Heat from the earth with your own hands. How to make heating from the ground in a private house. Appearance and distribution

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

Although geothermal heating due to 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 the house from the earth

The earth does not freeze completely even in winter. This feature is used by installation teams laying pipelines below the freezing point. Surprisingly, the temperature of these layers rarely drops below +5 +7°C degrees.

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

Receiving heat - you need to accumulate thermal energy and send it to the storage tank.
Heat carrier heating. The heated antifreeze must transfer the thermal energy of the liquid that circulates in the heating and hot water system.
The cooled antifreeze must be taken back to the heat exchanger for further heating.

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

How geothermal home heating works, how it works

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

Even in the last century, the fact was noted that when evaporated, certain types of liquids are able to cool the surface. This is exactly what happens when alcohol is rubbed on the skin before an injection, or when an asphalt area heated under the sun is poured over. This principle was taken as the basis for the development of refrigeration equipment.

Then the idea arose why not start the cooling process in the opposite direction and 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 such a disadvantage, although they use a principle that is in many ways reminiscent of the operation of an air conditioner to heat a room.

How geothermal heating works

As already noted, a geothermal heating system from the bowels of the earth, in many ways, resembles 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.
Heated antifreeze is pumped up.
Heat exchange takes place in the buffer tank. Heated antifreeze gives off thermal energy to the coolant or heats the water.
The cooled antifreeze flows back to the collectors.

There are units that are able to independently heat large rooms, others are used exclusively as auxiliary equipment capable of providing from 50-75% of the heat demand of the room.

Geothermal equipment to use the heat of the earth

The principle of operation of the deep heating system of the house, due to the energy of the earth, is based on the use of special equipment. It performs the following functions: it accumulates the heat of the environment, transfers it to the heat carrier of the heating system. For this, the following nodes are used:

Evaporator - located deep underground. The function of the evaporator is to absorb the thermal energy in the surrounding soil.
Condenser - brings antifreeze to the required temperature.
Heat pump - antifreeze circulates in the system. Controls 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, it contains water from the heating system and an internal coil through which heated antifreeze moves.

Although natural low-temperature geothermal heating of the house with the heat of the earth provides enough thermal energy, the most practical heating option for 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 a heat exchanger circuit in soil-ground. Although you can find a large number of tips on the Internet on how to do these works yourself, practice shows that most of the 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 due to the heat of the earth are installed in the following several stages:

Departure of an engineer at 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 a geothermal system. The source of the intended heat can also affect the efficiency of the installation. More productive is the installation of heat exchangers at the bottom of the reservoir or at the source of thermal sources.
Conclusion of the contract and purchase of the necessary equipment. Prices can vary significantly depending on the complexity of the installation work and other nuances. But on average, if a high-quality German manufacturer is selected, the installation cost will approximately equal its price. Turnkey purchase of a Vaillant installation for a 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 work at the installation stage. After the water heat exchangers are installed in the ground, they are connected to the geothermal installation and the heating system of the house.
Commissioning works. The engineer starts the system and makes fine adjustments to the device. After setting up, the Act of delivery of work is signed.

According to the current legislation, the company installing the equipment may provide additional warranty obligations subject to payment for these services. Such guarantees will cost an additional $1,000.

Is geothermal heating effective in the North

To create the 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 system through which antifreeze flows, conditions have been created to avoid freezing.
Geothermal heating of a country house was completed after all necessary calculations and design documentation.

Given all the requirements described, it becomes clear that such installations can be effective, subject to the above conditions. Nevertheless, for the northern regions it is more expedient to use such installations for heating small areas up to 150-200 square meters. 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 inhabitants of Kamchatka are in a better position. On the Kamchatka peninsula there is a huge number of thermal springs - geysers that do not cool down even in the winter season.

Before installation of equipment, geological exploration is mandatory. 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. Geothermal energy in this case will pay off much faster.

How to heat your house with 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 the inhabitants of Western countries. They are accustomed to making long-term investments that pay off in full only after a few years. And there are few people who are able to pay for the installation of equipment about $ 20 thousand at a time. But the number of people who want to become independent from other sources of heating 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. The installation of the pump allows, depending on the location, either to fully compensate for the need for thermal energy, or to satisfy them partially, significantly reducing the load on the main source of heating and the hot water supply system of a private house.

There are many different options for home heating. People's attention is naturally focused on finding ways that consume the least amount of energy. Fierce disputes are caused by such a progressive method of obtaining heat as the use of underground sources.

How is it arranged?

The principle of operation of geothermal heating involves the use of heat pumps. They operate according to the classical Carnot cycle, taking a cold coolant deep below and receiving in return a fluid flow heated to 50 degrees inside the heating system. The equipment operates with an efficiency of 350 to 450% (this does not contradict the fundamental physical laws, why - will be discussed later). A standard heat pump heats a house or other building using the heat of the earth for 100,000 hours (this is the average interval between preventive overhauls).

