Geothermal systems. Geothermal heating systems for a country house: do-it-yourself features

Before every owner country house such an important question arises as ensuring the supply of heat to all residential premises. Today, various manufacturers offer their own options individual heating private cottages outside the city. A new development in this area is geothermal heating. Of course, most home owners are confident that such a convenient and economical heat supply system can be installed only in those areas where there are geysers, volcanic formations and hot water sources. Modern installations This type can also work successfully in temperate latitudes, with warm springs at low temperatures.

Features of geothermal heating

Geothermal heating refers to an alternative method of supplying heat to a home. This option for a thermal installation can be called almost ideal for arranging a private home or country house. To work in the system it is used geothermal energy, which is obtained from various natural sources heat. The basic principle of operation in such an installation is similar to the operation of a walking system. The main difference is the following: if in a refrigerator the refrigerator produces cooling for air from the resulting system, then here it produces thermal energy. Coordinated work is possible even with low temperature characteristics.

The main feature of geo thermal heating in the house is that during the warm summer season the air in the house is cooled, but in winter it heats up. At the same time, the costs of such heating are very low compared to other thermal installations. In some ways, the operation of such a system is similar to air conditioning. She helps create in the house necessary warmth and comfort, providing the owners comfortable conditions living in a house.

Geothermal heating principle

The geothermal installation operates autonomously, clearly regulating the required temperature in the room. The principle underlying its operation is the same for all installations, therefore it is independent of various manufacturers of component parts. The main work is assigned to special pumps, which may have some differences among themselves design solution, varieties, but at the same time coefficient data In terms of heat performance, they are all similar. Regarding the energy used, the geothermal system works successfully with various types earth energy.

The system consists of two circuits, namely:

internal;
external

The first of those mentioned is presented as familiar to many heating installation from the connection of pipes and radiator elements. The outer contour is dimensional heat exchanger, which is mounted under the thickness of the earth or in a body of water. A special liquid with the addition of antifreeze circulates inside it, and sometimes it is also filled with ordinary water. The coolant is gaining temperature environment, and the already heated one goes further into the geothermal pump. The heat thus accumulated is transferred further inner contour. This allows water to be heated in radiator elements and pipes throughout the house.

Methods for implementing a geothermal installation

This type of heating differs in the way the heat exchanger is installed. Today there are three varieties in use:

Vertical heat exchanger: it is compact and has a higher installation cost compared to other types. To install a vertical heat exchanger, you do not need to use a large area, but you will need to use specialized drilling rigs. Depending on the chosen technology, the depth of the finished well can reach up to 200 meters, the minimum value is 50 meters. The service life of the system is up to one hundred years. It is beneficial to install this type of geothermal heating if it is installed on an already developed area. The landscape of the area will remain virtually untouched.
Horizontal heat exchanger: this type is used quite often. When installing a horizontal heat exchanger, the pipes are laid to a sufficiently large depth, which necessarily exceeds soil freezing level. The main disadvantage of using exactly this type of wiring is that it requires a large area to be used for installing the collector. It is difficult to install such a system on an already developed site.
Water-based heat exchanger: this installation is the most cost-effective among all the variety of geothermal heating, as it works due to energy of water bodies. This system is relevant for those homeowners who have a body of water hundreds of meters away. Such a heat exchanger the most profitable which makes its installation the most appropriate among all types of similar heating.

Pros and cons of geothermal heating

Geothermal heating became relevant in America during the crisis in the 80s. Initially, installation of the units cost big money and such heating was used exclusively by wealthy people, but later geothermal heating became more accessible for mass use by the population.

Advantages of using geothermal heating in a private home:

Geothermal energy can be obtained and subsequently used almost anywhere;
the supply of this type of heat is unlimited;
the use of such energy is considered the most sustainable;
geothermal energy does not contain various kinds harmful emissions from the combustion of carbon dioxide;
heating based on a geothermal installation does not require constant maintenance of the house;
heating is considered free for the home owner;
installation pumps take a lot less space Compared to similar thermal installations, a geothermal pump requires approximately the same amount of space for installation as, for example, a refrigerator;
geothermal energy helps both heat the room and, if necessary, cool it; the operating principle is similar to the operating algorithm of air conditioners;
If desired, such heating can be installed together with other heat supply systems, for example, with gas system, diesel or powered by solar energy.

