How to use the heat of the earth to heat the house. How to use the free heat of the earth and water? Geothermal heating at home: how it works. Why is geothermal heating so good?

The burning of natural reserves of hydrocarbons - oil and gas - has reached such proportions that the specter of an ecological and energy catastrophe has begun to take on quite real shapes.

Realizing, finally, the seriousness of the situation, humanity is increasingly developing renewable (or alternative) energy sources.

Nikola Tesla argued that our world is filled with free energy, you just need to learn how to extract it. Scientists around the world are making a lot of effort to bring this thesis to life.

Their labors were not in vain: in addition to traditional wind turbines and solar panels, another source of free energy was added - geothermal heating. Its essence is clear from the name: the heat of the Earth is used for heating.

Myth one: hot springs are needed.

Indeed, at the mention of the term “heat of the Earth”, the imagination of the average citizen immediately draws whistling geysers and lakes of boiling water against the backdrop of a waking volcano.

We agree: hot springs can also be used in geothermal heating, but this is rare, since they are located only in some regions.

In other cases, the term "heat of the Earth" means a temperature of 5-7 degrees, which is stably maintained in the soil or water below the freezing depth.

Yes, yes, this is the coldness that impudent scientists call “heat” and even manage to heat water from it in the heating system.

Myth two: geothermal heating is something like a perpetual motion machine, and therefore cannot exist.

The reason for the emergence of this misconception was the amazing efficiency of geothermal heating systems: with an energy cost of 1 kW, it is possible to obtain from 3 to 5 kW.

And this, as already mentioned, in the complete absence of visible heat sources: seething geysers, fire-breathing volcanoes, or at least a stove with burning wood or coal.

But, as you know, energy cannot come from nowhere and disappear into nowhere. Unfortunately, the existence of a perpetual motion machine is really impossible.

But the geothermal heating system has nothing to do with it. And the reasons for its effectiveness lie in the skillful application of the well-known laws of physics.

Device and principle of operation

The geothermal heating system consists of three circuits and a heat pump, which maintains the circulation of the medium in the circuits and heat exchange between them. The heat pump is similar in size to a modern washing machine. Let's consider each of the circuits in more detail.

Outer loop

Through the external circuit, the entire system perceives the thermal energy of the soil or reservoir in which this circuit is located.

A prerequisite is that the contour must be below the freezing depth characteristic of this region.

A coolant circulates inside the circuit - brine or other non-freezing liquid. The accumulated thermal energy through the heat exchanger installed in the heat pump is transferred to the freon contained in the second circuit.

Freon circuit

This circuit is completely located in the heat pump housing and is filled with freon. A characteristic feature of freon is its low boiling point, during which the freon evaporates, turning into a gas.

Inner contour

This is, in fact, a heating circuit, consisting of pipes and heating radiators. In a more complex version, the internal circuit can be divided into heating circuits, hot water supply, porch heating (de-icer), etc.

Traditionally, the internal circuit is filled with water, but other types of coolants can also be used.

How it works

The principle of operation of a geothermal heating system is as follows:

The brine located in the outer circuit is given the thermal energy of the soil or water, which causes its temperature to increase by about 5 degrees and becomes equal, for example, to +3 degrees.
Inside the heat pump, the brine is pumped through a heat exchanger, in which part of its thermal energy is transferred to freon. The brine that has cooled down after that again enters the external circuit.
Having received some heat from the brine, the freon in the second circuit evaporates. The resulting gas enters the compressor, where it is compressed. As a result, the freon temperature rises to 100 degrees. Hot gas is supplied to the heat exchanger, in which it gives off part of its thermal energy to the heat carrier of the third - internal - circuit.
Heated to a temperature of 50-70 degrees, the coolant of the internal circuit is supplied to the heating radiators, so that a comfortable temperature is maintained in the house. Freon, the temperature of which as a result of heat exchange drops to 70 degrees, enters the expansion screen, where its pressure and temperature drop to their original values.
The whole cycle is repeated again.

Among other uncommon heating systems, it deserves attention.

