Geothermal heating is one of the most promising of all alternative energy sources. Unlike solar systems, it practically does not depend on the time of year. But is it profitable to heat a house at the expense of the heat and energy of the earth?

Geothermal home heating

First you need to understand the principles of obtaining thermal energy. They are based on the rise in temperature as you go deeper into the earth. At first glance, the increase in the degree of heating is insignificant. But thanks to the advent of new technologies, heating a house with the heat of the earth has become a reality.

The main condition for the organization of geothermal heating is a temperature of at least 6 ° C. This is typical for medium and deep layers of soil and reservoirs. The latter are highly dependent on the external temperature, so they are rarely used. How can you practically organize the heating of the house with the energy of the earth?

To do this, it is necessary to make 3 circuits filled with liquids with different technical characteristics:

• Outer. More often it circulates antifreeze. Its heating to a temperature not lower than 6 ° C occurs due to the energy of the earth;
• Heat pump. Without it, heating from the energy of the earth is impossible. The heat carrier from the external circuit transfers its energy to the refrigerant using a heat exchanger. Its evaporation temperature is less than 6°C. After that, it enters the compressor, where, after compression, the temperature rises to 70 ° C;
• Inner contour. According to a similar scheme, heat is transferred from the compressed refrigerant to water in the overcoming system. Thus, heating from the bowels of the earth occurs at minimal cost.

Despite the obvious advantages, it is rare to find such systems. This is due to the high costs of purchasing equipment and organizing an external heat intake circuit.

It is best to entrust the calculation of heating from the heat of the earth to professionals. The efficiency of the entire system will depend on the correctness of the calculations.

How a heat pump works

The "heart" of geothermal heating is the heat pump. It consists of several components, the operation of which directly affects the efficiency of the entire system. Therefore, before planning the heating of a private house from the ground, you need to find out the main characteristics of this node.

Since this device belongs to the category of complex equipment, it is recommended to purchase only factory models. Design heat pump includes the following components:

• Evaporator. In this block, energy is transferred from the external circuit;
• Compressor. Needed to create high pressure in the refrigerant environment;
• Capillary. It serves to reduce the internal pressure in the refrigerant circuit;
• Control system. With its help, the heating of a private house from the ground is regulated - temperature regime work, the speed of passage of coolants, etc.

The main problem with self-manufacturing of the heat pump is to reduce heat losses and normalize the operation of the internal refrigerant circuit. Factory models are set up at the manufacturing stage, and the design provides for the possibility of adjusting its parameters.

How to correctly calculate the parameters of the pump so that the heat of the earth for heating the house provides normal temperature? To do this, you need to know the heat output of the pump. For an approximate calculation, you can use the following formula:

Q=(t1-t2)*V

Where t1-t2– temperature difference on the inlet and return pipes, °С, V is the estimated volume of coolant flow, m³/h, Q- rated power of the heat pump, W.

This technique is inapplicable for complex systems, since they contain many additional factors. In particular, heat losses on the highway. This is especially true for those areas where it goes as close as possible to the surface of the soil. To minimize heat losses, the heating pipes should be insulated in the ground.

Since the operation of the heat pump depends on electricity, it is recommended to install an emergency power supply unit.

Options for arranging geothermal heating

In order for the energy of the earth to be used for heating the house as much as possible, you need to choose the right circuit for the external circuit. In fact, any medium can be a source of thermal energy - underground, water or air. But it is important to take into account seasonal changes in weather conditions, as discussed above.

Currently, two types of systems are common that are effectively used to heat a house due to the heat of the earth - horizontal and vertical. The key selection factor is the area of ​​the land. The layout of the pipes for heating the house with the energy of the earth depends on this.

In addition to it, the following factors are taken into account:

• Soil composition. In rocky and loamy areas, it is difficult to make vertical shafts for laying highways;
• Soil freezing level. He will determine the optimal depth of the pipes;
• Location of groundwater. The higher they are, the better for geothermal heating. In this case, the temperature will increase with depth, which is optimal condition for heating from the energy of the earth.

You also need to know about the possibility of reverse energy transfer in the summer. Then the heating of a private house from the ground will not function, and the excess heat will pass from the house into the soil. All work on the same principle. refrigeration systems. But for this you need to install additional equipment.

It is impossible to plan the installation of an external circuit away from home. This will increase heat losses in heating from the bowels of the earth.

Horizontal geothermal heating scheme

The most common way to install outdoor highways. It is convenient for ease of installation and the ability to relatively quickly replace faulty sections of the pipeline.