Heating up to 50 degrees was not chosen by chance. It was this indicator that, according to the results of special calculations and in the study of practically implemented systems, was recognized as the most effective. Therefore, ground heating, using the flow of energy from the bowels, is mainly supplemented not by radiators, but by a warm floor or an air circuit. On average, for 1000 watts of energy that drives the pump, it is possible to raise about 3500 watts of thermal energy. Against the background of the unbridled growth in the cost of the coolant in the main network and other heating methods, this is a very pleasant indicator.

Geothermal heating is formed by three circuits:

ground collector;
heat pump;
actually, the heating complex of the house.

A collector is a collection of pipes that have been supplemented with a recirculation pump. The coolant in the external circuit has a temperature of 3 to 7 degrees. And even such a seemingly insignificant spread allows the system to effectively solve the tasks. For heat transfer, either pure ethylene glycol or its mixture with water is used. Completely water circuits of underground heating are rare.

The reason is simple - the water that is found in a sufficiently heated soil layer quickly corrodes the equipment. And even such a liquid can be found far from any arbitrarily taken place. The choice of a specific coolant is determined by the design decisions of engineers. The pump is selected depending on the device of the remaining parts of the system. Since the depth of the well (the level of the equipment) is determined by natural conditions, the decisive differences between the types of geothermal systems are associated with the design of the collector in the ground.

The horizontal structure implies the location of the collector under the line of freezing of the soil. Depending on the specific area, this means a deepening of 150-200 cm. Such collectors can be equipped with various pipes, both copper (with an outer layer of PVC) and made of metal-plastic. To get from 7 to 9 kW of heat, you will have to lay at least 300 square meters. m collector. This technique does not allow you to approach the trees by more than 150 cm, and after the installation is completed, the territory will have to be landscaped.

A vertically exposed collector implies the drilling of several wells, moreover, they are necessarily directed in different directions, and each is led at its own angle. Geothermal probes are located inside the wells, heat output from 1 linear meter. m reaches about 50 watts. It is easy to calculate that for an identical amount of heat (7-9 kW), 150-200 m of wells will have to be installed. The advantage in this case is not only in economy, but also in the fact that the landscape structure of the territory does not change. It will only be necessary to allocate a small area for mounting the caisson block and for setting up the concentrating collector.

A circuit heated from water is practical if it is possible to bring an external heat exchange unit into a lake or pond to a depth of 200 to 300 cm. But a prerequisite is the location of the reservoir within a radius of 0.1 km from the heated building and the area of the water mirror at least 200 square meters. m. There are also air heat exchangers, when heat is received by the external circuit from the atmosphere. Such a solution works well in the southern regions of the country and does not require any excavation. The weaknesses of the system are low efficiency at a frost of 15 degrees and a complete stop if the temperature drops to 20 degrees.

Peculiarities

Geothermal heating of a house, primarily a suburban one, does not consume expensive and polluting mineral fuels. Already 7 out of 10 new houses built in Sweden are heated in this way. On hot days, geothermal equipment transforms from a heater into a means of passive air conditioning. Contrary to popular belief, neither volcanoes nor geysers are needed to operate such a heating system. In the most ordinary flat terrain, it works just as well.

The only condition is that the thermal circuit reaches a point below the freezing line where the soil temperature is always between 3 and 15 degrees. Super high efficiency only seems contrary to the laws of nature; the heat pump is saturated with freon, which evaporates under the influence of even “ice-cold” water that seems to people. Steam warms the third circuit. Such a scheme is a refrigerator turned inside out. Therefore, the efficiency of the pump refers only to the quantitative ratio of electrical energy and thermal resources. By itself, the operation of the drive is carried out "as expected", with inevitable energy losses.

Advantages and disadvantages

The objective advantages of geothermal heating are:

excellent efficiency;
a solid period of service (a heat pump operates for 2-3 decades, and geological probes even up to 100 years);
stability of work practically under any conditions;
no connection to energy carriers;
complete autonomy.

There is one major problem preventing geothermal heating from becoming a truly mainstream solution. This, as the reviews of the owners show, is the high price of the structure being created. To heat an ordinary house of 200 sq. m (not so rare), it will be necessary to build a turnkey system for 1 million rubles, up to 1/3 of this amount is a heat pump. Automated installations are very comfortable, and if everything is set up correctly, they can work for years without human intervention. Everything depends only on the availability of free funds. Another disadvantage is the dependence on the power supply of the pumping unit.

The risk of ignition of a geothermal heating system is zero. You should not be afraid of taking up too much space; in the house itself, the necessary parts will require approximately the same area as an ordinary washing machine. Moreover, space is freed up, which usually has to be taken away for fuel supplies. It is unlikely that it will be possible to build the necessary contours with your own hands. It is also better to entrust designing to professionals, since the slightest mistake can lead to unpleasant consequences.

