How does a Geothermal Heat Pump (GHP) system work?
A Geothermal Heat Pump system can work in heating only, cooling only and heating/cooling configurations with providing domestic hot water as an option. (1) The pipes carry the antifreeze solution usually comprised of water and antifreeze, which has circulated through the underground loop and heat pump unit in the home. The antifreeze solution either picks up heat (heating mode) from or discharges heat (cooling mode) into the soil surrounding the ground loop. This process brings the antifreeze solution to the required temperature as it enters the heat pump unit. (2) The heat pump consists of a compressor, a high temperature heat exchanger, an expansion valve, and a low temperature heat exchanger, all connected in a closed circuit and filled with an environmentally friendly refrigerant. It upgrades heat through a complete refrigeration process as followings: • Heating cycle In the heating cycle, the heat collected from the ground is transferred to the evaporator (see Figure 2) in which r