Despite a number of positive aspects of using this type of heating, geothermal installations also have their own flaws, the main ones are:

high costs for installation of the entire system;
long payback period.

Such shortcomings of the heating system pale in comparison with the current trends in global cost increases. various types fuel. Of course, the payback period is long, but in a hundred years a geothermal installation will show all its advantages and prove its efficiency on practice. This type of heating has already been appreciated in a number of European countries and America. For example, in Sweden, about 70% of private homeowners chose just such a system for heating.

Video

Sergey Elgazin found out everything about geothermal heating in one of the Finnish houses:

According to the latest statistical research, precisely because of the active life of those who seek to satisfy exclusively their needs, the negative impact to nature and the environment. The thermal power plant is far from the last on this list in the process of pollution. Fortunately, society has begun to listen to the fact that natural resources are not limitless, and it will be impossible to endlessly use the raw materials supplied by planet earth. That is why many began to look for alternative and more harmless sources for heating private homes. One of the most popular is geothermal heating at home, which you can install with your own hands. The device is simple, effective and does not require too much investment for maintenance.

It is quite possible to heat a house in this way with your own hands, but first a shaft must be prepared, the parameters of which must be calculated individually. Dimensions depend solely on the climatic conditions of the region in which the equipment is installed, as well as the soil, and the characteristics of the earth’s crust.

The depth of the mines can average 25-100 m.

The installation of the system begins with pipes being lowered into the shaft space, through which the house is supplied with heat. Their function is to supply heat from the ground to the pump. It is worth noting that when deciding to install just such a heating system, you will need to enlist the help of at least one more person, since the mass of the pipes is far from small.

Thermal heating for a private home is a way to provide warmth with such features as:

Availability;
Ease of installation;
Practicality;
Long service life.

Installing such an installation provides the house with warmth in winter and cold in summer. However, in order for cool air to flow in, the reverse mechanism will need to be activated, and the operation process itself will involve supplying cooling energy.

Requirements for geothermal heating at home

At first glance, it may seem that the costs of arrangement are too high, however, using the installation for a long time, everyone can be convinced that it pays off this heating quickly and does not require any investment.

Geoheating will require:

One-time investment of a large amount of funds;
Considerable effort for arrangement;
Correct and competent preparation.

In addition, one can note the regular increase in prices for resources such as gas and electricity, which occurs almost every month, but the geothermal system does not depend on these prices.

To use earth heating, you do not need to install additional modern pipes or radiators, and the most ordinary radiators, like for supplying water, are enough.

Part of the system is located underground, due to which the ground is used as a heat source. For this type of heating you will need a well, a probe and a heat exchanger. Only a device is installed on the territory of the house, due to which heat is generated and, as a rule, it does not require too much space. Due to this device, temperature regulation and heat supply occurs. When installing the system, a small pipe branch and a radiator are required, and if the building is small, the generator is installed in the basement.

Subtleties of the geothermal pump

Geothermal heating of a country house works provided that the system is correctly assembled and if a special heat pump is installed correctly. Not every home is suitable for installing this type of heating.

Nuances:

There may be terrain restrictions;
It all depends on the depth of the waters;
There is a dependence on the area of the plot near the house;
There should be a source nearby in the form of a reservoir or well.

Alternative geo-heating (not to be confused with gel heating) can only be done if there is a pump, and to implement such a system, you will need to do a competent design, this should be entrusted exclusively to a specialist. To make your own choice optimal option pump, you will need to pay attention to a number of features.

You can build an ecological house with your own hands. The main thing is to make the calculation correctly. Our tips will help you:

COP is an important criterion that indicates the performance of a product. For example, COP 3 produces 3 kW of heat energy for every 1 kW of electricity consumed.

How the geothermal circuit is installed directly affects performance, and depends on the area of soil into which the pipeline will be laid. To make preliminary calculations, it is enough to multiply the heated area by 3. The result will indicate how much area on the site will need to be occupied. No less important functionality, since houses equipped with such a heating system must be heated in winter and cooled in summer. If after installing the installation the desired result is not achieved, then you need to check the house itself for the presence of drafts and holes (ventilation). The efficiency of geothermal pumps is much higher than that of other heating devices. Among modern models, quite often you can find those with COP equal to 5.