Arrangement

A lot of people are trying to create geothermal heating with their own hands. But for such a system to work, careful calculations must be made, and a piping layout is also required. It is impossible to bring the well closer to the house by more than 2-3 m. The maximum permissible drilling depth reaches 200 m, however, wells reaching 50 m demonstrate good efficiency.

Calculations

The main parameters that are taken into account in any calculations are:

temperature (depth from 15-20 m and more warms up from 8 to 100 degrees, depending on the conditions);
the value of the extracted power (the average is 0.05 kW per 1 m);
the influence of climate, humidity and contact with groundwater on heat transfer.

What is very interesting, completely dry rocks give no more than 25 W from 1 m, and if there is groundwater, this figure rises to 100-110 watts. We must not forget that the standard operating time of a heat pump is 1800 hours per year. If this indicator is exceeded, the system will not become more efficient, but its wear will increase rapidly. What is much worse, the excessive exploitation of the thermal resource of the bowels leads to their cooling and even to the freezing of rocks at the working depth. Following this, the soil may subside, sometimes working pipes and above-ground structures are damaged.

It is necessary to carefully calculate the actions for the regeneration of soil properties. Only by periodically supplying heat to the well instead of extracting it outside, it is possible to guarantee stable operation of the system for many years to come. How often to do this and what else to do - just the calculations made by experienced designers will prompt. The payback time for geothermal heating, even with the highest efficiency, is at least 10 years. So, in addition to engineering issues, you should carefully calculate the economics of the project.

Sequence of work

Heat supply from underground sources should be created according to a strictly developed algorithm. Since the use of water and air systems is limited, most of the practical options involve drilling wells. And this is another reason why you can’t do everything yourself. Only special equipment allows you to penetrate to a depth of 20-100 m, where the necessary conditions for heating are created. As probes, the use of plastic pipes designed for a pressure of about 6 bar is allowed.

To increase the effectiveness of the system, use strapping of 3 or 4 lines, the end sections of which are connected in the form of the letter U. Heating along the contour is very important, thanks to which cracking of pipes is excluded during severe frost. This heating is carried out through a wire stretched to the center of the channel, through which current is supplied. If it is not possible to use energy piles, horizontal receivers have to be used. A site with dimensions of 15x15 m is being prepared for them, soil is removed from it to a depth of 0.5 m.

All this area is needed for laying the semblance of probes. Electrical mats or pipes that exchange heat are often used. To increase the efficiency of the heating system, apply the layout of pipes in a spiral or in the form of a "snake". It is impossible to say for sure which is better - ready-made complexes, mass-produced, or self-assembly. In the first case, the problem of compatibility is automatically solved, but in the second, flexibility increases, the potential for modernization increases (however, more attention should be paid to design).

Amateur builders can get away from a typical heat accumulator by replacing it with a concrete screed. Geothermal heating in such a system allows you to do without significant temperature fluctuations. You can experiment with various coolants, as well as mount compressors with varying performance. By properly calculating the loads and correctly distributing heat along the consuming circuits, you can make the system 15-20% more efficient. At the same time, energy costs are significantly reduced.

Horizontally placed pipes are laid to a depth of 50-300 cm. In order to minimize the area of \u200b\u200bthe mains, they are made in the form of turns. But between the individual two highways there must be at least 200 mm. Any construction work must be preceded by the determination of the thermal return of the soil. If it is less than 20 W per 1 sq. m, there is no point in the geothermal circuit. To ensure the drainage of groundwater, the bottom of the pits is covered with a layer of sand. Pipes based on cross-linked polyethylene perform well.

The progressive method of geothermal home heating uses the principle of operation, which consists in using the heat of the earth to heat the room. Since traditional fuel is an exhaustible natural resource, it is worth worrying about switching to the latest inexhaustible energy sources in advance.

The Scandinavian countries are the leaders in the production and operation of geothermal heating systems for houses. They popularize this plant option and offer it to regions with a wide potential for its use.

Equipment Application

It is wrong to assume that heating from the ground can only be used where hot water sources are present, there are warm geysers and other natural underground heating sources. The latest technologies allow you to successfully operate geothermal heating at home and in temperate latitudes.

Today, in our country, this type of heating still belongs to alternative methods of heat production. However, in most cases it is almost ideal for country or country houses. Do-it-yourself installed geothermal heating at home can work in two modes:

heating in winter;
cooling during hot weather.

Thus, the most favorable atmosphere in the room is formed.

VIDEO: How geothermal heating works

System operation

The house needs to install a heat pump. It will take energy from the ground or groundwater, giving it to the coolant circulating in the house through pipes. This principle of operation was identified back in the 19th century by the French physicist Sadi Carnot.