To install according to this scheme, use collector system. For this, several contours are made, located at a minimum distance of 0.3 m from each other. They are connected using a collector, which supplies the coolant further to the heat pump. This will ensure the maximum supply of energy for heating from the heat of the earth.

However, there are some important things to keep in mind:

• Big square personal plot. For a house of about 150 m², it must be at least 300 m²;
• Pipes must be fixed to a depth below the freezing level of the soil;
• With the possible movement of the soil during spring floods, the likelihood of displacement of highways increases.

The defining advantage of heating from the heat of the earth of a horizontal type is the possibility of self-arrangement. In most cases, this will not require the involvement of special equipment.

For maximum heat transfer, it is necessary to use pipes with a high thermal conductivity - thin-walled polymer pipes. But at the same time, you should consider ways to insulate heating pipes in the ground.

Vertical diagram of geothermal heating

This is a more time-consuming way of organizing heating of a private house from the ground. Pipelines are located vertically, in special wells. It is important to know that such a scheme is much more efficient than a vertical one.

Its main advantage is to increase the degree of water heating in the external circuit. Those. the deeper the pipes are located, the more the amount of earth's heat for heating the house will enter the system. Another factor is the small area of ​​land. In some cases, the arrangement of the external geothermal heating circuit is carried out even before the construction of the house in the immediate vicinity of the foundation.

What difficulties can be encountered in obtaining earth energy for heating a house according to this scheme?

• Quantitative to Qualitative. For a vertical arrangement, the length of the highways is much higher. She is compensated higher temperature soil. To do this, you need to make wells up to 50 m deep, which is laborious work;
• Soil composition. For rocky soil, it is necessary to use special drilling machines. In loam, to prevent shedding of the well, a protective shell made of reinforced concrete or thick-walled plastic is mounted;
• In the event of a malfunction or loss of tightness complicates the repair process. In this case, long-term failures in the operation of heating the house for the thermal energy of the earth are possible.

But despite the high initial costs and the complexity of installation, the vertical arrangement of the highways is optimal. Experts advise using just such an installation scheme.

For the circulation of the coolant in the external circuit in vertical system need powerful circulation pumps.

Organization of geothermal heating

Consumers still have main question- Can heating be used? country house energy of the earth as the main? This is possible, but only with a professional approach at all stages - from the calculation to the installation and testing of the system.

First of all, you need to choose the right heat pump. Given their high cost, you should first perform all preliminary calculations of its characteristics. Only in this case, heating due to the thermal energy of the earth will have the maximum efficiency. Among the reliable manufacturers are Buderus, Vaillant and Veissman. The average cost of a heat pump for heating from earth is about 360 thousand rubles with a rated power of 6 kW. More productive models can cost over 1 million rubles.

Due to the constant rise in energy prices, people are trying to become energy independent. Thus, the use of alternative heat sources is becoming more relevant. This is a geothermal heating system that involves the use of special pumps. Thanks to her, it becomes possible to obtain heat directly from the earth.

The principle of operation of the heating system

People have always tried to get the heat coming from the bowels of the earth. Thanks to the advent of geothermal heating, this has become possible.

In the center of the earth magma is located, warming the earth. Due to the presence of the top layer of soil, it does not cool. It was enough to learn how to apply such heat to discover an alternative source of heat. With its proper use, it will be possible to solve the problem of heat supply of any country houses.

Many people find the working principle of a ground source heat pump quite complicated. In fact, it is enough to deal with the features of heating from the ground. The operation of the system is possible due to the presence of an external circuit acting as a heat exchanger. It is located in water or underground. Inside this element is water or any other liquid that absorbs heat. The coolant enters the geothermal pump, which accumulates heat. This equipment distributes the received energy throughout the internal circuit.

It is worth noting that such heat pumps correspond to standard sizes, but their performance is really high.

Varieties of geothermal systems

There are several types of such heating systems. All of them differ only in the heat exchanger. Its choice depends on the characteristics of the site and some of the nuances of the area.

Many people find it difficult to make a choice. In order not to be mistaken, it is worth considering the financial possibilities and some features of the land. If there is a reservoir near the house that meets all the requirements mentioned, then it will be possible to organize geothermal heating with your own hands. And permission to use heat pumps and perform work from any authority is not required. If we talk about the use of other systems, then a vertical heat exchanger will require significant financial investments, and a horizontal heat exchanger will require a lot of unoccupied land.

The advantages of this heating method

There are many conflicting opinions about alternative sources heat. Naturally, geothermal home heating is no exception. However, the objective advantages of such a system are really many.

