How to make geothermal heating in a private house. Cons of geothermal heating Thermal heating at home

IN last decades The active life of people satisfying their needs began to have a very negative impact on nature and the environment. And thermal power plants played an important role in this process. At the same time, society began to understand that natural resources are not unlimited, which is why in recent years they began to introduce analogues of heat supply sources. One of these alternative ways Heat the house is geothermal heating. The system is simple and effective, and you can do it yourself.

Note that geothermal heating in the USA and European countries ah has become the main source of heat, but in Russia today it is considered only as an alternative to gas, electric, solid fuel and other types of heating. Very soon, geothermal heating will become mainstream, because reviews say that it is a cost-effective way to heat your home without harming the environment and with benefit to yourself.

Operating principle

Such a phenomenon as geothermal heating, the principle of which resembles regular refrigerator, only on the contrary, it is becoming more and more popular. The earth retains heat constantly; objects located on its surface can be heated. The point is that the earth is heated from the inside by hot magma, and from above, thanks to the soil, it does not freeze.

The thermal energy obtained during the heating process is used by a geothermal system based on a special heat pump.

And the operating principle here is as follows: a heat pump is placed on top, and a heat exchanger is lowered into a special earthen shaft. Unpaved the water is flowing through the pump and heats up. Thus, the heat generated in this way is used for industrial or domestic purposes. This is how heating works underground heat.

Note that the main advantage of such a system is that with an electricity consumption of 1 kW we get useful thermal energy in the range from 4 to 6 kW. For comparison, a conventional air conditioner is not capable of converting 1 kW of electricity into 1 kW of thermal energy (the law of conservation of energy, since losses when converting one type of energy into another, alas, has not yet been canceled). Heating using the heat of the earth will pay for itself quickly enough when the right approach to the implementation of geothermal heating.

System Features

Of course, it is not so easy to make geothermal heating with your own hands, but it is quite possible. And to begin with, a mine is made. The shaft parameters are calculated for each case separately. Its dimensions will depend on the climate in your area, the type of soil, the structural features of the region’s crust, and the home area where such a system will be installed. Typically, the mine depth ranges from 25 to 100 m.

Next, the installation of geothermal heating involves such a step as lowering pipes into the earth's shaft that absorb heat. The functions of these pipes are as follows: they will supply heat to the pump, which will increase the temperature of the liquid and release it into heating. Note that if you decide to make geothermal heating systems with your own hands, then you will need an assistant, because the pipes can be very heavy.

Note that in summer the heating from the ground works as an air conditioner. To do this, you need to activate the reverse mechanism. During operation, the heat exchanger will take cooling energy.

Methods of operation of the system

This is an effective and environmentally friendly system - thermal heating, the principle of its operation can proceed in three main ways:

1. Thermal energy from deep groundwater. This kind of water high temperature, the heat pump lifts it and heats it. Next, the water goes through the heat exchanger, giving away the bulk of its energy.
2. This method requires owners additional expenses. A reservoir containing antifreeze is lowered into the depth of the soil from 75 m and below. It heats up and with heat pump rises to the heat exchanger. After the heat is transferred to the heat exchanger, the antifreeze goes back to the reservoir.
3. And for the third method of operation of the system, it is not necessary to equip a soil mine at all. Such heating from earth will do for heating buildings with access to a body of water. So, horizontal probes are placed along the bottom of the reservoir from the heat exchanger and convert the heat of the water at the bottom.

Benefits of a Geothermal Heating System

Geothermal heating systems have several advantages:

• The release of thermal energy is several times greater than the electricity consumption required by the pump.
• Environmental friendliness is greater than that of other heating systems, since geothermal heating systems do not produce any harmful emissions.
• For a geothermal system to function, no fuel or additional chemicals. Therefore, it is safe for owners and the environment.
• There is no risk of explosion or fire in the operation of such heating.
• Given that correct installation heating system it will last without technical support for at least 30 years.