Advantages and disadvantages

Positive side

This system has a wide range of advantages:

The efficiency of the system ranges from 300% to 500%.
The energy used for heating is inexhaustible and renewable.
There is no fire hazard.
There is no need for delivery and storage of fuel materials.
Absolute environmental safety: the operation of the geothermal heating system is not accompanied by emissions of harmful substances or the formation of waste.
Fully autonomous mode of operation.
Minimum operating costs.

Negative side

The main disadvantage of the geothermal heating system of a country house is its cost. Thus, the price of a heat pump can vary from 3 to 10 thousand euros.

The cost of installation work on average is half the cost of the pump, but in case of an unfortunate set of circumstances, it may exceed it.

Schemes for building a heating system

Despite the simplicity of the system, the installation of geothermal heating for a country house is a rather expensive and time-consuming process.

This is due not so much to the high cost of the heat pump as to the scale of the external circuit: on average, its area should exceed the heated area by 2.5 times. Arrange the outer contour in one of three ways:

Horizontally in the ground

The pipes of the circuit are located under the surface of the earth below the freezing depth.

When heating a house with an area of 200 sq. m for horizontal placement of the external contour, you will need a plot of land with an area of 500 sq. m.

The disadvantages of this method are obvious: you will have to dig up a solid piece of land, completely destroying the landscape located on it.

If trees grow on the site, the task becomes more complicated: the pipes of the circuit in the plan should be no closer than 1.5 m from the tree.

All work on the horizontal placement of the outer contour in the ground can be done independently, and these are the main advantages of this method. The process is relatively simple, although laborious: digging trenches, welding and laying pipes.

Horizontal laying at the bottom of the reservoir

If there is a reservoir near your house, you can do without excavation, while maintaining the existing landscaping of the site near the house. The requirements for the reservoir are as follows: it must be located no further than 100 m from the house, and have an area of \u200b\u200bnot less than 200 square meters. m.

If you do not own it, then you will most likely need permission from the local authorities to place the outer loop of your geothermal system in the reservoir.

The optimal depth at which pipes should be placed is 2.2-2.5 m.

You can also place the outer contour in the reservoir yourself; such work does not require special experience or high qualifications. If it is possible to drain water from the reservoir during installation, the task will require even less effort.

Vertical placement in the ground

In this case, a well is built to accommodate the outer contour. Both the construction itself and the installation of the loop pipes in the well will require the involvement of specialists and drilling equipment. But all existing plantings and landscaping elements remain intact.

In addition, placing the circuit in the well makes the heating system more efficient, because the soil at great depths (the depth of the well is from 50 to 200 m) maintains a constant temperature of 10-12 degrees all year round.

An additional advantage is the long service life of the well, which can be 100 years.

There is another type of geothermal heating system for a country house, which is called open. There is no external circuit in it, and the role of the coolant is played by water, which is pumped into the heat pump from an artesian well.

To discharge water to the same depth, a second well is being built. Part of the artesian water can be used to supply water to the house, so this type of geothermal heating is more common in regions where there is no centralized water supply.

Sometimes geothermal heating alone may not be enough, and you have to heat up the coolant.

For such cases, for example, or. Choose based on fuel availability.

The topic of this article is the use of heat from the earth for heating. Is it possible to take thermal energy from the bowels?

And if so, is it only about complex and expensive high-tech structures, or can something be done with one's own hands?

Prerequisites

Why, in fact, do you need heating from the ground? After all, the modern market offers a lot of ready-made solutions for electricity, gas, solarium and solid fuels ...

Everything is simple. Energy prices are rising, significantly outpacing the growth in incomes of Russians. At the same time, it is not difficult to predict further exponential growth: since gas and oil reserves will come to an end already in the lifetime of our generation, their remains will be sold at exorbitant prices.

It is logical to switch to renewable sources of thermal energy. But what?

Let's evaluate the possibilities.

The sun is a great source of heat. But it is too fickle: a few weeks of clear weather can be replaced by snow and a gray veil overhead.
In addition, the night will force either to accumulate heat, or to use it only as an auxiliary source of energy.

Useful: in a warm sunny climate, heating on solar collectors is, in principle, efficient, but with their huge area and in the presence of a capacious heat accumulator.
However, a backup source of heat in case of prolonged bad weather is still needed.