The constituent elements of the base node are:

compressor;
evaporator;
capacitor;
throttle valve.

The compressor is engaged in "compressing" heat and moving it to consumers. The device itself needs an external power supply.

The operation of the heat pump is carried out according to the following algorithm:

The collector-heat intake must contain a liquid inside that has a low freezing point. Often, in the manufacture of geothermal heating with their own hands, water with a high salt content, alcohol diluted with water, and glycol mixtures are poured inside.
In the evaporator module, heat is transferred to the refrigerant, which has a low boiling point, at this time it boils and goes into a vapor state.
The compressor installed in the circuit contributes to an increase in vapor pressure, which results in an increase in the temperature of the substance to 78-80 0 C.
Getting into the condenser, the refrigerant substance passes into the liquid phase, at the same time energy is released for the heating circuit.
The return of the formed liquid to the compressor is carried out through the throttle valve.

Since a heat pump for heating a house works on the principle of a refrigerator, it is often called a “refrigerator in reverse”. In many cases, energy from the earth is used to install underfloor heating.

Correct calculations and well-executed installation of the heat exchanger are able to provide a five-fold increase in output power from one kilowatt consumed by the pump.

VIDEO: How a ground source heat pump works

Heat exchanger installation

The current installation types are:

vertical, when you need to drill several wells;
horizontal, where trenches are dug below the freezing depth;
underwater, when laying is carried out along the bottom of the nearest reservoir.

Drilling of the wells

For the efficient use of the thermal energy of the earth, if the area near the building is small, it is necessary to drill deep wells. In the depths of the earth, a stable positive temperature is maintained for several meters. The use of such geothermal wells provides heat to the heat exchanger loop. Further, this heat is transferred to the second internal circuit located in the room.

Often, drilling several wells costs even less than laying along the bottom of a reservoir. This makes the process accessible to more people.

The process is carried out with a small-sized drilling rig and a small amount of auxiliary equipment. It practically does not affect the surrounding area. The arrangement of a well is allowed even in water, but it should not be closer than 2-3 m from a residential building.

The maximum usable depth is up to 200 m, but often efficiency appears from a level of 50 m. The next step is the construction of the well. A plastic tube with a diameter of 40 mm or more is placed inside the cavity. From one to four collector loops are passed into it.

The cavity between the soil and the outer wall of the tube must be filled with a heat-conducting material. A heating main is being wired with a connection to a heat pump.

This cost option is the most rational, since it does not require the preparation of trenches, a foundation pit and other earthworks. But this is not available for everyone - the minimum volume of a reservoir sufficient to heat a house is 100 sq.m. must be at least 200 cubic meters and located no further than 100 meters from the housing construction.

In reservoirs, pipes are laid along the bottom to prevent them from freezing during the peak of frost.

Carrying out calculations

To perform a system calculation, it is necessary to take into account the basic parameters:

at a depth exceeding 15-20 m in central Russia, the temperature is maintained at +8-+10 0 С;
for vertical structures, it is customary to take in the calculations the resulting power value of 50 W per 1 m of height, and more accurate values \u200b\u200bdepend on the degree of rock moisture, the presence of groundwater, etc .;
dry rock gives 20-25 W / m;
moistened clay or sandstone 45-55 W/m;
hard granite rocks will provide up to 85 W / m;
the presence of ground water gives up to 110 W / m.

Using a heat pump

The durability of the system depends on the characteristics and conditions in which the heat pump operates. In geothermal installations, it is capable of operating for approximately 1800 hours per year. This is an average value for latitudes without thermal underground sources.

The principle of operation of the thermal heating system is identical and has nothing to do with the country of origin or brand. Geothermal pumps may vary in design, size, appearance, but the heat production coefficient will always be the same for pumps from different companies and different countries. This is due precisely to the peculiarity of processing natural energy into thermal energy.

Too much pump output should not be allowed, since this process can lead to a significant decrease in the temperature of the soil around the well, and sometimes it comes to freezing.

The consequences of such miscalculations ultimately lead to disastrous consequences - the soil sags unevenly, in some places it goes very deep, as a result of which the protective plastic pipes are damaged. If the house is located nearby, then deformation of the foundation or walls may occur due to geological changes.

Periodically, it is necessary to take measures to "regenerate" the soil, for which additional thermal energy is supplied to the heat exchanger. This can be solar energy or probe heating when the heat pump is used in space cooling mode.

In conclusion, it should be noted that the geothermal installation is not yet available to everyone. In some cases, the payback period can last more than 10 years, but in the end, it is these methods of heating a house that will soon become not only alternative, but the only possible ones.

VIDEO: Geothermal heat pumps

Equipment Application

heating in winter;
cooling during hot weather.

Thus, the most favorable atmosphere in the room is formed.

VIDEO: How geothermal heating works

System operation

The constituent elements of the base node are:

The compressor is engaged in "compressing" heat and moving it to consumers. The device itself needs an external power supply.