We install geothermal heating ourselves

Let us immediately note this feature: those who decide to equip heating with earth’s heat will need to invest a huge amount into it once. Of course, over time this cost will pay off, since we are not building housing for ourselves for a year or two. Plus, the cost of gas and electricity goes up every year, and with a geothermal system, you won't know what these price hikes are.

Note that inside the room you want to heat, heating elements are installed that are no different from water heating. Your home will be heated by radiators, and the heat will flow through the pipes.

However, in this system, its main part will be hidden underground. Heating with earth energy means having a well and a heat exchanger. You only need to install a device in your home that will generate heat - it usually does not take up much space.

Using such a device, the user will be able to regulate the temperature and supply thermal energy. The installation of the heating system itself in a home is done as usual - with a branching pipeline and radiators. If you have a private house, or the building itself is small, then in this case the system generator is installed in a separate room or in the basement.

Distribution of geothermal heating system

Heating using the heat of the earth began to spread in the late 80s in US cities, which were particularly hard hit by the crisis. At first, this system was used by wealthy people, who in this way saved on heating their homes, but soon the system began to become cheaper, and poorer Americans became interested in it. And soon the use of earth's heat for heating became the prerogative of most Americans who owned private homes. In European countries, 20 years ago, statistics indicated that approximately 12 million citizens used geothermal heating systems. And during all this time until today, this figure has only increased.

The trends in the spread of geothermal heating are clear. After all, heating using earth's energy is convenient, economical and safe.

Although the gas heating system is the most popular, for the same reason, every year the reserves of natural gas decrease, the cost of it increases and increases. And application for heating the house solid fuel– it’s labor-intensive. In addition, as a result of burning wood and coal, harmful carbon dioxide is released, soot and tar are formed. Therefore, geothermal heating is becoming increasingly common in Russia.

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:

1. Receiving heat - it will be necessary to collect heat energy for its subsequent direction to a special storage device.
2. Heating the coolant. The heated antifreeze must transfer heat energy to the liquid circulating in the heating system and the hot water supply.
3. 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 heating at home uses a principle of operation similar to an air conditioner in heating mode. The main element is, the dimensions of which are approximately similar to the dimensions 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:

1. 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.
2. Sound comfort. The heat pump operates almost silently.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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. For this purpose the following are used heating devices:

1. Evaporator - placed deep under the ground to accumulate thermal energy that is in the environment.
2. Condenser - brings the antifreeze liquid to the desired temperature.
3. Geothermal pumping station- is responsible for the circulation of coolant in the circuit and controls the functioning of the entire heating installation.
4. 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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.

For creating minimum conditions operation of a geothermal system, the following conditions must be met:

1. The temperature of the soil layer where the pipe circuit will be located should not fall below +5°C.
2. Throughout the entire piping with antifreeze, insulation must be made to protect the circuit from freezing.
3. 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 buildings not large area– 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 the 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 everything 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.

The technology of heating buildings with underground heat is 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.

When building a house, each owner tries to think about the weight of the design nuances. Heating is an equally important point that requires consultation with specialists. For many, geothermal heating seems unattainable, because it is associated only with places where hot springs bubble. However, in practice, a special pump can generate energy, so this option is suitable for any climatic conditions and terrain. However, is it worth doing geothermal heating at home with your own hands, because the equipment itself is already expensive. To find the answer to this question it is worth studying existing options and features of installation work.

Geothermal heating works on the same principle as air conditioning. The components are two circuits and a heat pump.

The internal circuit includes pipes and radiators located throughout the house. The external circuit is a heat exchanger, which is placed either underground or under water. Liquid with antifreeze or plain water circulates inside. The heated liquid enters the pump, which accelerates it through the elements of the internal circuit, due to which the water in the radiators is always warm.

The pump does not take up much space, but performs one of the key functions in the system. For every kW of electricity used, it produces 4 times the heat output. The air conditioner is not so productive, because after taking 1 kW of electricity, it gives out the same amount.