Independent organization of geothermal heating

As mentioned earlier, such a system is the most affordable, which means that every home owner can use the energy resources of the earth. At the same time, the organization of geothermal heating does not require significant investments or human resources. Do-it-yourself installation of the system is quite simple. In this case, the main thing is to perform the correct calculations.

Naturally, the installation of equipment and the heat pumps themselves depends on the type of heat exchanger chosen.

• The easiest way to do the installation is that the house is located near the reservoir. In this case, it is enough to hire several assistants and special equipment to lay the pipe at the bottom. After that, it remains only to connect the heat pump, after which the house will become warm.
• If you have chosen a horizontal heat exchanger, then you have to dig the site. Subsequently, it will not be possible to organize a garden or vegetable garden here.
• The most difficult is the installation of a vertical heat exchanger. The performance of such work should be entrusted to specialists with relevant experience and professional drilling equipment.

In addition to laying pipes, attention must be paid to the installation of the heat pump itself. Such a device must be correctly installed, otherwise the system will be ineffective.

Geothermal heating has only recently come into use. Thanks to him, it is possible to obtain cheap energy with a minimum of costs. To such Alternative option proved to be effective, it is necessary to take into account all the requirements, as well as correctly install the heat pump.

Surely you have heard about geothermal heating more than once. Such systems are installed in many European countries and they are very successful and popular among the population. Is it possible for us to install it? To understand this, you need to understand the principle of operation, as well as consider all the advantages of such a system.

Benefits of geothermal heating

Cost of geothermal home heating

This is probably the only moment due to which the system has not yet become widely used. Initial costs can reach one million rubles. It all depends on the size of your house and the source of heat. So, laying a heating circuit in reservoirs is cheaper at the same cost pumping station and related materials (pipes, sealants, etc.).

This setup is most beneficial for small houses. The costs are paid back in two to three years, since no need to pay for gas/coal/wood, and all costs are reduced to payment for a small amount of electricity that is spent on work pumping equipment. Is it worth saving by doing such an installation not on a turnkey basis, but on your own? Perhaps, provided that you carefully study all the features of the process. In practice, there are cases of successful assembly by the owners themselves.

The cost of turnkey works consists of:

• from calculations of the pump power, the length of the heating circuit;
• from the price of work in soil or water (drilling wells, digging trenches, laying under water), as well as related laying and installation work;
• from the installation and connection of the pumping station.

As an example, we give approximate calculations for a house with an area of ​​​​150 square meters. m.

1. For such a dwelling, a heat pump with a capacity of 14 kW is required. Its price is 260 thousand rubles.
2. The amount for all work on the arrangement of a vertical earthen contour is approximately 427 thousand rubles. May vary depending on soil types.

Total - 687 thousand rubles. We see that very significant initial costs for the installation of geothermal heating. The price of conventional boilers is much cheaper. For comparison, calculate what your current heating costs are and calculate how much you will spend with geothermal heating. Consider both cases in perspective for many years (10-15 years). The difference is very, very significant.

The main components of geothermal heating systems

Geothermal heating does not use conventional heat sources. We are not talking about any wood, coal, gas or electricity (in the amount that a conventional electric boiler uses).

The whole system consists of three main elements. They are:

• heating circuit inside the house;
• heating circuit;
• pumping station.

As a heating circuit, which will be located inside the house, both ordinary familiar radiators and a floor heating system can act (more energy is used to heat it). In addition, this the system can be brought to heat the greenhouse, swimming pools, paths within the site, etc.

The heating circuit in this case is geothermal heat sources. So, there is heating with the help of the energy of the earth, water, and also air.

The pumping station is necessary in order to pump heat from the geothermal heating circuit to the heating circuit.

More about the heating method

Geothermal heating uses energy stored in the environment to heat a room. The principle of operation is borrowed from the design of the refrigerator. It's warm in inner chamber is brought out in order to achieve in the chamber itself minimum values temperature. In this case, the rear wall is heated. With geothermal heating, heat from the ground (or water, air) is removed to the living space. The difference is that heat source does not cool down and has a stable temperature. Because of this, space heating can occur at any cold time of the year. And in the heat, you can set the system to ensure that the housing is cooled.

Consider an example with a heating circuit for heating a dwelling inside the earth. This option is the most common, since the location of the geothermal circuit in water sources requires its presence near the house. This is less common.

Heat from the earth

At a certain depth, the earth has its own temperature. It does not depend on weather conditions and time of year. We are talking about those layers that are below the level of freezing. That is, the heating circuit is laid where the temperature always has a stable positive value.