How to heat from the ground

When heating a house with groundwater, it is worth paying attention to the fact that the system has such important advantages as efficiency and environmental friendliness, and the principle of operation of hydrothermal equipment can be of 3 types.

1st view:

To supply heat to the house, deep groundwater can be used;
The water has a high temperature;
Due to the pump, it is raised and heated;
Next, it is sent through the heat exchanger cavity, heating the house.

The second method will require diving to a depth of 75 m in a special tank in which the antifreeze is located. When heated, through heat pump the liquid rises to the heat exchanger, and as soon as the heat is released, the liquid is returned to the reservoir.

About the working principle solar batteries our next material will cover:

The third method of installing geothermal heating is that the device operates without a ground shaft.

Heat is supplied by a reservoir, if there is such an object nearby. To be more precise, a horizontal probe is installed at the bottom of the reservoir, through which water enters the pump to be heated and sent through the heat exchanger.

The principle of operation of geothermal heating of a private house

To install geothermal heating, you will need the presence of such components as a circuit, reservoirs, equipment in the form of a pump, and a heat exchanger. It is worth noting that the power plant in in this case need not. Heating due to the bowels of the earth can, in its principle of operation, resemble the work of the regular refrigerator, and the system itself continues to gain popularity every day.

Every person knows that the earth constantly retains heat, and therefore it is possible to heat elements located on the surface of the earth with its help.

The earth is heated by magma, which prevents it from freezing outside. Thermal energy obtained during operation heating system, is used for geothermal heating, for which a special heat pump is installed.

The operating principle here is special because:

The pump is installed;
Heat exchangers are installed inside the earthen shaft;
Connection in progress groundwater to the pump due to the water intake;
The water heats up;
Sent through the heat exchanger space.

This heating system has an important advantage and is that only 1 kW of electricity is required, and in return you can get energy in the range of 4-6 kW. For example, conventional air conditioners are not capable of converting even 1 kW of electricity into 1 kW of cold. By installing heating from the ground, you can recoup the investment in just a couple of years, however, provided that you have a competent approach to installation and selection of equipment.

Advantages of heating your home with heat from the ground

Thermal energy obtained from the earth is an alternative heating system in which a boiler is installed, but it has many advantages over other systems. It is possible to get much more heat and reduce electricity costs, which conventional boilers require a lot. The system is completely safe, both from an environmental point of view and from an operational point of view. Harmful emissions or issues such as fire and the like are strictly excluded.

The system does not require the use of fuel or chemicals, since geothermal heating only works on natural resource. Explosions or fires are strictly excluded. If you carry out correct installation system, it will last for 30 years and will not require additional maintenance.

Do-it-yourself heating from the ground (video)

Such heating schemes have been used for quite a long time in the USA and Sweden, and are also in demand and occupy a leading position among systems capable of heating houses with minimal costs. It is quite possible to install this type of heating with your own hands, but subject to additional physical assistance.

The problem of arrangement quality system heating a private house each time requires non-standard solutions. Everyone known types heating systems that generate heat during fuel combustion have long been recognized as economically unprofitable. A new product that is actively starting to become popular is do-it-yourself geothermal heating of a home. Taking into account the rising prices for electricity and gas, most are increasingly looking at this option, although it is quite complicated in design and installation.

Geothermal energy is used, as a rule, on an industrial scale, for example, Far East Some power plants operate on the basis of heat from the earth's interior. For many, the idea of do-it-yourself geothermal heating of a home borders on fantasy novels about future. But this is far from true! Thanks to the development of current technologies, this has become possible.

Operating principle of a geothermal system

The earth is even in winter time does not freeze through. This feature used by installation crews who lay pipelines below freezing point. Surprisingly, the temperature in these layers of the earth rarely drops below +5 +7°C. Is it possible to accumulate heat in the earth, then extract it and use it to heat the coolant? Naturally!