The operation of the heat pump is carried out according to the following algorithm:

The collector-heat intake must contain a liquid inside that has a low freezing point. Often, in the manufacture of geothermal heating with their own hands, water with a high salt content, alcohol diluted with water, and glycol mixtures are poured inside.
In the evaporator module, heat is transferred to the refrigerant, which has a low boiling point, at this time it boils and goes into a vapor state.
The compressor installed in the circuit contributes to an increase in vapor pressure, which results in an increase in the temperature of the substance to 78-80 0 C.
Getting into the condenser, the refrigerant substance passes into the liquid phase, at the same time energy is released for the heating circuit.
The return of the formed liquid to the compressor is carried out through the throttle valve.

Correct calculations and well-executed installation of the heat exchanger are able to provide a five-fold increase in output power from one kilowatt consumed by the pump.

VIDEO: How a ground source heat pump works

Heat exchanger installation

The current installation types are:

vertical, when you need to drill several wells;
horizontal, where trenches are dug below the freezing depth;
underwater, when laying is carried out along the bottom of the nearest reservoir.

Drilling of the wells

Often, drilling several wells costs even less than laying along the bottom of a reservoir. This makes the process accessible to more people.

The cavity between the soil and the outer wall of the tube must be filled with a heat-conducting material. A heating main is being wired with a connection to a heat pump.

water energy

In reservoirs, pipes are laid along the bottom to prevent them from freezing during the peak of frost.

Carrying out calculations

To perform a system calculation, it is necessary to take into account the basic parameters:

at a depth exceeding 15-20 m in central Russia, the temperature is maintained at +8-+10 0 С;
for vertical structures, it is customary to take in the calculations the resulting power value of 50 W per 1 m of height, and more accurate values \u200b\u200bdepend on the degree of rock moisture, the presence of groundwater, etc .;
dry rock gives 20-25 W / m;
moistened clay or sandstone 45-55 W/m;
hard granite rocks will provide up to 85 W / m;
the presence of ground water gives up to 110 W / m.

Using a heat pump

How a heat pump works

Too much pump output should not be allowed, since this process can lead to a significant decrease in the temperature of the soil around the well, and sometimes it comes to freezing.

Do-it-yourself geothermal heating at home: diagram, drawing, cost, photo and video instruction

How to make geothermal heating with your own hands. The principle of operation of a heat pump. How the energy of earth and water can heat a house without firewood and gas.

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 costs that will pay off only after eight years. Under such conditions, few people want to invest money, and completely in vain.

DIY geothermal heat pump

In a word, take a closer look at geothermal heating, especially since the cost of electricity and gas is constantly growing and it is not clear which of the energy carriers will be cheaper to use in a few years.

Note! For the first time this method of heating was used in America during the financial crisis of the eighties. Over time, the novelty has become popular in Europe. In Sweden, for example, today ¾ of all heat is synthesized by means of heat pumps.

Construction of geothermal systems

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 remotely resembles air conditioners or refrigerators.

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

The internal circuit means the heating system familiar to us, it consists of radiators and pipelines.
External - this is a very dimensional heat exchanger installed underground or in a reservoir. In it, the coolant (and it can be plain water or antifreeze), having taken the ambient temperature, is fed into the heat pump, from where the accumulated heat enters the internal circuit. This is how the heaters in the house heat up.

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

Heat pump operation diagram

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

Of course, geothermal heating is by far the most time-consuming and costly. Most of the money will have to be spent on earthworks and related equipment, including a heat pump. And many are wondering if it is possible to save on this and build, say, a home-made 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;
profitability;
ease of maintenance and operation;
no need to store fuel;
autonomy;
environmental friendliness and safety.

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

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

Methods for constructing geothermal systems

One of the most important elements is the thermal circuit. When vertically located, 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 by temperature fluctuations during solar heating or heat loss.

1. Direct heat exchange

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

Such heat transfer is called direct because the liquid contacts the ground without any "intermediaries". Of course, it does not interact directly with the soil, 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.

However, the efficiency of direct heat exchange is quite high, and the financial costs of installation are lower than in most closed systems. Not the last role in this is played by the thermal conductivity of copper, as well as the absence of an electric water pump and an exchanger between the coolant and water, which, as you know, is the main source of heat loss.

It is also worth noting that the copper pipeline is expensive, and the coolant itself is required more 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, mainly polypropylene pipes are used, and it is filled with water with a small amount of antifreeze.

Water leaves the heat exchanger, moves along the outer contour, exchanging thermal energy with the soil, and returns. It is characteristic that the outer contour is below the level of soil freezing, where the temperature is stable; still it is immersed 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 ground next to the circuit, it is desirable to install a drainage hose that would moisten it.

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

The vertical circuit consists of two pipes going underground at a right angle 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.

