Overview Harnessing heat in a natural manner from underground by pumping water through a system of pipes buried below the ground is the function of a ground source heat pump. The temperature of water is further raised by the heat pump. This water is supplied to the home to keep the room warm or it can be used as hot water. Though electricity is needed to operate the pump, it requires lower electrical energy when compared to the amount of heat that is produced. The work of a heat pump here can be compared to a boiler found in system used for central heating. On the other hand, ground source heat pump utilizes the heat absorbed from the ground instead of fuel to produce heat. Air source heat pump that can be purchased is mainly placed at the back or the side of any property. Air is the source for heat in this type of pump.
Ground source heat pump The system of ground source heat pump is made from a ground loop consisting of water pipes network that is buried under the ground. Besides, it also requires a heat pump installed at the level of the ground.
Working of a ground source heat pump The working of a ground source heat pump involves a combination of anti-freeze and water that is pumped near the ground loop. This absorbs the heat that is naturally stored below the ground. The important components of the pump comprise a condenser, a compressor, and an evaporator. All these components absorb heat from the water mixture, which is further transferred to the heating system of the house. By doing this, the temperature of heated water from the ground is increased appreciably. The heat thus produced can be utilized for hot water in a radiator or heating the room through under floor system of heating. The necessity for an extra heating system used as a backup may depend on the requirement of a person’s home.
Advantages of ground source heat pump One of the main advantages of this pump is that it generates less carbon dioxide in comparison to the traditional system of heating. It is possible to achieve substantial amount of money savings ranging from £395 to £2,000 per annum through a ground source heat pump. This depends on the type of heating system that is being replaced. Electricity is required for running the pump that distributes the liquid in the underground loop. There is saving of two to four units of heat for each unit of electricity utilized by the ground source pump. This is found to be an excellent method of heating a building. A middle range efficiency of a heat pump utilizes only thirty percent of energy that is required in a normal oil or gas boiler in order to generate an equivalent amount of heat.
Conclusion A ground source heat pump is considered to be the best for newly constructed properties rather than fitting it in an old home. Once the ground source heat pump system has been installed, the element in the ground loop requires very little maintenance. With the knowledge about the pump, it is possible for anyone to select the best type of ground source heat pump from a reputed dealer.
Author Bio
The author of this article is associated with Global Energy Systems and write various articles related to Heat Pumps UK and its benefits.
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