But before implementing alternative heating of a private house using the heat of the earth, it is necessary to deal with the following problems:

Receiving heat - it will be necessary to collect heat energy for its subsequent direction to a special storage device.
Heating the coolant. The heated antifreeze must transfer heat energy to the liquid circulating in the heating system and the hot water supply.
The cooled antifreeze must be discharged back to the heat exchanger for subsequent heating.

To solve these problems, a geothermal pump was developed that uses the heat of the earth. This device makes it possible to extract the necessary amount of thermal energy, which is enough to produce a large number of heat and use as the main or additional equipment for heating.

Geothermal home heating uses a similar operating principle to an air conditioner in heating mode. The main element is, the dimensions of which are approximately similar to the dimensions of a washing machine; this element includes two circuits.

The first circuit (internal) looks like the heating system of a private house that is already familiar to us, in a design that includes ordinary pipes and heating radiators. The second (external) is a heat exchanger that is located underground or in water. Both ordinary water and a special liquid with the addition of antifreeze can circulate through this circuit.

An external circuit in which the coolant (water) circulates, which takes the temperature of the environment, after which it enters the heat pump, which can be configured for both heating and air conditioning. The heat that accumulates in the pump during heating is transferred to the internal circuit, and during cooling - to the external circuit.

Water collectors are installed in the lower layers of the soil, at the bottom of a river or lake, through which antifreeze circulates. Collectors release cold and absorb heat. With the help of a pump, the antifreeze rises to the top. Heat exchange takes place in the buffer tank. Heated antifreeze transfers heat energy to the coolant or heats the water. The cooled antifreeze goes back to the collectors.

There are installations capable of heating themselves large premises, the rest are applied as auxiliary equipment, which can provide from 50% to 75% of the heat demand for the room.

Advantages and disadvantages of underground heating

The discovery of new technologies makes it possible for almost all homeowners to use the energy potential of the earth, opening up the possibility of using geothermal system home heating in the private sector. Soil can accumulate 98% of the sun's energy, which is dissipated over the surface.

Thanks to this phenomenon, even in winter, quite a lot of heat is retained in the thickness of the earth, which can heat houses; it is only necessary to direct it in the right direction using special equipment.

The positive aspects of this type of heating:

There is no fuel combustion process. This system is characterized by absolute fire safety, thanks to which the house is protected from fires that may arise due to a heating system using the fuel combustion method. There is no need to search for a fuel storage location, its procurement or delivery.
Sound comfort. The heat pump operates almost silently.
Significant economic benefits. There is no need for any additional monetary subsidies during the operation of the system. Annual heating is carried out thanks to natural processes that do not need to be purchased. Naturally, electricity is required to operate a heat pump, but at the same time, the amount of energy produced is much higher than the cost of electricity consumption.
Environmental factor. Geothermal heating of a private country home is the most environmentally friendly solution. Due to the fact that the combustion process is excluded, the release of various combustion products into the atmosphere is excluded.
Compactness of the system. There is no need to build or allocate a separate room for the boiler room. All that is required is a heat pump, which can be installed, for example, in the basement. The largest contour by volume will be under water or ground, so there will be no need to mask it.
Multifunctionality. A similar system can be used for both heating and cooling. In essence, it will play the role of not only a heater, but also an air conditioner.
The availability of this resource almost anywhere in the world, in addition to low costs for the operation and maintenance of this system.

A resource such as geothermal energy is virtually free; the main costs come from paying for the electricity that is necessary to operate the heat pump. By spending 1 kW of electricity, you can get 3-5 kW of thermal energy.

It is worth noting that the price of geothermal heating is quite high. This equipment pays for itself in approximately 5-8 years. This puts off many people who are planning to install inexpensive, but quite effective equipment for heating their home, but are not ready to spend quite a lot of money on purchasing the equipment.

Required geothermal equipment

Heating from the ground works by absorbing and releasing its energy, and is based on the use of special equipment. These devices accumulate heat from the environment and transfer it to the coolant of the heating system of a private home. The following heating devices are used for this:

Evaporator - placed deep under the ground to accumulate thermal energy that is in the environment.
Condenser - brings the antifreeze liquid to the desired temperature.
Geothermal pumping station- is responsible for the circulation of coolant in the circuit and controls the functioning of the entire heating installation.
Buffer tank - concentrates heated non-freezing liquid in one place for subsequent transfer of the thermal state. Inside there is a tank that contains water from the circuit and a coil within which heated antifreeze circulates.