Classification depending on the type of structure

This type of heating arrangement in a house is considered one of the most expensive and this is due to the price of the equipment and earthworks. At such moments, many consumers wonder what they can save on, and the only thing that comes to mind is installation. However, to understand whether this is so, it is worth evaluating the features of the device and possible options designs.

• Horizontal heat exchanger. When choosing this design, the pipes are laid underground, and the depth must be greater than the freezing level of the soil. However, this option requires the allocation of territory for the contour. Just imagine, if you need to heat a house with an area of ​​250 m2, then you will need 600 m2 to arrange the circuit. In addition, it is necessary to take into account some technical points. For example, all elements should be located at a minimum distance from the tree - 1.5 meters. If the site is landscaped, then this already creates certain inconveniences.
• The vertical option does not require the allocation of a large area, however, the use of drilling equipment will incur significant costs. Well creation – labor-intensive process, however, this design will last at least a hundred years. This option is suitable for areas that are already developed.
• The water-based option uses the energy of water and allows you to significantly save on arrangement. The only requirement is the presence of a reservoir within 100 meters, its area must be at least 200 m2, and the structure must be located no deeper than three meters.

As practice shows, it is difficult to carry out installation with your own hands. Considering that there will be a lot of money invested in equipment, you should not skimp on the installation process and should turn to professionals.

Previously, such installations could be found in luxurious and wealthy homes, but now they have become more affordable. They were first used by residents of the United States in the 80s, and now residents of European countries have taken note. This solution allowed us to save on heating costs overall. Twenty years ago, 12 million European citizens took advantage of similar design, today their number has increased dramatically.

In Sweden, most of the heat is already produced using heat pumps. Accordingly, their popularity has increased due to a number of advantages over all alternative systems:

• The inexhaustible and renewable energy of the earth is used to heat your own home;
• There is no risk of fire;
• You don’t have to look for cheap fuel and think about where to store it;
• An environmentally friendly system, without the formation of harmful emissions, due to which it is actively supported by defenders environment;
• Lack of regular monitoring and intervention; the system operates autonomously at all levels;
• Unlimited amount of energy available at any time and in any quantity;
• You don’t have to spend money on system maintenance;
• High performance compared to existing alternatives.

Experts recommend combining the installation of a geothermal system and heated floors to achieve maximum effect benefits. Firstly, uniform temperature distribution is guaranteed, and secondly, the formation of overheating zones will be avoided.

In order for the costs to pay off in full in 3-4 years, it is worth considering that this type of heating is beneficial to owners of cottages up to 150 m2. Taking into account the fact that conventional heating networks regularly become more expensive and fail, a decision towards a geothermal system will allow you to forget about heat supply for at least 100 years. The chosen option will quickly justify itself. In the post-Soviet space, this option is less popular due to the large investment. It is still difficult to convince our fellow citizens that it is better to spend money once and forget about the problem.

Installation features

If gas and electricity are constantly becoming more expensive, and with them the heating of a private home, then when choosing a geothermal system you can forget about this feature. In addition, you do not have to take into account that gas reserves will exhaust themselves over time. The use of solid fuel is an even more expensive solution. When burning wood and coal, harmful substances are released. Among all the alternatives, this option is the safest, however, unlike gas heating and solid fuel, installation of the system is more labor-intensive and expensive. Therefore, it should be entrusted to professionals with extensive experience in this field. Only they know all the nuances of installation. If the work is carried out correctly, the heating issue will be resolved for many years.

At the same time, inside the room there will be the same pipes and radiators through which heat will flow. The main elements will be hidden underground - a well and a heat exchanger. The house must have a device that will convert heat. It is for this that it is necessary to allocate as much space as possible. With its help, the owner of the premises can regulate the temperature and supply of thermal energy. As a rule, in private homes the generator is located in the basement or a separate room.