The wind is also too fickle. In addition, it can not be used everywhere: valleys and folds of the relief create many areas with a constant calm.

But heating the house with the heat of the earth, with the help of geothermal energy, does not have such a problem. At a depth of one to five or six meters, the soil everywhere and always has a constant temperature, which increases with increasing depth.

geothermal pump

How can you use the heat of the earth for heating?

Ready-made solutions have been around for a couple of decades. These are geothermal. How are they arranged?

Imagine how a refrigerator works.

The gaseous refrigerant is compressed by the compressor, becoming very hot at the same time.
Then it is driven through the heat exchanger, dissipating excess heat and cooling to room temperature.
The cooled refrigerant enters the cooling circuit of the freezer, where it expands and, like any substance, when the state of aggregation changes from liquid to gaseous, it cools down sharply and ... cools the space around it.
Then the refrigerant goes back to the compressor for compression - and so on in a circle.

We are curious about two facts:

The refrigerator is able to take heat from a cold object and give it to a warm one. In this case, heat is transferred from the freezer with its -18C to the room air.
The amount of pumped thermal energy is several times greater than the energy consumption for the operation of the compressor.

And now substitute soil at a shallow depth with its constant temperature in place of the freezer - and you will get a working model of a geothermal heat pump. Note - for the most part, they use the energy of the earth to heat your home. Electricity costs cover no more than 30 percent of its heat output.

It is clear that earth heating needs not only a radiator for heat transfer, but also a heat exchanger on the second side of the circuit, which will take heat from the ground. What can he be?

Vertical collector

Most often, heat is transferred by vertical probes submerged to a depth of several tens of meters. At a short distance from the house, several wells are drilled, into which pipes are immersed (usually made of cross-linked polyethylene). Great depth means absolutely stable and high temperature; in addition, while the heat exchangers do not require a large area to accommodate.

A significant drawback that heating the house with the energy of the earth in such an implementation is the high cost of installation work. More precisely, the price of drilling: it starts from 2,000 rubles per linear meter of a well. The total cost of 2-4 wells with a depth of 50-60 meters is easy to calculate.

Horizontal collector

However, in those regions of the country where the winter is not too severe, and the depth of soil freezing does not exceed a meter - one and a half, horizontal collectors are often used. The same heat exchanger pipes are laid in a trench, which is easy to dig yourself. It is clear that the cost of installation in this case will decrease many times over.

Please note: do not underestimate the scale of the work. For example, the total length of the collector pipes for a house with an area of 275 m2 will be approximately 1200 meters.

In addition to corns from a shovel, heating with the warmth of the earth in such an implementation promises you another problem. A large area will be occupied by the collector, many times greater than the total area of the house. Moreover, you will not be able to use it for a vegetable garden or garden: the roots of the plants will be frozen by the collector.

In the photo - laying a horizontal heat exchanger.

Air manifold

Fortunately, in addition to the cost of tens of thousands of evergreen units, you can find other ways to realize the heating of a country house from the ground. One of the simplest is an air earthen collector.

Remember: in order to heat the air to an acceptable level in a residential area, you need a certain amount of thermal energy. Moreover, the lower the initial air temperature, the greater the costs.

But you can increase the air temperature at the inlet of the ventilation system absolutely free of charge. Constant ground temperature, remember?

The instruction for using earth energy heating is extremely simple:

We bring the ventilation air intake into the ground below the freezing point.
We lay with ordinary sewer pipes a straight, curved or multi-pipe collector. The shape is determined by your personal plot. The approximate total length of the collector is 1.5 meters per square meter of house area.
We make an air intake at the far end of the collector from the house, bringing the pipe to a height of at least one and a half meters from the ground and providing it with an umbrella-deflector. Of course, you will have to force air into the house.

Do not flatter yourself: the described heating from the heat of the earth will not solve your problems with thermal energy completely and free of charge.

