Ground Source Heat Pumps And Greenhouses

 

One of the most exciting developments in renewable energy is a wonderful source of free and boundless energy which exists below ground and is extracted using ground source heat pumps (also known as a geothermal heat pump). Interestingly, especially in relation to greenhouses, is the fact that the system can also be used for cooling but how effective are such systems and are they yet suitable for home use and/or in the greenhouse?

Introducing Ground Source Heat Pumps

There are several systems available which use differing technologies to extract (or exchange) energy from below the earths surface which manifests in the form of heat. Usually the systems are used to transfer the heat across to a medium which is pumped down, and once heated, pumped back up again.

The four most common types are:

Water To Water
Usually these systems utilize the heated water in radiators and under floor heating systems.

Water To Air
Usually these systems are used in air conditioning systems.

Hybrid
Hybrid systems use both water to water and water to air to produce heat from both simultaneously.

For more information on ground source heat pumps you can't really get much better than Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geothermal_heat_pump

Ground Source Heat Pumps In Greenhouses

Maintaining the perfect temperature is only part of the management of your greenhouse environment but it is one which causes ongoing expense. While these systems can be expensive to install I would suggest that you take a serious look at installing a system for your whole house as well as the greenhouse to extract maximum benefit and return on investment. However, those of us who can afford such systems choose to use them for the benefit of the earths environment and to lessen our personal carbon footprint and often, in such cases, the economics are a mere secondary concern.

For the technically minded, or for those who are seriously considering using the systems mentioned above I would suggest reading Greenhouse Heating with Geothermal Heat Pump Systems by Andrew Chiasson, P.E. which is available at http://geoheat.oit.edu/pdf/tp118.pdf and goes into great detail on the math in relation to the economics of utilizing ground source heat pumps in greenhouses.

 

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