When installing there are some things to consider functionality system - it is also used in the summer. Instead of heating there is an air conditioning system. To do this, the reverse mechanism is started, the heat exchanger will begin to receive and distribute cooling energy.

The popularity of geothermal heating is due to its comfort, efficiency and safety. With the right approach, all the additions will pay off pretty quickly.

Not everyone knows that creating geothermal heating at home does not require specific knowledge or skills. But compared to alternative types of heating, geothermal is not so popular, and the reason for this is extremely simple - large financial expenses, which will pay off only in eight years. Under such conditions, few want to invest money, and in vain.

In a word, take a closer look at geothermal heating, especially since the cost of electricity and gas is constantly growing and it is unclear which energy source will be cheaper to use in a few years.

Note! This heating method was first used in America during the financial crisis of the eighties. Over time, the new product became popular in Europe. In Sweden, for example, today ¾ of all heat is synthesized through heat pumps.

Even from the name it is clear that the essence of this type of heating is to use the energy of the earth. According to the principle of operation, it vaguely resembles air conditioners or refrigerators.

The main element is a heat pump connected to two circuits.

1. Under internal contour This means the heating system that is familiar to us; it consists of radiators and piping.
2. External is a very large heat exchanger installed underground or in a reservoir. It contains a coolant (and it may be plain water or antifreeze), having accepted the ambient temperature, is supplied to the heat pump, from where the accumulated heat enters the inner circuit. This is how heating appliances in the house heat up.

The main element of the system is the heat pump - a device that takes up no more space than gas stove. The performance of the heat pump is quite high: for every kilowatt of energy used, it produces up to five kilowatts of heat.

Note! Regular air conditioner, the operating principle of which is very similar, produces exactly as much energy as it consumes, that is, one to one.

Of course, geothermal heating is the most labor-intensive and expensive today. Most of the money will have to be spent on excavation and related equipment, including a heat pump. And many people wonder whether it is possible to save money on this and build, say, a homemade heat pump. To find out, you need to understand the types and features of the equipment.

Pros and cons of the system

Here are the main advantages of this heating method:

• use of the inexhaustible energy of the earth;
• high productivity factor;
• no risk of fire;
• efficiency;
• ease of maintenance and operation;
• no need for fuel storage;
• autonomy;
• environmental friendliness and safety.

The disadvantages include: high cost installation, but, as already mentioned, these costs will certainly pay off.

Note! Geothermal heating is most beneficial in tandem with “warm floors”, as well as in houses whose area does not exceed 150 square meters.

One of essential elements is the thermal circuit. When positioned vertically, it can lie at a depth of 20 m to 150 m, depending on the geological circulation of heat. Horizontal circuits are installed at a depth of up to 2.5 m and are heated due to temperature fluctuations at solar heating or heat loss.

Thermal devices with direct heat exchange are in direct contact with the soil. The coolant leaves the device body, moves along an underground copper line, exchanging thermal energy, and returns back.

Such heat exchange is called direct because the liquid is in contact with the ground without any “intermediaries”. Of course, it does not interact with the soil directly, but only exchanges heat with it through the walls of the pipes. Today, such pumps are rarely used; they should not be confused with devices in which heat exchange takes place through intermediate circuits.

Be that as it may, the efficiency of direct heat exchange is quite high, and the financial costs of installation are lower than in most closed systems. The thermal conductivity of copper also plays an important role in this, as well as the absence of an electric water pump and an exchanger between the coolant and water, which, as is known, is the main source of heat loss.

It is also worth noting that copper pipelines are expensive, and more coolant is required than for other types of systems.

2. Closed systems

Most of these systems consist of a primary circuit filled with refrigerant and a secondary circuit filled with water and installed underground. For the manufacture of the secondary circuit they are mainly used polypropylene pipes, and fill it with water with a small amount of antifreeze.