Now it has become even clearer how geothermal technology works, thanks to which a private house is heated with heat from the earth or water environment.

Note that the performance of the heat pump depends on the temperature of the environment in which the heat exchanger is placed. In this case, the residents of Kamchatka are very lucky, since there are a lot of geysers here.

Before installing thermal heating equipment, it is necessary to conduct geological exploration. If the heat source is located in an area near the house, then it is better to make a pond in this place and place the heat exchanger at its bottom. Then geothermal heating of a private house will pay for itself much earlier.

Basic interchange schemes

There are three schemes for organizing thermal alternative heating, that is, setting up a circuit to accumulate heat energy:

The most effective harness is considered vertical system with borehole pump. However, the arrangement of such a circuit requires the use of special equipment and drilling wells with a depth of 50 to 200 meters. Wherein this method justifies the expense, since the life of the well is about 100 years.
Less expensive and simpler is horizontal piping, in which the pipes are located under a layer of earth below the freezing level of the soil. The main disadvantage of this option is that the contour occupies a very large perimeter. For example, for a building with an area of 180 sq.m. 450 sq.m. will be required. free area on the site so that the nearest tree is two meters from the pipes.
Cheapest and convenient way– place the heat exchanger at a sufficient depth of the reservoir so that the soil there does not freeze. The installation of such a system will not require the use of expensive special equipment. This option is the most optimal for creating geothermal heating of a house, provided that the reservoir is located no further than 100-120 meters from the building.

The external circuit is assembled from pipes made of polyethylene, based on a ratio of 40-50 W of thermal energy per meter of collector. So, with power pumping equipment 10 kW, it will be necessary to equip a well with a depth of about 165-195 meters. To get the right effective length, instead of one well, you can drill 2-3 less deep ones from one point, but in different directions, that is, by the cluster method.

How to do it yourself?

It is quite difficult to make geothermal heating, some semblance of power plants (geoPP), on your own, but it is quite possible. In the row next to the house, you need to build a structure from a closed piping system and place it at a considerable depth. The size of the collector and the design of the coil depend on the degree of thermal conductivity and the depth of the soil. If you undertake the installation of geothermal heating at home with your own hands, then it is better to purchase the external circuit ready-made.

To create minimum operating conditions for a geothermal system, the following conditions must be met:

The temperature of the soil layer where the pipe circuit will be located should not fall below +5°C.
Throughout the entire piping with antifreeze, insulation must be made to protect the circuit from freezing.
Thermal heating of a building is carried out after careful calculations and design.

Given these requirements, it becomes clear that geothermal heating can be effective. However, for the northern regions, the use of such an installation is justified for heating small buildings - up to 200 sq.m.

Let's consider only ways to create horizontal geothermal heating at home with your own hands under ground or water. Mounting the collector vertically is much more difficult and very expensive.

A heat pump will not take up much space, because this equipment is comparable in size to a conventional boiler. Connecting the sediment to the internal contour of the building is also not difficult. The main task is to arrange the external contour.

It is best to install the collector in a reservoir at a distance of no more than 100 meters. It is necessary that the area of the pond be more than 200 sq.m., and the depth should be at least 3-3.5 meters. If you do not have rights to use this reservoir, you will first have to obtain permission to install necessary equipment.

If the pond is on your property, then it will not be difficult for you to drain it for a while so that you can easily lay and secure the pipes in a spiral at its bottom. Excavation work consists only of digging a trench necessary to connect the external circuit to the geothermal pump. Having completed all installation work, the reservoir can be filled again.

If your site does not yet have green spaces and many structures, then you can design a horizontal method of placing the heat exchanger underground. To do this, you need to calculate how much area the future collector will occupy, taking into account the parameters indicated above: 250-300 sq.m. contour per 100 sq.m. building area.

If there are trees and temporary buildings on your site, but you really want to install horizontal geothermal heating, then all the buildings and green spaces will have to be cut down and demolished. The process is complex, time-consuming, but necessary.

