Geothermal Heat Pump Parts and Types: Water, Ground and Rock

Geothermal (or ground-source) use the natural heat storage capacity of the ground, rock, or ground water - instead of outside air - to provide heating, cooling and domestic hot water.

Once temperatures below ground surface are relatively constant year round (well above the freezing point), geothermal heat pumps have excellent performance in any climate or weather conditions.


Parts of Geothermal Heat Pumps

Geothermal-ground heat pumps systems are very similar to air-source heat pumps. The big difference is in the existence of a set of pipes (or loop) buried in the ground.

The ground loop - invisible after installation - allows the exchange of heat between the ground and the heat pump. The other components of the system consists of an indoor heat pump equipment and a flow unit to connect the indoor and outdoor equipment.

The indoor unit, commonly called an air handler, contains a large blower and a filter just like conventional air conditioners. The heated (or cooled) air is distributed around the house via ductwork (and the blower).
 

Types of geothermal heat pumps: ground, water and rock heat pumps
Images credit: Danfoss

	Ground heat pump In this solution the heat pump uses a pipe-loop buried about a metre below ground.
	Water heat pumps A water heat pump is a variant of the ground heat pump. The only difference is that it uses a hose on the lake floor (or other water source) instead of a pipe buried below ground.
	Rock heat humps A rock heat pump is another variant of ground heat pumps, and a very common one. The system uses the solar energy stored in the rock shelf and the loop is lowered into a 100–150 metres bore hole in the rock.

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