Water leaves the heat exchanger, moves along the outer circuit, exchanging thermal energy with the soil, and returns. It is characteristic that the outer contour is below the soil freezing level, where the temperature is stable; they also immerse him in the nearest body of water.

Note! Systems submerged in water or located in moist soil are much more productive than dry circuits. Therefore, in dry soil next to the circuit, it is advisable to install a drainage hose that would moisten it.

Closed systems are less efficient than the previous option because they require labor-intensive drilling and a long pipe system. Also note that closed circuits are installed in two ways - vertically and horizontally.

The vertical circuit consists of two pipes going underground at right angles to a depth of 20-120 m. Their lower parts are connected to each other by a U-shaped connector. Shafts dug for pipes are usually filled with a special solution that improves heat transfer and protects underground aquifers from pollution.

If the system is placed horizontally, the pipes are buried below the freezing level of the soil. Naturally, they run horizontally. For obvious reasons, this method is cheaper than vertical placement (read: drilling), so it is used wherever there is enough space on the site.

An alternative to the two previous options may be to lay the contour through horizontal drilling. This makes it possible to install pipes under a garden, yard, road and other objects without destroying them.

In terms of cost, such a system is somewhere between horizontal and vertical installation. Her distinctive feature is that the loops can be connected to only one chamber, and this reduces the area required for installation.

Note! Contours using horizontal drilling are installed after the building is built.

Closed circuits that are immersed in reservoirs are a pipeline laid in loops. They can be placed in any lake or pond that is located in close proximity to the house.

5. Open systems

In such systems, the outer contour is filled natural water. It then moves to a heat exchanger located in the body of the device, where the heat is extracted and transferred to the primary circuit. After this, the water returns back. The supply and return lines must be placed far from each other to efficiently feed the heat source.

Note! All elements of the system must be well protected from corrosion, because... chemical composition circulating water cannot be controlled. This is why it is advisable to use closed circuits if the level of minerals and salts in the water is high.

Although the effectiveness open systems an order of magnitude higher than closed ones, problems may arise during installation, mainly of a legal nature. Installation permits may be required because these systems contaminate wells and deplete aquifers.

6. Columns of liquid

Circuits with liquid columns are one of the types of closed-type systems. IN in this case water comes from the bottom deep well, passes through the pump and falls back, exchanging heat with the surrounding soil.

Often liquid columns are used where free space is limited. It is not advisable to use this system on clay or sandy soil.

We also note that the structure can consist of several pillars at once and is used mainly in small buildings.

Video - Geothermal heating

Stage one. Before you start making a pump, it is necessary to take a number of measures to improve the energy efficiency of your home. These measures include insulating floors and walls, replacing leaking doors and windows, and thermal insulation of the roof and ceiling.

Stage two. Then you need to conduct geological exploration to find out the depth of soil freezing. After this, you should draw up a project based on the selected technology.

Stage three. Purchasing everything you need - heating system parts, pipes and a compressor for the pump.

The compressor - the heart of any geothermal pump - should be discussed separately. It is impossible to make it yourself and the only option left is to buy a finished product.

It is better to buy a device with a power of more than 7 kW, used in high-performance air conditioners (such compressors are sold in service centers, specializing in servicing household appliances).

Stage four. Then you can begin assembling the internal heat exchanger. Let us remind you that it is necessary to transfer the accumulated thermal energy to the heating network. The materials for a given element, as well as its volume, completely depend on specific climatic conditions. For coolant circulation, they are usually used copper tubes, while the container is made of non-corrosion material. Ideally, this capacity should be a 150-liter stainless steel tank.

Stage five. The pre-prepared copper coil must be placed in the tank. It will not be possible to do this without damaging the latter - it must be cut into two parts, and after fixing the coil, welded to its original state.

Stage six. Then you should drill shafts or trenches and install a pipeline there. Upon completion of work it is necessary to carry out trial run systems.

Note! Due to the high degree of complexity of the work, it is better to entrust the design and installation of such heating to experienced specialists. The same can be said about the manufacture of a heat pump.