Building heating technology underground heat very common in the West, since residents of Western countries know how to make long-term investments that pay off in 5-10 years. In our country, there are not many people willing to pay about $20,000 for the installation of such a system. However, alternative geothermal heating of a private home is becoming increasingly popular.

The search for alternative energy sources led to the invention of devices that are capable of accumulating heat, which is found in large quantities in the human environment. Sun rays, geyser springs, soil - all this, to one degree or another, can satisfy the needs for heating the coolant for the heating system and hot water supply.

Although geothermal heating using the heat of the earth is a relatively new direction, the prospects for such a solution are obvious. Thanks to the installation of special equipment, it becomes possible to obtain a cheap, almost endless type of thermal energy.

How to get heat into a house from the ground

The earth is even in winter period does not freeze completely over time. This feature is used by installation crews who lay the pipeline below the freezing point. Surprisingly, the temperature of these layers rarely drops below +5 +7°C degrees.

Is it possible to take advantage of the earth's ability to accumulate heat, extract it and use it to heat the coolant? Certainly! But in order to make alternative heating of a private house using earth heat possible, the following problems will need to be solved:

Receiving heat - you will need to accumulate thermal energy and direct it to a storage tank.
Heating the coolant. The heated antifreeze must transfer thermal energy to the liquid that circulates in the heating and hot water system.
Cooled antifreeze must be returned to the heat exchanger for further heating.

To solve these issues, a geothermal pump using the heat of the earth was developed. A geothermal heat pump allows you to extract an amount of heat that is more than enough to produce a large amount of heat and use it as a main or additional heating equipment, depending on the design and location of the house.

How does geothermal heating work at home, principle of operation

Underground deep heating from the ground is no longer a fantasy. Such installations can be easily purchased in Russia. Moreover, geothermal installations are able to operate both in northern and southern latitudes. But what principle do they use in their work?

Even in the last century, it was noted that when certain types of liquids evaporate, they can cool the surface. This is exactly what happens when they wipe the skin with alcohol before an injection or water a paved area heated under the sun. This principle was taken as the basis for the development of refrigeration equipment.

Then the idea arose: why not start the cooling process in reverse side and not get hot air instead of cold. Most modern air conditioners are able to not only cool the air in the room, but also work to heat it. But the disadvantage of such devices is that they are limited by the ambient temperature. So, after the mark reaches -5 degrees, they stop working.

Geothermal pumps for heating private houses from the ground are completely devoid of this disadvantage, although they use a principle that is in many ways reminiscent of the operation of an air conditioner to heat a room.

How does geothermal heating work?

As already noted, a geothermal heating system from the bowels of the earth is in many ways similar to the operation of an air conditioner in heating mode. What is happening at this moment?

In the lower layers of the soil, at the bottom of a river or lake, water collectors are installed through which antifreeze circulates. Collectors absorb heat and release cold.
The heated antifreeze rises to the top using a pump.
Heat exchange occurs in the buffer tank. Heated antifreeze transfers thermal energy to the coolant or heats the water.
The cooled antifreeze flows back to the collectors.

There are installations that are able to independently heat large rooms, others are used exclusively as auxiliary equipment capable of providing 50-75% of the room’s heat needs.

Geothermal equipment for using the heat of the earth

The operating principle of a deep home heating system using earth energy is based on the use of special equipment. It performs the following functions: accumulates heat from the environment and transfers it to the coolant of the heating system. The following nodes are used for this:

The evaporator is located deep underground. The function of the evaporator is to absorb thermal energy found in the surrounding soil.
Condenser - brings antifreeze to the required temperature.
Heat pump - circulates antifreeze in the system. Monitors the operation of the entire installation.
Buffer tank - collects heated antifreeze in one place to transfer energy to the coolant. It consists of an internal tank containing water from the heating system and an internal coil through which heated antifreeze moves.

Although natural low-temperature geothermal heating of a house with the heat of the earth provides enough thermal energy, the most practical option heating with this solution is to connect it to the “warm floor” system.