Ways of positioning pipes of heating circuits in the ground

Vertical installation

It consists in the fact that in the area perform deep well drilling in which the pipes will be laid. Their depth depends on what area will need to be heated. The value reaches up to 300 meters. The calculation comes from the fact that 50-60 watts of thermal energy of the earth falls on one meter of a geothermal pipeline. For a pump with a capacity of 10 kilowatts (it is suitable for a house up to 120 sq. M), you will need a well with a depth of 170 to 200 m. You can drill several wells, but of lesser depth. The advantage of this method is that with this laying there is the least interference with the landscape of your site, if the house has already been built and the site has been brought into proper shape. But at the same time there are high costs of work.

Horizontal laying

A huge area of ​​trenches break out along the adjacent site. Their depth depends on the level of ground freezing in your area(from 3 meters and deeper), and the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe pit - from the square of the house. It should be calculated from the fact that 1 meter of the pipeline accounts for 20 to 30 W of energy. If you install the same heat pump for 10 kW, the length of the circuit should be from 300 to 500 m. Pipes are laid along the bottom of these trenches and backfilled with earth.

The scheme of the whole structure

In fact, there are three circuits through which the liquid circulates. The first of these we have designated as heating. The next circuit is inside the pump. There, the refrigerant takes heat from the heating circuit and transfers it to the third cycle through pipes to the house.

The coolant passes through the circuit underground and heats up to a temperature of 7 ° C (this is the indicator at a depth below the freezing level). All the energy that the coolant took from the ground comes to the heat pump.

The heat pump has a first heat exchanger. In him the coolant from the ground circuit heats the refrigerant, increasing not only its temperature, but also its pressure. In the gas state, the refrigerant passes into the second heat exchanger. Here he heats the coolant, which circulates through the pipes inside the house, and then returns to the liquid state again.

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 are promoting this installation option and offering 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 technology 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 ways receiving heat. 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 external source power supply.

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

1. The collector-heat intake must contain inside a liquid having low temperature freezing. 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.
2. In the evaporator module, heat is transferred to the refrigerant, which has a low boiling point, at this time it boils and passes into a vapor state.
3. 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.
4. Getting into the condenser, the refrigerant substance passes into the liquid phase, at the same time energy is released for the heating circuit.
5. The return of the formed liquid to the compressor is carried out through the throttle valve.

Since a heat pump for home heating works on the principle of a refrigerator, it is often called a "reverse refrigerator". 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 geothermal 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 effective use 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 wishing.

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 land works. 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 C;
• 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 can vary in design, size, appearance, but the heat production coefficient will always be the same for pumps of 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. 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. It could be energy solar collector 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

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.

1. The internal circuit means the heating system familiar to us, it consists of radiators and pipelines.
2. External - this is a very dimensional heat exchanger installed underground or in a reservoir. It contains a coolant (and it can be plain water or antifreeze), taking the temperature environment, is supplied to the heat pump, from where the accumulated heat enters the internal circuit. So warm up heating appliances in the House.

The main element of the system is precisely the heat pump - a device that takes not more space, how 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 be spent on excavation 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

Methods for constructing geothermal systems

One of essential 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.

Be that as it may, the efficiency of direct heat exchange is quite high, and the financial costs for 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 copper pipeline it is expensive, and the coolant itself requires 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, as chemical composition 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.

Although the efficiency open systems an order of magnitude higher than closed ones, problems may arise during installation, mainly of a legal nature. Installation permits may be required 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 the maintenance of 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 a given element, as well as its volume, are completely dependent on the specific climatic conditions. For the circulation of the coolant is usually used copper tubes, while the container is made of 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 even at low temperatures, so even in a temperate climate it can be used quite effectively. But is it possible to install geothermal heating at home with your own hands? Let's try to figure this out.

Classification by construction type

The 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 inner contour is traditional system heating, consisting of pipes and radiators. External - an impressive size heat exchanger located underground or in the water column. Inside it can circulate both a special liquid with antifreeze and ordinary water. 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 is familiar to our eyes. washing machine. If we talk about performance, then for every 1 kW of electricity consumed, the pump "produces" up to 4-5 kW of thermal energy. While 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 you need to obtain a permit 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:

• used for heating thermal energy land that 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 investment that will need to be made at the very beginning, and rather long term payback. 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 effective work, then 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 at least important point which requires expert advice. 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 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 worth exploring existing options and installation features.

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 arrangement of heating 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 must 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, it is necessary to take into account some technical points. For example, all elements should be located at a minimum distance from the tree - 1.5 meters. If the site is 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 stay for 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 must be at least 200 m 2, and the structure must be located no deeper than three meters.