To learn more about heat pumps, you can watch the video below.

Video – Geothermal pumps

Currently, there are many ways to organize alternative heating. Most of them are characterized by low efficiency and are used only as an auxiliary system. However, there is truly effective method heat supply from alternative earth heat sources. How to make geothermal heating at home with your own hands: operating principles, pumps, reviews will help solve this issue.

How Geothermal Heating Works

Depending on the composition of the soil, there is a natural temperature increase of +3°C for every 100 m. It is on this phenomenon that geothermal heating in Europe is based, which has been used for decades. But how to use this effect in practice?

The principle of operation of geothermal heating at home is the transfer of thermal energy using several types of coolant. This requires several circuits, each of which performs its own function:

• Outer. The pipelines are located in an environment where the temperature ranges from +7°C to +10°C. This energy is transferred to the coolant entering the next circuit.
• Heat exchange. The main element is a heat pump. A refrigerant circulates in it, in which, as the pressure increases, the temperature rises. Heated by the coolant of the external circuit, it enters the compressor. As a result, the temperature increases from +7°C to +65°C. To repeat the cycle, the liquid enters the evaporator through the throttle. This is the basic operating principle of geothermal heating.
• Inner circuit. In it, with the help of a heat exchanger, thermal energy is transferred from the refrigerant to the coolant in the main heating system of the house.

In order to properly make geothermal heating with your own hands, you must first select a primary circuit diagram and an appropriate heat pump.

Geothermal heating can be combined with traditional types of heating - with gas boiler, electric or solid fuel. This way you can reduce the running costs of the coolant.

Types of geothermal heating at home

Before you do geothermal heating country house You should carry out a number of preliminary activities with your own hands. First of all, find the optimal way to arrange the primary circuit pipes.

The main condition for this is the temperature of the environment where the lines will be located. It should not be lower than +7°C. In practice, this involves installing pipelines into the ground. In some cases, the main environment may be a pond or river. However, reviews of geothermal heating for this type of home often indicate low efficiency in winter.

For proper organization alternative heat supply, you must perform the following steps:

1. Calculate optimal power . If geothermal heating of a private house will be the main one, its rated power should ensure heating of the air in the entire building.
2. Analyze the composition of the soil and the depth of its freezing. The choice of layout of the primary circuit pipes depends on this.
3. Determine the location of the heat pump. To minimize heat losses, do-it-yourself geothermal heating systems are installed in a separate room - a basement or outbuilding. It is important that the temperature in it is not lower than +14°C.

Failure to comply with these simple rules may cause the system to malfunction. Often reviews from geothermal heating owners indicate the importance of initial analysis and selection of the right equipment.

To ensure uninterrupted operation of the system, it is necessary to install an autonomous power source - a generator.

With horizontal placement

The least labor-intensive method of installing primary circuit pipes is horizontal. They are located at a depth of 0.5 to 3 m. To reduce the area of ​​the highway, they are arranged in turns. But at the same time, the distance to each should be at least 20 cm.

Before making geothermal heating, a primary analysis of the soil condition is carried out. First, its heat transfer is determined. It can range from 20 to W/m². Based on this, the total length of the primary circuit is calculated.

In addition, you should perform the following steps:

• Checking the soil freezing level. The depth of the pipes should be below this indicator;
• Groundwater. To remove them naturally during periods of large floods, a sand layer is poured onto the bottom of the pit;
• Selection of pipeline material. It must be sufficiently flexible and mechanically reliable. For geothermal heating in Europe, cross-linked polyethylene pipes are most often used.

If the important question is how much a geothermal heating system costs, then a horizontal arrangement will help to significantly reduce the ongoing costs of installing the system. When installing several primary circuits, it is necessary to install inlet and outlet manifolds.

With vertical pipelines

Taking into account the basic principles of operation of geothermal heating of a house, during design it is necessary to achieve maximum heating of the coolant from the ground. This can only be done when installing vertical lines.

