Global Energy Groups data on Geothermal Energy uses

Global Energy Group is researching how to apply geothermal energy system to a wide variety of heating and cooling venues. We are committed to providing up dated data in the area of energy. We believe it is here now and shall be a very large player in the next decade.

Applied applications information:

At the bottom of this information we explain how you can apply Geothermal to daily uses now in 2009. Again our company is showing the consumer how to use the very little talked about technologies we are researching and using in our everyday lives.

Explanation of Geothermal:

Heat from the earth can be used as an energy source in many ways, from large and complex power stations to small and relatively simple pumping systems. This heat energy, known as geothermal energy, can be found almost anywhere—as far away as remote deep wells in Indonesia and as close as the dirt in our backyards. Tapping geothermal energy is an affordable and sustainable solution to reducing our dependence on fossil fuels, and the global warming and public health risks that result from their use.

Geothermal systems use the earth as a heat source and heat sink. A series of pipes, commonly called a "loop," carry a fluid used to connect the geothermal system's heat pump to the earth.

Closed and Open Loops
There are two basic types of loops: closed and open.
Open loop systems are the simplest. Used successfully for decades, ground water is drawn from an aquifer through one well, passes through the heat pump's heat exchanger, and is discharged to the same aquifer through a second well at a distance from the first. Generally, two to three gallons per minute per ton of capacity are necessary for effective heat exchange. Since the temperature of ground water is nearly constant throughout the year, open loops are a popular option in areas where they are permitted. Open loop systems do have some associated challenges:

1. Some local ground water chemical conditions can lead to fouling the heat pump's heat exchanger. Such situations may require precautions to keep carbon dioxide and other gases in solution in the water. Other options include the use of cupronickel heat exchangers and heat exchangers that can be cleaned without introducing chemicals into the groundwater.

2. Increasing environmental concerns mean that local officials must be consulted to assure compliance with regulations concerning water use and acceptable water discharge methods. For example, discharge to a sanitary sewer system is rarely acceptable.

Closed loop systems are becoming the most common. When properly installed, they are economical, efficient, and reliable. Water (or a water and antifreeze solution) is circulated through a continuous buried pipe. The length of loop piping varies depending on ground temperature, thermal conductivity of the ground, soil moisture, and system design. (Some heat pumps work well with larger inlet temperature variations, which allow marginally smaller loops).

Geothermal Applications for using right now in 2009

In most locations in temperate climates, the temperature of the ground is about 55 F (13 C). This temperature is warmer than the winter air temperature and cooler than the summer air temperature. This makes it an ideal source of heat in the winter and a source of cold in the summer. By using geothermal sources and heat pump technology, the cost of heating and air conditioning buildings can be lowered year-round.

Standard methods for geothermal heating and cooling systems require the installation of a "ground loop" of pipes be installed to interact with the thermal properties of the earth. This initial expense can make geothermal systems expensive to install. One of the most innovative geothermal systems available today has found a way around this added expense

One developed company we are studying and using is the energy miser system. Here is the explanation for heating/cooling and domestic hot water supply.

Geothermal technology has many names, all of which are correct, only the process may have slight variants according to application. The Heat Pump Systems are sometimes referred to as; Ground Source, Water Source, Earth Coupled, Water to Water, and Water to Air. There are also Hybrid Systems that combine several of the technologies. The Energy Miser System is an Earth Coupled, self-contained packed unit that is water-cooled and has a double- wall plate and frame heat exchanger. The patent technology of the system utilizes the thermal properties of managed water supplies, i.e. Municipal Water Supply, Re-Use Water, Gray Water Systems, to heat/cool and provides domestic hot water for buildings.

In the Heating Mode
Winter Operation: The Energy Miser System utilizes the thermal properties of the water supply. The thermal source is transferred to the double-wall plate and frame heat exchanger, and is then carried to the coaxial heat exchanger that is located in the heat pump. The heat is then amplified and delivered throughout the building via the air distribution system.

In the Cooling Mode
Summer Operation: In warm weather the process is reversed. Heat inside the building is extracted by the heat pump. The heat is then transferred to the evaporative coil containing the cool refrigerant and is then delivered throughout the building as cool air. The excess heat is carried from the coaxial heat exchanger in the heat pump to the double-wall plate and frame heat exchanger where the heat is returned back to the water supply and is lost through dilution and consumption. The geothermal effect of the water supply buried in the ground also plays a key role. The actual water itself is never used, just the thermal properties of the water.

Domestic Hot Water
An added benefit of using a geothermal heat pump is the ability to produce domestic hot water as a by-product. This is accomplished by connecting a second heat exchanger to a section of the hot refrigerant loop, then circulating water from the heat exchanger to the hot water unit and back to the heat exchanger (the hot water tank is then used as a reservoir). A heating element in the hot water tank is used to make up for the times of the year when air conditioning or heating is not required.