Ground & Air Source Heat Pumps

Heat is stored below the earths surface at an even temperature between 8-12oC within the winter. Heat collecting pipes in a closed loop containing a fluid are used to extract this heat energy which is then used to provide space heating within the building. In some applications this cycle can be reversed to provide an element of cooling in the summer months.

A Ground Source Heat Pump (GSHP) comprises of three main elements, a ground loop, the heat pump compressor and the heat distribution system. The ground loop comprises of buried pipework within a horizontal trench or in vertical boreholes. The size of ground area required for trenches or the number and depth of boreholes will vary with the location and the application within the building.

The electricity power used to run the system is offset by the efficiency of the system which, typically will generate 3-4 times as much thermal energy as is used in electricity to drive the system. The use of these systems reduces the need for fossil fuels to operate traditional boiler systems.

An Air Source Heat Pump extracts heat from the outside air in much the same way as a refrigerator extracts heat from the inside. An Air Source Heat Pump generally comprises of three main components;

The evaporator coil which absorbs heat from the outside air.

The Heat Pump which compresses the refrigerant gas to the temperature needed for the heat distribution circuit.

The Heat Exchanger which transfers the heat from the refrigerant to air or water.

There are two types of Air Source Heat Pumps. Air to Air systems which provide warm air which is circulated within the building and Air to Water systems which provide heating to a building through radiators or, more typically, underfloor heating or to pre-heat water in a storage tank.