States that ground-source heat pumps (GSHPs) can significantly reduce heating and cooling costs relative to other forms of space conditioning. Direct expansion GSHPs use buried refrigerant piping to extract heat from the ground. Notes an investigation of this technology in an effort to make these systems more affordable. Describes a system using spiral copper ground coils buried in three 17 m (55 ft) trenches which has been built and tested. The unit produces about 8 kW (27,600 Btu/h) of heat at a coefficient of performance of 2.85. The spiral ground coil takes about half the space needed for a conventional GSHP design, making the product more acceptable to the retrofit market, where existing land use may preclude a conventional GSHP installation.
KEYWORDS: Heat pumps, USA, soil heat pumps, copper, testing, coefficient of performance, costs, economics, modernising, space requirements.
Citation: Symposium, ASHRAE Transactions, vol.97, Pt. 1, New York 1991
Product Details
- Published:
- 1991
- Number of Pages:
- 7
- File Size:
- 1 file , 760 KB
- Product Code(s):
- D-18628