But it will allow you to implement one of the simple and inexpensive schemes:

The incoming air with a temperature of about 10C can be heated by any heater (electric, gas, solar, etc.) and distributed through the rooms by ventilation ducts. Costs compared to the need to heat cold outdoor air will decrease many times over.
An alternative solution is to use ground-blown air to blow the outdoor unit of an air-to-air heat pump or conventional air conditioner. At +10C, ANY external unit of any device of this class can work effectively. The main technical problem is to provide the required air flow.

Conclusion

And finally, some personal experience. The author of the article lives in a private house, in a region with a rather warm climate. Under the house there is a basement with a concrete floor with an area of 75 m2, which has a temperature of 10-12 degrees all year round. It is clear that with such an area of \u200b\u200bthe heat exchanger, the air temperature in the basement is quite stable.

One of the heating devices in the house is an ordinary household air conditioner with an external unit in the basement and an internal unit on the ground floor. As a result of this arrangement, even when the outdoor temperature is noticeably below zero, the air conditioner works with maximum efficiency, taking heat from the air in the basement and further from the ground.

The external unit of the split system is traditionally located on the street. However, if your basement has a stable temperature, why not move it there?

As usual, you can find some additional information in the video attached to the article. Warm winters!

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:

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 circuit. 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.

water energy

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.

How a heat pump works

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.

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.

In the modern world, almost every owner of a private house dreams that his home is really comfortable in any season: in the summer it was a little cool in the building, but in the cold of winter it was warm.

Today, there are a huge number of types of fuel for heating houses - wood, electricity, peat, gas and coal, as well as geothermal heating of a country house.

It should be noted that equipment that can operate on gas, coal, peat and other combustible material cannot be classified as environmentally friendly. The harm from such types of heating is obvious.

In addition, the cost of fuel is constantly increasing. Today, many consumers want to use the heat received from the earth to heat a private house.

Modern type of heating

The advantages of geothermal heating are economy, environmental friendliness, cleanliness and safety

Users are sure that it is the gas heating of a private house that is the best option, but you should pay attention to some very negative qualities. The disadvantages of such a heating system are “obvious”.

In principle, it is impossible to install just such heating if a gas main has not been connected to the house or cottage. The installation of the gas installation itself requires almost constant maintenance and strict adherence to all safety standards.

Owners must also have special permits for this type of space heating.

The most optimal solution to the problem of heating a country house or just a private cottage is geothermal heating.

Almost daily, the number of users who are convinced of the effectiveness of this system and now use it is growing very quickly.

Heating of this type has a huge number of advantages. One of the most significant advantages is the economy of this heating system, as well as its environmental friendliness, cleanliness and safety.

How to heat a country house with the help of nature?

In recent years, some consumers have begun to heat their homes with the heat of the earth. Today, many are interested in the following question: "What is a geothermal installation?".

The very design and operation of this system is quite complicated for perception and understanding, therefore, for greater clarity, it is worth giving an example.

A geothermal heating system in some way works on the principle of a refrigerator, only in reverse. The role of the freezer in this scheme is played by the evaporator, which is located very deep underground.

A condenser is made in the form of a copper coil, which is used to bring air or water to the desired temperature. It is worth noting that the temperature of the evaporator, which is located underground, is significantly lower than above the surface itself.

Manufacturers of such heating systems boldly declare that the temperature fluctuates in such a range as 5-8 degrees Celsius. Today, heating from the ground is a proven practice that is becoming more and more popular in different parts of the country.

It is thanks to the use of reliable and durable compressors, as well as other innovative technologies of refrigeration systems, that it became possible to create unusual and unique ways of obtaining "low-quality heat", which on the surface of the earth can be converted into "quality heat" and subsequently freely used in geothermal heating of a country house.

The effectiveness of such a heating system has been proven by experts, so there is every reason to start industrial production of the main element of this method of heating a room - heat pumps.

The principle of operation of geothermal systems

The principle of operation of a heat pump. Click to enlarge.

Heating due to the heat of the earth is no longer a myth, but a common practice.

Geothermal heating systems can work on the principle of physical transfer of thermal energy from the environment to the refrigerant.

A similar process is observed in the operation of a conventional refrigerator.

More than 75% of the total amount of heat that can be released during the operation of a system that heats a house with the heat of the earth is the energy of the environment.