As practice shows, it is difficult to carry out installation with your own hands. Considering that there will be a lot of money invested in equipment, it is not worth skimping 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;
• Ecologically clean 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 to achieve maximum effect benefits. 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. Application solid fuel 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.

There are a number of independent engineering systems, which are an integral part of any private country house. One of them is the heating system, which provides a comfortable temperature of the internal air of the house for living at any time of the year, in accordance with the weather conditions.

Geothermal heating is a promising heating option based on the use of natural resources- the heat of the earth, which is an inexhaustible resource. The heat pump transfers the heat from the ground or surface water to a heat carrier circulating through heating system inside the house.

Hydroinzhstroy will perform all the work necessary for the organization of geothermal heating: we will prepare a project, select and bring equipment, carry out earthworks, carry out installation and commissioning. Everything will be done on time and with the highest possible quality. We give a guarantee for the work performed.

Benefits of geothermal heating

Profitability. High efficiency of work - having spent 1 kilowatt of electricity, a ton emits 3–5 kW of thermal energy. For comparison - in electric heating systems 1 kW electrical energy converted into 0.7-1.0 kW of heat.

Safety. The fuel does not use explosive and flammable fuel.

Ecological purity. No gas leaks. The absence of smoke and smell in the premises. No air pollutant emissions.

Comfort. Ease of operation and maintenance. High degree of automation. Possibility of use as an air conditioning system in the summer.

Autonomy. Independent work under the control of automation.

Durability. The service life of the heat pump is 25 years.

Geothermal heating at home: how it works

The geothermal heating system of the house has three closed circuits. Through the pipes of the external circuit, located in the ground or water, circulates saline solution or antifreeze, carrying out heat removal. Passing through the heat exchanger (evaporator) in the heat pump installation, it gives off heat to the refrigerant of the internal circuit. The heated refrigerant is pumped by the compressor, as a result of which the temperature of the refrigerant rises. Through another heat exchange device (condenser), the refrigerant transfers its energy to the heating circuit of the house.

The outer loop can be a horizontal collector or a vertical probe.

Horizontal manifold

1. Collector pipes are laid on the horizontal surface of the bottom of a trench dug to a depth of 1.5 meters - below the freezing level of the soil. For laying pipes, a free area of ​​​​a large area is required, on average - about 500 square meters.

2. The collector is laid on the bottom of the reservoir.

Vertical probe

If there is no river, pond, lake nearby, and the area of ​​​​the site is such that it is not possible to mount a horizontal heat collector, you can drill an artesian well and lower a vertical probe into it - a pair of U-shaped HDPE pipes through which brine will flow and collect soil heat. The number and depth of wells are calculated depending on the heated area of ​​​​the house and the hydrogeological conditions of the site.

Disadvantages of geothermal heating

geothermal method of heating a house - significant capital costs will be required.

Volatility - the system requires power to operate. To avoid the interruption of the heat supply to the house due to a power outage, it is necessary to purchase a gasoline or diesel fuel-powered electric generator.

Soil subcooling occurs in the area where the heat collector is located (usually due to design errors). Leads to violations in the work of the system.

The cost of geothermal heating

The organization of heating based on a geothermal heat pump will require considerable financial costs. But in this case, the high cost can only be attributed to the shortcomings with a stretch. An efficient, environmentally friendly and economical system is well worth the high initial investment (which will pay off over time). The cost of the system depends on many factors: the area of ​​the heated premises, the power of the heat pump, the installation option for the collector, etc. 000 to 850,000 rubles.

Other options for heating systems

Today, there are many different heating systems, but the most wide application purchased a heating system using a liquid coolant. Compared to other systems, it has the most high efficiency, practicality and safety. The principle of its operation is that the heat generator (boiler) heats water or non-freezing liquid (antifreeze), which enters the heating devices (radiators, convectors) through pipes, heating them, which in turn heat the air in the room, and returns to the place of its heating.

According to the type of energy carrier, heat generators are divided into 4 groups:

Gas.
The most common and relatively inexpensive option. Gas heating requires main gas pipeline or installation of gas holders. Advantages: economy and high degree of automation.

Liquid fuel.
Heating with liquid diesel fuel is a more expensive method.

Electrical.
It is convenient, but not cheap, to heat the premises of the dwelling with the help of an electric boiler.

Solid fuel.
With a boiler that runs on wood or other solid combustible materials, there is a lot of trouble: you need to regularly load fuel and clean the combustion chamber from ash.