Installation and installation of geothermal heating

The main difficulty regarding the installation of geothermal equipment is associated with the installation of the heat exchanger circuit in the soil-ground. Although you can find a large number of tips on the Internet on how to do this work yourself, practice shows that most tips cannot be applied without special specialized education Therefore, all work must be performed by professional installers who are representatives of the manufacturer.

After contacting specialists, geothermal heating systems for private houses using the heat of the earth are installed in the following several stages:

Engineer visiting your home. During the first visit, soil samples are taken, the features of the area are determined, and a decision is made on the most effective installation of the geothermal system. The efficiency of the installation can also be affected by the source of the intended heat. It is considered more productive to install heat exchangers at the bottom of a reservoir or at the sources of thermal sources.
Concluding an agreement and purchasing the necessary equipment. Prices may vary significantly depending on the complexity of the installation work and other nuances. But on average, if a quality one is chosen German manufacturer, the installation cost will be approximately equal to its price. Turnkey purchase of Vaillant installation for a house of 350 sq. m. will cost approximately 21 thousand $
Installation work . Heating a private house with underground geothermal heat sources, or rather, its efficiency largely depends on the correct implementation of work at the installation stage. After the water heat exchangers are installed in the ground, a connection is made to the geothermal installation and home heating system.
Commissioning works. The engineer starts the system and makes fine adjustments to the device. After setup, the Work Completion Certificate is signed.

According to current legislation, the company installing the equipment may provide additional warranties subject to payment for these services. Such guarantees will cost an additional $1000.

Is geothermal heating effective in the North?

To create minimum conditions necessary for the operation of a geothermal installation, it is sufficient to comply with the following conditions:

The temperature of the soil layer in which the heat exchangers are located should not fall below +5.+7°C degrees.
Throughout the entire system through which antifreeze flows, conditions have been created to prevent it from freezing.
Geothermal heating of a country house is completed after all necessary calculations and design documentation.

If we take into account all the described requirements, it becomes clear that such installations can be effective if the above conditions are met. Nevertheless, for northern regions it is more advisable to use such installations for heating small areas up to 150-200 sq. m.

Geyser heating of a private house

The performance of a geothermal pump largely depends on the temperature of the soil or water in which the heat exchanger is located. In this regard, the residents of Kamchatka are in a more advantageous position. On the peninsular Kamchatka there are a huge number of thermal springs - geysers that do not cool down even in the winter season.

Before installation of equipment, geological exploration must be carried out. If a warm source is located on the territory of the house, it makes sense to place heat exchangers at the bottom of this reservoir. In this case, geothermal energy will pay for itself much faster.

How to heat a house using a geothermal pump

The technology of heating a house with underground heat is most in demand in the West. This is primarily due to the mentality of residents of Western countries. They are used to making long-term investments that pay off fully only after a few years. And there are few people who are able to pay about $20 thousand at a time for the installation of equipment. But the number of people who want to become independent from other heating sources is constantly growing.

Alternative methods of geothermal home heating are becoming more popular, especially given the ever-increasing cost of gas.

Thermal energy literally lies under your feet. It's just a matter of bending down and “picking up” it. A geothermal installation can help with this. Installing a pump allows, depending on the area, either to completely compensate for the needs for thermal energy, or to partially satisfy them, significantly reducing the load on the main source of heating and the domestic hot water system of a private home.

Many owners of private homes still believe that geothermal heating is a term almost from the realm of science fiction, and it is relevant only for those regions where hot springs bubble and there is high volcanic activity. And since such natural phenomena are rare, the prospects for using this alternative energy in our conditions look vague for many. In fact, a geothermal pump successfully generates heat even at low temperatures, so even in temperate climate it can be used quite effectively. But is it possible to install geothermal heating at home with your own hands? Let's try to figure this out.

Classification by construction type

The operating principle of geothermal heating is similar to that of an air conditioner or refrigerator. The main element is a heat pump included in two circuits.

Operating principle of a geothermal (heat) pump

The internal circuit is a traditional heating system consisting of pipes and radiators. External - an impressively sized heat exchanger located underground or in the water column. Both a special liquid with antifreeze and ordinary water can circulate inside it. The coolant takes on the temperature of the medium and, “warmed up,” enters the heat pump, the accumulated heat is transferred to the internal circuit. In this way, water is heated in pipes and radiators.

