Ground Source Heat Pump Systems

Ground source heat pumps take heat from under the ground using a liquid circulating in a buried pipe. The heat extracted is generally used to warm water for space heating.

Ground Source Heat Pump
(click for a larger version of this image)

ground source heat pump (photograph)

Slinky® ground loop

Whatever your Mechanical Services needs, from simple ventilation to fully comprehensive systems including ground and air source heat pumps, Andrew Engineering will be able to turn your requirement into reality.

From the initial client brief, the whole design and installation process is professionally managed through to handover.

Either working from a full client specification or an open statement of requirement, Andrew Engineering will bring the experience necessary to ensure the optimum system selection.

Andrew Engineering can tailor an individual solution to meet the requirements and provide energy efficient solutions for your environment.

Andrew Engineering design and build systems using equipment from major manufacturers, yet remain completely independent.

Choice of equipment is based upon consideration of all the factors involved to achieve the best solution for the customer.

Ground source heat pumps take heat from under the ground using a liquid circulating in a buried pipe. The heat extracted is generally used to warm water for space heating.

Ground source heat pumps (GSHP) are best suited to well insulated (well insulated means in excess of current UK regulations.) new buildings, but can also be retro-fitted to existing buildings.

GSHP work best with low temperature water based heating systems such as underfloor heating.

The key starting point for confirming the feasibility of a GSHP installation is the calculation of the heat loss for the building with the related energy consumption profile. These allow accurate sizing of the heat pump system including sizing of the ground loop.

Andrew Engineering are Low Carbon Building Programme approved and members of the Ground Source Heat Pump Association.

External ground heat exchangers can be either

Closed loop systems
Open loop systems

For the majority of systems closed loop will be preferable, avoiding the need for potentially costly geological and geotechnical surveys.

Closed loops can be

Horizontal single pipe
Horizontal Slinky®
Vertical in a bore hole

If the ground space is available and local ground conditions allow, then horizontal ground loops should be used to minimise capital costs. Horizontal loops are usually installed as a Slinky® to minimise ground works, typically 20% of that for a single pipe. For a horizontal ground loop the trench should be between 1 - 2m deep.

Ground loops can also be laid under water, for example in a large pond or lake. Vertical loops are used where ground space is limited and also in larger installations. Vertical installations are more expensive to install but have higher thermal efficiencies.

GSHP - Potential benefits:

Reducing purchased energy consumption
Low CO2 emissions
High reliability
Long life expectancy
Low maintenance costs
Low noise
No fuel storage tank

For further information see Energy Efficiency Best Practice in Housing 'Domestic Ground Source Heat Pumps' - Design and installation of closed loop systems. www.est.org.uk/bestpractice

If you want to consider a ground source heat pump then please download the enquiry form and send it to Andrew Engineering with all of the required information filled in. Please also supply the SAP calculations for the building.

Ground Source Heat Pump Enquiry Form (File Size 36k, format Adobe Acrobat PDF).