Geothermal Heat Pumps For Central Heating
A renewable form of energy, ground source(geothermal) heat pumps use the ground as their main energy source to heat water.
They do this by utilising geothermal collectors or geothermal probes that are buried into the surrounding land or by utilizing groundwater. With ground temperatures remaining stable all year round, ground source heat pumps are able to provide the greatest efficiencies of the heat pump types - unequalled on performance and running costs.
These solutions provide heating and hot water. Combined geothermal central heating and cooling systems are also now available.
We’ve been installing geothermal central heating in NZ for well over a decade. Design at planning stage matters: we still see jobs that were undersized or poorly looped, then expensive to run or repair.
CAN RADIATORS BE USED WITH A GEOTHERMAL HEAT PUMP
Radiators work well with geothermal and air-to-water heat pumps when they are sized to the flow temperature.
They can heat only, or heat and cool when you use fan-driven models.
Most hydronic heat pumps are most efficient at lower water temperatures — typically around 35–55°C — compared with a gas or diesel boiler at around 70–80°C. Some R290 units can run higher, up to about 75°C, but efficiency drops as flow temperature rises.
At 50°C flow, a normal steel panel delivers less than half the output it would at 75°C. To keep the same comfort you need a larger radiator, or a Low-H₂O / fan-assisted radiator designed for low temperature.
We supply radiators and underfloor systems specified for heat-pump flow temperatures.
.jpg)
IS IT RIGHT FOR MY PROJECT?
With any geothermal central heating installation, it’s important to get the sizing of the system right. The correct size of heat pump and ground circuits for your property will depend on the size of your property and your specific heating needs.
When calculating this, you’ll need to know how much heat is lost from your property - and this is affected by a range of factors, including how well glazed and insulated it is.
Your geothermal central heating installation will be sized to counter the loss of warmth from your property and to ensure that the heating needs of your property are met comfortably even on a cold day in winter.
Longer ground circuits will draw more heat from the ground, but they need more space to be buried in. If there’s a shortage of space, a bore hole may be buried vertically rather than horizontally.
Solutions with Geothermal Central Heating
Removing heat from the ground or water, the geothermal heat pump will transfer this heat from 10-12 degrees up to 70 degrees via a refrigeration process. This results in an efficiency of up to 600%.
Expert planning is required for this system to work for you efficiently.
Applications where a geothermal heat pump is used:
-
Geothermal central heating
-
Heating water for central heating convectors and radiators
-
Floor and wall heating solutions
-
Domestic hot water heating
-
Pool and spa heating
-
Cooling
-
Commercial heating and hot water heating
-
Agriculture industry applications
Contact us at Red Dwarf for professional advice and knowledge that will help you choose the right energy source for your system.