In the case of a horizontal placement of the system, 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.

3. Contours of horizontal drilling

Contours of horizontal drilling

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

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

Note! The contours using horizontal drilling are installed after the construction of the building.

4. Water circuits

Closed circuits that are immersed in water bodies are a pipeline laid in loops. They can be placed in any lake or pond, which are located in the immediate vicinity of the house.

5. Open systems

In such systems, the outer circuit is filled with natural water. Then it moves to a heat exchanger located in the device housing, where the heat is extracted and transferred to the primary circuit. After that, the water is returned back. Supply and "return" must be placed away from each other to effectively feed the heat source.

Note! All elements of the system must be well protected against corrosion, since the chemical composition of the circulating water cannot be controlled. That is why it is desirable to use closed circuits if the level of minerals and salts in the water is increased.

Despite the fact that the efficiency of open systems is an order of magnitude higher than closed ones, problems can arise during installation, mainly of a legal nature. Installation permits may be required as these systems contaminate wells and deplete aquifers.

6. Columns of liquid

Circuits with liquid columns are one of the varieties of closed-type systems. In this case, water comes from the bottom of a deep well, passes through the pump and sinks back, exchanging heat with the surrounding soil.

Often, liquid columns are used where free space is limited. It is undesirable 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.

Stage one. Before proceeding with the manufacture of the pump, it is necessary to carry out a number of measures to improve the energy efficiency of the house. These measures include insulating floors and walls, replacing leaky doors and windows, 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 that, you should draw up a project based on the selected technology.

Stage three. Buying everything you need - parts of the heating system, 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 with your own hands and the only option left is to buy a finished product.

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

DIY geothermal heat pump

Stage four. Then you can start assembling the internal heat exchanger. Recall that it is necessary to transfer the accumulated thermal energy to the heating network. The materials for this element, as well as its volume, are completely dependent on specific climatic conditions. Copper tubes are usually used to circulate the coolant, while the container is made of a non-corrosive 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 work without damaging the latter - it must be cut into two parts, and after fixing the coil, weld it to its original state.

Stage six. Then you should drill mines or trenches, install a pipeline there. At the end of the work, it is necessary to conduct a test run of the system.

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 professionals. The same can be said about the manufacture of a heat pump.

DIY geothermal heat pump

Learn how to build your own ground source heat pump! Geothermal heating system, types of heat pumps, manufacturing steps, photo + video.

Do-it-yourself geothermal heating at home: a comparative overview of device methods

Many private home owners still believe that geothermal heating is almost a science fiction term, and it is only relevant for those regions where hot springs are bubbling 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 at low temperatures, so even in a temperate climate it can be used quite efficiently. 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 principle of operation of geothermal heating is similar to the principle of operation of an air conditioner or a refrigerator. The main element is a heat pump included in two circuits.

The principle of operation of a geothermal (heat) pump

The internal circuit is a traditional heating system consisting of pipes and radiators. External - an impressive size heat exchanger located underground or in the water column. Inside it, both a special liquid with antifreeze and ordinary water can circulate. The heat carrier assumes the temperature of the medium and “warmed up” enters the heat pump, the accumulated heat is transferred to the internal circuit. Thus, water is heated in pipes and radiators.

Geothermal (heat) pump is a key element of the system. This is a compact unit, it takes up no more space than a washing machine familiar to our eyes. 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 a conventional air conditioner, which has a similar principle of operation, for 1 kW of electricity consumed, 1 kW of heat will “respond”.

Scheme of a geothermal heating device in a private house

It must be admitted that the device of this type of heating is the most expensive and time-consuming today. The lion's share of its cost is the purchase of equipment and, of course, earthworks. Naturally, a thrifty owner thinks, is it possible to save money, for example, on installation and make geothermal heating with your own hands? In order to answer this question, it is necessary to understand which systems are used most often and to understand the features of their device.

Horizontal heat exchanger

Quite often, a horizontal contour is used, during which pipes are laid in trenches to a depth greater than the level of soil freezing 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 should be much larger than the house itself, so, for heating a building with an area of 250 m², about 600 m² will “leave” under the pipes. Not every developer can afford this luxury.

In addition, there are inconveniences if the site is already ennobled, you have to observe, for example, the distance from the 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 geothermal heating is planned for a country house with an equipped adjacent territory, it allows you to save the landscape almost in its original form.

Water placed heat exchanger

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

The water-placed heat exchanger is the most advantageous and therefore more appropriate for the device.

A contour of pipes in the form of a spiral is laid on the bottom, the depth of occurrence should be less than 2.5-3 m, that is, deeper than the freezing zone. The area of the reservoir is from 200 m². The main plus is that there is no need to carry out laborious earthworks, but it is necessary to obtain permission from special services. Having spent significant funds 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 simple. 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.