Geothermal (heat) pump – key element systems. This is a compact unit that takes up no more space than the one we’re used to. washing machine. If we talk about performance, then for every 1 kW of electricity consumed, the pump “produces” up to 4-5 kW of thermal energy. While regular air conditioner, which has a similar principle of operation, 1 kW of heat will “reply” to 1 kW of consumed electricity.

It must be admitted that the installation of this type of heating is the most expensive and labor-intensive to date. The lion's share of its cost is the purchase of equipment and, of course, excavation. Naturally, a thrifty owner wonders whether it is possible to save money, for example, on installation and make geothermal heating with his own hands? In order to answer this question, it is necessary to understand which systems are used most often and understand the features of their design.

Horizontal heat exchanger

Quite often, a horizontal circuit is used, in which pipes are laid in trenches to a depth greater than the freezing level of the soil in a given area.

The disadvantage of a geothermal heating system with a horizontal circuit is the large area occupied by the collector

The disadvantage is that the area occupied by the circuit must be much larger than the house itself, so to heat a building with an area of 250 m², about 600 m² will go under the pipes. Not every developer can afford such luxury.

In addition, inconveniences arise if the site is already landscaped; for example, you have to observe the distance from trees (1.5 m) and many other nuances.

Vertical heat exchanger

A more compact, but also more expensive option is a vertical heat exchanger. Its installation does not require a large area, but it will require special drilling equipment.

Installation of a vertical heat exchanger requires the use of special drilling equipment

The depth of the well, depending on the technology, can reach 50-200 m, but its service life is up to 100 years. This method is especially relevant when planning a geothermal project with a developed adjacent territory; it allows you to preserve the landscape almost in its original form.

The most economical geothermal installation uses thermal energy from water. It is recommended if the distance to the nearest body of water does not exceed 100 m.

A water-based heat exchanger is the most advantageous and therefore more appropriate for the device

A circuit of pipes in the form of a spiral is laid on the bottom; the depth should be less than 2.5-3 m, that is, deeper than the freezing zone. Reservoir area – from 200 m². The main advantage is that there is no need to carry out labor-intensive excavation work, but you must obtain permission special services. Having spent significant amounts of money on expensive equipment, you should not save on high-quality installation. After all, the quality and efficiency of the entire system will depend on it.

As you can see, installing geothermal heating at home with your own hands is not so easy. Of all the listed types, perhaps only the last option will be quite easy to implement on your own. But even in this case, it is worth weighing all the pros and cons.

About the advantages and disadvantages of the system

For the first time, geothermal heating was looked at closely in the United States during the crisis in the 80s. Quite expensive installations were installed in the homes of the richest and most advanced, but gradually they became more accessible and popular. Europe took note of the new product and began to actively implement it in its open spaces. Now this type of heating is no longer a curiosity; in Sweden, for example, about 70% of all heat is synthesized using heat pumps.

Manufacturers of miracle equipment and green people unanimously talk about the advantages of this type of heating over all others, the main advantages that are emphasized are:

Thermal energy of the earth is used for heating, which is renewable and inexhaustible;
there is no risk of fire;
there is no need for delivery and storage of fuel materials;
When the equipment operates, no harmful emissions are generated, the system is absolutely safe and environmentally friendly;
the system operates autonomously and does not require constant monitoring and intervention;
it is economical and requires virtually no maintenance costs from the owner;
With all the variety of models, the equipment productivity coefficient remains consistently high.

The geothermal heating system has performed well in combination with “ warm floors" This duo ensures uniform temperature distribution and prevents the formation of overheating zones.

Important! This type of heating is most beneficial for houses with an area of up to 150 m²; the owners of such small cottages assure that the costs are recouped in just 3-4 years.

Note that these systems have not yet become popular in the post-Soviet space. This is largely due to the fairly significant capital investments that will need to be made at the very beginning, and quite long term payback. It is quite difficult to convince our fellow citizens that this is, after all, economically profitable. Although, if we take into account the annual rise in price of conventional coolants and the fact that the system is designed for an average of 100 years efficient work, then the choice will seem quite justified.