Casey Marguccio's Profile

 Source: U.S. Department of Energy


Vertical Geothermal Ground Loops 


When extreme climates, limited space or rocky terrain is a
concern, vertical geothermal ground loops are often the only viable
option.  This makes them popular for use on small lots and in
retrofits.  In vertical geothermal ground
loops, a drilling rig is used to drill 150 to 300 foot deep
holes in which hairpin shaped loops of pipe are dropped and then
grouted.  A typical vertical ground loop requires 300 to 600
feet of piping per ton of heating and cooling.  Vertical loops
are typically more expensive than horizontal loops, but are considerably less
complicated than drilling for water.  Less piping is also
required for vertical geothermal ground loops as opposed to horizontal loops as
the earth’s temperature is more stable at depth. 


Slinky Coil Geothermal Ground Loops 


Slinky coil geothermal ground
loops are gaining popularity, particularly in residential
geothermal system installations.  Slinky coil ground loops are
essentially a more economic and space efficient version of a horizontal ground
loop.  Rather than using straight pipe, slinky coils, as you
might expect, use overlapped loops of piping laid out horizontally along the
bottom of a wide trench.  Depending on soil, climate and your
heat pumps’ run fraction, slinky coil trenches can be anywhere from one third to
two thirds shorter than traditional horizontal loop trenches. 



Geothermal Pond Loops 


If at least a ½ acre by 8 ft deep pond or lake is available
on your property, a closed loop geothermal system can be installed by laying
coils of pipe in the bottom of a body of water.  
However, a horizontal trench will still be needed to bring the loop up to
the home and close the loop.  Due to the inherent advantages
of water to water heat transfer, this type of geothermal system is both highly
economical and efficient. 





Source: U.S. Department of Energy


Open Geothermal Ground Loops 


With open geothermal ground
loops, rather than continuously running the same supply of
water or antifreeze through the system, fresh water from a well or pond is
pumped into and back out of the geothermal unit.  Both an
abundant source of clean water and an adequate runoff area are required for a
successful open loop system.  While double well designs can be
economical, use of open geothermal ground loops is generally discouraged and
even prohibited in some jurisdictions.  Water quality is key
to an open loop design as mineral content and acidity can quickly damage
geothermal units.  Also, improper installation or runoff
management of an open loop geothermal system can result in ground water
contamination or depleted aquifers. 


Want to know more?  Read Geothermal Ground Loops &
Geothermal HVAC Systems 





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A Typical Geothermal Power Plant