On the advantages and disadvantages of the system

For the first time, geothermal heating was closely looked at in the USA, during the crisis in the 80s. Quite expensive installations were registered in the homes of the richest and most advanced, but gradually they became more accessible and more popular. Europe took note of the novelty and began to actively introduce 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 greens unanimously talk about the advantages of this type of heating over all the others, the main advantages that are emphasized are:

for heating, the thermal energy of the earth is used, which is renewable and inexhaustible;
there is no risk of fire;
there is no need for delivery and storage of fuel materials;
during the operation of the equipment, no harmful emissions are formed, the system is absolutely safe and environmentally friendly;
the system works autonomously, does not need constant monitoring and intervention;
it is economical, practically does not require maintenance costs from the owner;
with all the variety of models, the productivity coefficient of the equipment remains consistently high.

The geothermal heating system performed well in combination with "warm floors". Such a 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 pay off in some 3-4 years.

Note that these systems have not yet become popular in the post-Soviet space. This is largely due to the rather significant capital investments that will need to be made at the very beginning, and the rather long payback period. It is quite difficult to convince our fellow citizens that it is, after all, economically profitable anyway. Although, given the annual rise in price of the usual coolants and the fact that the system is designed for an average of 100 years of efficient operation, the choice seems quite justified.

Do-it-yourself geothermal heating at home - is it possible?

Geothermal heating system - device, principle of operation. What geothermal heating of a country house to choose. Is it possible to make geothermal heating at home with your own hands.

Do-it-yourself geothermal heating at home

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 rage. 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 the existing options and features of installation work.

The principle of operation of geothermal heating

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

The internal circuit includes a pipe and radiators located throughout the house. The external circuit is a heat exchanger, which is placed either underground or under the water column. Liquid with antifreeze or ordinary 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. The air conditioner is not so productive, because taking 1 kW of electricity, it gives the same amount.

Classification depending on the type of construction

This type of heating arrangement in the house is considered one of the most expensive and this is due to the price of equipment and land work. At such moments, many consumers think about 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 design options.

Horizontal heat exchanger. When choosing this design, the pipes are laid underground, while the depth should be greater than the level of soil freezing. However, this option requires the allocation of territory under the contour. Just imagine, if you need to heat a house with an area of 250 m 2, then 600 m 2 will be required to equip the circuit. In addition, some technical points must be taken into account. For example, all elements should be located at a minimum distance from the tree - 1.5 meters. If the site is ennobled, 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 entail significant costs. Creating a well is a laborious process, however, this design will last at least a hundred years. This option is suitable for areas that are already equipped.
The water-placed 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 should be at least 200 m 2, and the structure should 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, it is not worth saving on the installation process, and you should turn to professionals.

Benefits of geothermal heating

Previously, such installations could be found in luxurious and rich houses, 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 to save on heating in general. Twenty years ago, 12 million European citizens took advantage of a similar design, but today their number has increased dramatically.

In Sweden already most of the heat is produced by 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 over the places for its storage;
Environmentally friendly system, without the formation of harmful emissions, due to which it is actively supported by environmentalists;
Lack of regular monitoring and intervention, at all levels the system functions autonomously;
Unlimited energy available at any time and in any quantity;
You do not have to spend money on system maintenance;
High performance compared to existing alternatives.

Masters recommend combining the installation of a geothermal system and underfloor heating in order to achieve the maximum benefit effect. Firstly, a uniform temperature distribution is guaranteed, and secondly, it will be possible to avoid the formation of overheating zones.

In order for the costs to pay off in full in 3-4 years, it should be borne in mind that this type of heating is beneficial for owners of cottages up to 150 m 2. Taking into account the fact that the usual heat networks regularly rise in price and fail, the 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.

Mounting Features

If gas and electricity are constantly rising in price, and with them the heating of a private house, 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 eventually exhaust themselves. The use of solid fuel is even more costly 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 time-consuming and expensive. Therefore, it should be entrusted to masters with extensive experience in this field. Only they know all the nuances of the installation. With proper work carried out, the issue of heating will be resolved for many years.

At the same time, the same pipes and batteries will be inside the room, 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 under it that you need to allocate as much space as possible. With it, 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 in a separate room.

Do-it-yourself geothermal heating at home: scheme and installation features

Features of the choice and installation of geothermal heating. Do-it-yourself installation of pumps and additional equipment in the house.

Alternative methods of heating housing are in vogue. For such systems, there is no need for a close location of the house from gas mains. At the same time, no fuel combustion is provided for in the designs. One effective option is thermal home heating. Developing technologies contribute to the fact that various models of this type of space heating appear on the domestic market.

Application of earth energy

It must be borne in mind that the soil, even with severe frost, does not freeze too deep in most regions of the country. This property is exploited even by builders who are engaged in laying pipelines below the average level of soil freezing. The thermal value has an indicator at the level of + 5- + 7 0 C. This allows you to use the energy of the earth to heat the house.

