ground source heat
pumps and air source heat pumps run on electricity,
make your own and you have heat for free!
So
in actual fact with the right technology and
the right expertise you can heat your home
for free and become carbon neutral!
If you have a project you would like us to help with please get in touch, we
work with people planning self build projects from design through to install
and completion on all aspects of electrical plumbing and heating and renewable
applications. We work closely with architects and you to develop your perfect
home with efficient energy solutions. |
| |
The
benefits of a renewable energy home: |
 Carbon
neutral
Self
sufficient
Sustainable
Protection from rapidly rising energy costs
Free heat
Free electricity
No
bills……or very small ones
|
|
A
source of income from the RHI on heat pump installation
(payments condensed into 7 years)
A source of income from the RHI on solar thermal
installation (payments condensed into 7 years)
A source of income from the FIT on solar PV installation
(payments over 20 years)
A comfortable home
State of the art technology and controls
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