Ground-source heat pumps systems and applications

Ground-source or geothermal heat pumps are a highly efficient, renewable energy technology for space heating and cooling. This technology relies on the fact that, at depth, the Earth has a relatively constant temperature, warmer than the air in winter and cooler than the air in summer. A geothermal...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inRenewable & sustainable energy reviews Vol. 12; no. 2; pp. 344 - 371
Main Author Mustafa Omer, Abdeen
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Amsterdam Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2008
Oxford Elsevier
SeriesRenewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews
Subjects
Applications
Applied sciences
Devices using thermal energy
Economic data
Energy
Energy economics
Energy. Thermal use of fuels
Exact sciences and technology
General, economic and professional studies
Geothermal energy
Ground-source
Ground-source Heat pumps Loops Applications
Heat pumps
Loops
Natural energy
Ground-source
Heat pumps
Applications
Loops
Heat pump
Geothermal energy
Performance characteristic
Review
Energy savings
Implementation
Design
Energy conservation
Energetic efficiency
Technology
Environment impact
Performance
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Summary:Ground-source or geothermal heat pumps are a highly efficient, renewable energy technology for space heating and cooling. This technology relies on the fact that, at depth, the Earth has a relatively constant temperature, warmer than the air in winter and cooler than the air in summer. A geothermal heat pump can transfer heat stored in the Earth into a building during the winter, and transfer heat out of the building during the summer. Special geologic conditions, such as hot springs, are not needed for successful application of geothermal heat pumps. Ground-source heat pumps (GSHPs) are receiving increasing interest because of their potential to reduce primary energy consumption and thus reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. The technology is well established in North America and parts of Europe, but is at the demonstration stage in the UK. This article provides a detailed literature-based review of ground-source heat pump technology, concentrating on loops, ground systems, and looks more briefly at applications and costs and benefits. It concludes with the prospects for GSHP in the UK. It is concluded that, despite potential environmental problems, geothermal heat pumps pose little if any serious environmental risk when best management practices are applied during the installation, operation, and decommissioning of these systems.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-2
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-1
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ISSN:1364-0321
1879-0690
DOI:10.1016/j.rser.2006.10.003