Geothermal Systems are entitled to a grant of Euro 2,000 upwards from Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). Interested to know what these Geo Thermal Energy and Geothermal Systems are? Then this article is for you. Learn about systems that could rise up to 600% efficiency.

Geothermal Energy

The earth we inhabit is inundated with Solar Energy every day. A substantial portion of this vast quantity of energy is stored below the surface of the planet and available for useful work, provided it can be harnessed economically and conveniently. But on the other hand, compared to the inherent thermal energy resources of the planet available under it’s crust and produced by radioactive decay, this solar energy pales in to insignificance.

Geothermal resources can be broadly categorized as;

• High Temperature (i.e. >150 0C) – Used generally for the generation of electrical energy.

• Intermediate Temperature – (i.e. <150 0C) -  Direct Use applications, Ground Source Heat Pumps

• Low  Temperature - (i.e. <32 0C) - Ground Source Heat Pumps

The high temperature applications have been in existence for quite some time compared to others and are strictly for high capacity commercial use for power generation.  Intermediate temperature Direct Use applications are often used in district heating etc.

Low grade heat is used strictly for Ground Source Heat Pump systems and is one of the most efficient heating and cooling systems available to us today.

Direct Use Applications

Direct Use Applications mainly consist of five major sub systems. These are;

• The production System (that transfer the geothermal energy to a circulating fluid) inclusive of the Producing Well Bore and associated well head equipment (pumps controls, etc).

• The Transmission and distribution system –this will transfer Geo thermal Energy from the source to the end-user site and distribute it to the individual terminals (room equipment).

• The End-User system (radiators, Fan Coil Units, Packaged Unitary Equipment etc.).

• The used water disposal system which can be surface disposal or injection back in to the original underground locality.

• An optional peaking/backup (auxiliary heating system).

The direct use systems may be;

• Open Loop which include production wellhead equipment, optional peaking/backup unit, user system and the disposal system.

• Closed Loop( Hybrid) where the primary circuit is an open loop incorporating Injection Well Head equipment and production well head equipment inclusive of a Heat Exchanger where the secondary circuit is a closed loop which also includes a pump, peaking/backup unit and the user system.

Direct use systems are susceptible to the quality of water such as presence of Total dissolved Salts (of which there is abundance in deep underground), Hydrogen Sulphide, Sulpher, etc. Also disposal of water on surface is prohibited in almost all localities and has best be injected back to the source. The initial capital costs are high though the operation and maintenance cost is very little.

Look out for the sequel in this article on Ground Source Heat Pumps, the most popular geothermal heating system anywhere in the world, which will follow.

Geothermal Heating is one of the most efficient heating systems available for you today.