Experts draw attention to the fact that this type of energy has an amazing ability to self-heal, so the geothermal heating system does absolutely no harm or damage to the energy or ecological balance of the environment and our planet.

The heating system has one important advantage - it is absolutely safe to use.

Equipment that does not take up much space.

Heating a private house with the heat of the earth has been actively introduced quite recently. The main reason for the emergence of such heating systems for private houses, experts call energy crises, which often appeared in the 70s of the 20th century.

At first, heating with earth energy was considered a luxury, so only the richest and most elite families could afford a completely innovative home heating system.

Further, due to the active development of science, technology and the emergence of completely new technologies, geothermal heating systems have become more widespread, and the cost of their installation and maintenance has decreased.

The heat pump takes up little space in your home. Click to enlarge.

Today, a small family, even with an average income, can afford to install a system for heating the house without a serious violation of their family budget. Modern geothermal equipment has been qualitatively improved and modernized.

The improvement of systems continues to this day, as the creation of new units leads to a decrease in energy consumption and greater savings.

At a qualitatively new level, the functioning of such heating systems is carried out, because new and unusual fuel, such as earth energy, is used for air conditioning and heating of a private house.

Heating a private house with the warmth of the earth is popular in all corners of the planet.

After all, it is this energy that can create cozy, comfortable and optimal conditions for the life of every person, does not pollute the environment with harmful and negative substances, as happens during the combustion of peat, coal or gas.

Geothermal heating can be easily operated and do without any combustion processes, so the owners do not have to worry about such an issue as fire and explosion of the system, it is completely safe to operate.

Benefits of geothermal heating

In addition to all the above advantages, another important advantage is the absence of the need to purchase additional chimneys or hoods, which can possibly be used for the smooth operation of other types of heating systems.

The geothermal heating system is practical in that it does not emit harmful fumes, odors and other things, it is also worth noting the absence of noise. The equipment itself is compact, that is, it saves space.

Heating from the ground is also practical because its equipment is invisible to people, unlike liquid and solid fuel heating systems. The integrity of the facade and interior of the cottage or country house will not suffer.

Comparative characteristics of various heating systems. Click to enlarge.

In addition, there is no need to waste time on such issues as the acquisition, storage and delivery of fuel, because experts believe that the energy of the planet is inexhaustible.

Another very remarkable fact is the amazing ability of a geothermal pump to heat rooms during winter, and in summer, in the heat, again, cool the house with the help of a pump.

Yes, the use of heat obtained from the earth for heating a private house or a country cottage requires considerable costs. So, it costs several times more than gas or diesel equipment.

However, it must be remembered that such a system consumes much less energy, therefore, if you count on its long-term use, then such a system will fully pay for itself.

The prospect and economic feasibility of using just such equipment is becoming more and more obvious today.

Space saving when installing heat pumps

Today there are three ways to save space when installing heat pumps:

exploitation of thermal groundwater;
operation of underground umbrellas;
laying special umbrellas in a horizontal position, which will be below the level of winter glaciation at the bottom of the reservoir.

It is a well-known fact that heating a private house with a heat pump is the most efficient way of all currently existing. The topic is of interest to many homeowners due to the constant rise in the cost of energy carriers or their absence in a particular area. Let us consider in more detail what the geothermal heating of a private house is, how it functions and what is needed for its installation.

The principle of operation of geothermal systems

If you've never touched the back of your home refrigerator where the heat exchanger grille is located, then give it a try. You will find that the grate is hot. It heats up because it transfers heat to the outside from the interior space where the food is stored. As a result, the temperature inside decreases and the heat from outside is dissipated in the kitchen area. That is, the refrigeration machine transfers thermal energy from one place to another.

A heat pump is like a refrigerator, only it works in reverse. This is the principle of operation of geothermal heating, so that the heat available outside the house is transferred inside to heat it. Theoretically, any substance or body whose temperature is above absolute zero (minus 273 ºС) contains heat in the form of the energy of molecular motion. What can we say about the soil temperature below the freezing depth, which is always constant and keeps within plus 5-7 ºС.