To organize vertical-type geothermal heating of a country house with your own hands, you need to make wells with a depth of 30 to 100 m. The primary circuit pipelines are placed in them.

This scheme is more labor-intensive than the vertical one, but has a number of advantages:

• Great depth of highways. In this case, the heat transfer to the environment increases by 25-30% - up to 70 W/m²;
• Small area for installation;
• There is virtually no dependence on soil freezing.

In addition to this method, the basic principles of geothermal heating are often used for hot water supply in the summer. To do this, the primary circuit is placed in water - a lake or river.

Before drilling wells, it is necessary to do a soil analysis and determine the optimal depth. The composition of the soil will directly affect the complexity of the process.

Do-it-yourself geothermal heating installation

In practice, making this type of heat supply is a difficult task. A feature of the design and installation of geothermal heating with your own hands is the presence of a heat pump - the main unit of the system.

The design of this device includes an internal refrigerant circuit, a compressor, a throttle and an evaporator. An electronic unit is required to control the operation. What should you pay attention to when choosing a geothermal heat pump for heating?

• Device type. In heat supply, ground-water models are used. In addition to them, there are “water-water” and “air-water”;
• Nominal thermal power . It directly depends on the design parameters. It is worth considering that almost all models have a value of this characteristic up to 18 kW;
• Power consumption. This is the amount electrical energy necessary for the operation of the compressor, pump and electronic unit management. Directly depends on the rated power of the device;
• Heating system parameters – temperature regime and optimal pressure indicator. For all do-it-yourself geothermal heating systems, the latter figure usually does not exceed 3 bar;
• Price. Currently, installing geothermal heating in a private home is the most expensive. And most of the costs are the purchase of a heat pump. Therefore it is necessary Special attention devote the right choice this system component.

In addition to a geothermal heat pump for heating, you should select the right pipes for the external circuit. They must answer certain requirements. In particular, to have a minimum heat transfer resistance. Ideally, steel lines would be used for this. However, their operation in this environment poses multiple challenges. Therefore, geothermal heating is often made from polymer flexible pipelines.

After analyzing reviews about geothermal heating at home, the following can be highlighted: positive traits polymer pipes for this type of heat supply:

• Sufficient flexibility. This is important when arranging horizontal geothermal heating for a country house on your own.
• Easy to install and connect individual circuits. For this purpose mechanical couplings are used.
• Possibility of prompt replacement of the damaged area in case of an emergency.

Also, don't forget about the cost. Considering that the operating principle of geothermal heating is based on a heat pump, costs should be reduced in order to purchase optimal model this device.

For full operation of the system, it is recommended to use special composition coolant that has a freezing point below 0°C.

Geothermal heating cost calculation

For the consumer, one of the determining factors of heat supply is its price and maintenance costs. Considering great experience European application of geothermal heating, you should first calculate the optimal budget.

For self-creation For geothermal heating, it is not recommended to make a heat pump yourself. This is due to the complexity of the design and mandatory technical calculations of its parameters. The best option is to purchase a ready-made geothermal heat pump.

There are many models on the market European manufacturers. There is a rating of them that will help you decide on the best option:

• HELIOTHERM;
• NEURA;
• OCHSNER;

All models of these companies differ not only good quality, but also at a high price. Therefore, before planning geothermal heating for a private home, it is recommended to analyze the offers on the market.

In addition to these costs, you should take into account the cost of other components - pipes, connecting elements and wiring of the internal heating of the house. Significant savings can be achieved by self-installation geothermal heating system. However, when choosing a vertical installation scheme for the primary circuit, you cannot do without the use of special equipment. On average, the cost of turnkey geothermal heating currently ranges from 700 thousand to 1.2 million rubles. It all depends on the planned capacity and budget.

Before purchasing a pump, be sure to read reviews from geothermal heating owners. This will help you find out the actual performance equipment.

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