The resulting heat can be accumulated thanks to a modern installation. The principle of operation of geothermal heating at home, according to the owners, is similar to the principle of operation of a refrigerator. The work cycle algorithm is as follows:

you need to get heat in order to store it and redirect it to an energy battery;
antifreeze is heated in one of the circuits of the system, and it transfers energy to the water circulating in the second heating circuit and hot water supply;
cooled antifreeze is redirected to the heat exchanger area to get warm again.

This approach allows you to use the heat of the earth to heat the house. The systems use geothermal pumps. The extracted heat can be enough both to operate the unit as the main source of heat in the room, and to operate it as a backup or auxiliary circuit.

VIDEO: A miracle of technology - heat from underground

Principle of operation

Heating from the ground is no longer a fantastic or isolated development. In many European countries, this direction is a priority. In our country, it also wins its fans.

It has long been observed that, during evaporation, certain substances cool the surface they leave. This property was first used in domestic and industrial refrigerators for cooling. Later, the idea arose to use the reverse effect of this phenomenon, getting warm air. It was introduced into air conditioners that work for heating. However, they are not able to function at temperatures below -50C. Geothermal devices are devoid of such a disadvantage.

Equipment operation scheme

The basic link in the system is a heat pump used in two circuits:

the first circuit is a classic heating system with a water coolant, consisting of main pipes, radiators and valves;
the second circuit is a large-sized heat exchanger located in the ground or under a large open reservoir.

Inside the second circuit, both special antifreeze and prepared water are used. It is heated by the energy of the internal heat of the earth and passes into the heat pump. From it, heat is transferred to the internal circuit and enters the radiators.

An important detail is the heat pump. Its dimensions do not exceed the size of a washing machine. Consuming 1 kW, the device produces 4-5 kW of power for heating. For comparison, air conditioners operate approximately in the consumption / return mode 1 to 1.

Today, the price of land heat for heating a house is still high, but it is constantly decreasing.

The main costs during the installation process are spent on expensive foreign equipment and work with the soil. There are also developments in order to independently design geothermal pumps that create heat in the house.

System Benefits

Geothermal heating has a lot of positive qualities that distinguish it from other systems, such as gas or electric. Benefits include:

the installation is absolutely safe in terms of ignition, since there is no flame in it;
for installation it is not necessary to punch chimneys;
no harmful emissions, noise or unpleasant odors;
compact equipment does not take up much space;
it does not need to deliver and store any fuel;
the inexhaustible energy of the earth is used;
the equipment can work in winter for heating, and in summer for cooling;
high performance in standalone operation;
although the installation costs are expensive, but the operating costs are several times lower than those of traditional heating sources.

Varieties of layout

There are several options for installing geothermal systems. They are close in efficiency and are applied depending on the possibilities of the nearby landscape and the temperature conditions of the region.

Vertical installations

The main difference lies in the installation of the heat exchanger. The most compact is its vertical arrangement. This option does not require significant land areas. However, it is necessary to use a drilling rig, as deep wells will be needed.

The approximate depth of wells for geothermal systems is 50-200 m for efficient operation.

This type is the most expensive to install, but its expected operating period is up to 100 years, according to manufacturers, which is the longest period among similar systems. The main advantage of vertical installation is the maximum preservation of the surrounding landscape.

Horizontal mounting

For regions where the level of soil freezing is relatively shallow, it is advantageous to place the heat exchanger in a horizontal plane. Pipes in such a situation are located in a dug trench. It occupies a fairly large area, which is often presented as a disadvantage of this arrangement. However, in this situation, expensive drilling is not required.

The collector in the form of tubes is distributed in loops over the selected area. It is necessary to step back 1.5-2 m from the roots of trees so that they do not damage the structure. The approximate area for heating a house of 250 m2 will be about 600 m2. Not everyone has the resources to host a geothermal collector.

Underwater placement

Installing a collector under the water column is one of the most effective ways to heat a home. It is desirable that the reservoir is located no further than 100 m from the housing construction. Collector spirals are mounted under a depth of at least 2.5-3 m, which will allow them to be below the freezing point. The mirror of the reservoir should be at least 200 m 2 in area.

With a water collector, the need for water work is significantly reduced, while there is no loss in plant efficiency.

Inside the house, such heating will resemble a classic water system with radiators. However, heating of the coolant will be carried out without the use of fuel.

Of course, such a system is still very expensive - 2-3 times more expensive than gas heating. But if you calculate the fuel savings, the reliability and safety of equipment, the duration of operation - usually houses are built not for 10 or even 20 years, but for a much longer period, it becomes clear that such a system is the future. You can try to do the installation right now, or you can wait a few more years when domestic developments appear on the market.

VIDEO: Economical home heating, types of heat pumps, connection diagram