Ground-source heat pump equipment is an energy utilization technology that utilizes shallow ground energy for heating and cooling; ground-source heat pumps are a new type of energy utilization technology that uses shallow ground energy for heating and cooling, and they are a type of heat pump. Heat pumps are devices that transfer heat and cold by utilizing the principles of the Carnot cycle and the reverse Carnot cycle. Ground-source heat pumps typically refer to systems that transfer heat or cold from underground soil to where it is needed. Generally, heat pumps are used for air conditioning cooling or heating. Ground-source heat pumps also take advantage of the vast heat and cold storage capacity of underground soil, transferring heat from the ground soil to the building in winter and cold from the ground to the building in summer, forming a cold and heat cycle over a year.
Cooling Mode: In the cooling mode, the compressor within the ground-source heat pump unit works on the refrigerant, initiating a vapor-liquid phase change cycle. The heat carried by the air-handling unit's circulation is absorbed by the refrigerant through its evaporation within the evaporator. Simultaneously, the refrigerant's heat is absorbed by the water circuit as it condenses within the condenser. The heat carried by the refrigerant is then transferred to the ground water, groundwater, or soil through the water circuit. During the continuous transfer of indoor heat to the ground, the air-handling unit provides cooling to the room in the form of cold air at temperatures below 13°C.
Heating Mode: In the heating state, the compressor works on the refrigerant, and the refrigerant flow direction is reversed through the reversing valve. The underground water circuit circulates to absorb heat from surface water, groundwater, or soil. This heat is absorbed by the refrigerant in the condenser through evaporation, and then the heat in the water circuit is transferred to the refrigerant. Simultaneously, the refrigerant carries the heat absorbed by the evaporator in the evaporator, which is then circulated by the fan coil to absorb the heat carried by the refrigerant. As the heat from underground continuously transfers to the indoor space, it heats the room in the form of hot air above 35°C.
Geothermal heat pump equipment mainly includes the following types:
Groundwater Heat Pumps: Primarily used in commercial buildings, these systems utilize a water-to-water plate heat exchanger with one side circulating groundwater and the other side carrying the heat pump unit's cooling water. Additionally, there is a dual-well system, where one well extracts water and the other recharges it.
2. Groundwater Heat Pumps: Divided into open-loop and closed-loop systems. In cold regions, open-loop systems are not suitable, and only closed-loop systems can be used. These systems offer advantages such as low cost, low pump energy consumption, low maintenance rates, and low operating costs.
3. Ground Source Heat Pumps: Utilizing the earth as a heat source and sink, the heat exchangers of the heat pumps are buried underground, exchanging heat with the ground. The main units of the ground source heat pump system typically use water-water or heat pump units, or water-air heat pump units. Depending on the arrangement of the underground heat exchangers, they are mainly categorized into three types: vertical buried pipes, horizontal buried pipes, and serpentine buried pipes.
Each of these equipment has its unique features and advantages, and can be selected based on the specific environmental conditions you are in.
