Print this page Ground Source Heat Pump Project Analysis
Velimir Lackovic, MScEE
Course Outline
Maintaining a comfortable temperature inside a building can require a significant amount of energy. Separate heating and cooling systems are often used to maintain the desired air temperature, and the energy required to operate these systems generally comes from electricity, fossil fuels, or biomass. Considering that 46% of sun’s energy is absorbed by the earth, another option is to use this abundant energy to heat and cool a building.
A heat pump is used to concentrate or upgrade this free heat energy from the ground before distributing it in a building through conventional ducts. It operates much as a refrigerator or conventional air conditioning system in that it relies on an external source of energy - typically electricity - to concentrate the heat and shift the temperature.
Installation and exploitation of the ground source heat pump (GSHP) system requires carefully technical planning and financial evaluation. This course describes several systems currently in use and methods method used to estimate of building loads. Combining weather and building data enables the calculation of building loads for each temperature bin. With the GSHP related data, it then becomes possible to evaluate the actual heat pump performance and capacity for each temperature bin, and finally calculate the yearly performance of the GSHP system assessed.
This course is suitable for engineers with a desire to understand the fundamentals of GSHP system and issues related to their technical and financial implementation and exploitation. Upon successful completion engineers will be able to address GSHP terms, methods of operation and how to set up detailed technical and financial GSHP model.
This course includes
a multiple choice quiz at the end,
Learning Objective
At the conclusion of this course, the student will become familiar with:
- Basic theory and ground source heat pump technology background;
- Heat pump basics;
- Details about ground-coupled heat pumps and groundwater heat pumps;
- Details about surface water and ground frost heat pumps;
- Heating and cooling distribution systems;
- How to make ground-source heat pump project model;
- How to make energy balances for commercial and residential buildings;
- Building load calculation – Energy use model; and
- Energy use evaluation.
Intended Audience
This course is intended for electrical and mechanical engineers.
Benefit to Attendees
Attendee of this course will understand basic ground source heat pump operation principles, methods of installation and technical and financial indicators that are important at project prefeasibility stage.
Course Introduction
A heat pump is used to concentrate or upgrade this free heat energy from the ground before distributing it in a building through conventional ducts. It operates much as a refrigerator or conventional air conditioning system in that it relies on an external source of energy - typically electricity - to concentrate the heat and shift the temperature. Typically, each kilowatt (kW) of electricity used to operate a GSHP system draws more than 3 kW of renewable energy from the ground. Heat pumps typically range from 3.5 to 35 kW in cooling capacity (about 1 to 10 refrigeration tons), and a single unit is generally sufficient for a house or a small commercial building. For larger commercial, institutional or industrial buildings, multiple heat pumps units will often be employed.
Course Content
In this lesson, you are required to download and study the following course content in PDF format:
Ground Source Heat Pump Project Analysis
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Course Summary
In this course the algorithms for Ground-Source Heat Pump (GSHP) project model have been shown in detail. As inputs, the model requires weather data, building data, and GSHP related data. The modified bin method allows the estimate of building loads. Weather data are used to generate temperature bins and calculate the temperature of the ground. Building data are used to calculate heating and cooling load vs. temperature relationships and the building’s balance points. Combining weather and building data enables the calculation of building loads for each temperature bin. With the GSHP related data, it then becomes possible to evaluate the actual heat pump performance and capacity for each temperature bin, and finally calculate the yearly performance of the GSHP system assessed.
Quiz
Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.
DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.