For reference. You can verify this by going down into a deep cellar. It has the same temperature throughout the year. Due to this, in the summer, geothermal heating systems can work in reverse, bringing coolness into the house instead of heat.

By itself, the temperature of +7 ºС is unsuitable for heating a building, this is understandable. The task that the geothermal heating system solves is precisely to take part of this heat, convert it and transfer it to the house. For this purpose, a heat-removing circuit is arranged in the ground from a plurality of pipes laid below the freezing depth. A non-freezing liquid is constantly moving along the circuit, driven by a circulation pump.

Having heated up to the temperature of the earth, the liquid enters the heat exchanger - the evaporator. There, it exchanges heat with the second circuit, where the refrigerant (freon) circulates under pressure created by the compressor. Due to this, the refrigerant evaporates at a low temperature, removing a large amount of heat from the primary circuit.

Further, passing the expansion valve, freon enters the second heat exchanger - the condenser. At the same time, its pressure drops and the refrigerant condenses, transferring heat to the third circuit - our heating system. This is the principle of geothermal heating, when the system transfers energy from outside to the house at minimal cost. After all, it turns out that for its operation, electricity is needed to rotate the rotors of the compressor and pump engines. On average, 3 kWh of electricity will be used to heat a private house with an area of 300 m2. More details about the principle of operation are described in the video:

Types of geothermal systems

In fact, the systems can differ only in the structure of the external circuit, otherwise the equipment is the same. At the moment there are 3 types of external contours:

laid horizontally in the ground;
vertical geothermal probes;
submerged to the bottom of the nearest body of water.

In the first case, many pipes are laid along the bottom of a horizontal excavation of the calculated area. The disadvantage of this method is that the installation of geothermal heating will require a lot of space on the land and is recommended for use at the stage of building a house, when you can dig a foundation pit and bury pipes right under the future house.

Vertical probes in the form of tube bundles with coolant are lowered into deep wells. This method is the most common, since it is available in small areas already built up by the owner. Immersion of the contour to the bottom of the reservoir is used as far as possible, that is, if such a reservoir is available. In terms of the efficiency of the system, these 3 methods practically do not differ, there is a difference only in the cost of construction.

Conclusion. The main advantage that geothermal heat pumps have for heating is extremely high efficiency. But this advantage is offset by such a disadvantage as the complexity and too high cost of work and equipment. In addition, the system depends on electricity, so you will have to additionally invest in a diesel generator so as not to freeze in case of a shutdown.

Immediately make a reservation that do-it-yourself geothermal heating is a myth. Works related to the calculation of the length of the circuits and the power of the heat exchanger, and the development of the project as a whole, can only be performed by a specialist in this field who has an engineering education and experience. As for the implementation of the project, then earth-moving or drilling equipment cannot be dispensed with, you will not dig a pit manually. The same applies to the installation of pipes, their laying in the house and the installation of equipment.

The only thing you can do with your own hands is to assemble a home heating system. On this topic, you can find enough information in other articles. We will give some general recommendations:

a formal contract should be concluded with the contractor company and all points should be specified in it;
due to the peculiarities of the operation of solar systems for heating a private house, a low-temperature heating scheme is best suited. These include underfloor heating and baseboard water convectors. Traditional radiators can also be supplied, but this intention must be communicated in advance to the specialists involved in the calculations of the heat pump;
for safety, it would not hurt to have a backup boiler in the house, preferably a non-volatile boiler that runs on wood or diesel fuel. This will avoid situations where you can be left without heating in the middle of winter as a result of some kind of system malfunction or accident;
for the same purpose, it is necessary to purchase a diesel or gasoline generator of electricity. Ordinary uninterruptible power supplies will not work, they will not have enough power or charge;

it is best when the geothermal heating heat exchanger is located in the basement or basement of the house, along with other heating equipment. So it is more convenient and cheaper to bring communications.

Conclusion

The heat pump, as the brainchild of the most advanced technologies, is quite common in Western Europe. In our country, it is considered an inaccessible luxury due to its considerable cost. Even wealthy citizens are in no hurry to invest in such heating, because they own large-area cottages, where geothermal heating will pay off for too long. From this point of view, a house of 150 m2 of area is considered the best option.