ABSTRACT
A geothermal heat pump (GHP) system consists of four distinct subsystems: (1) the ground heat exchanger loop, (2) the in-ground and building interior piping loop that connects the heat exchangers to the heat pumps, (3) the water source heat pumps and (4) the air distribution system. When engineers, contractors, and vendors attempt to contain installation costs, often they have concentrated on reducing the cost of item one, the ground loop. Reducing the size of the ground loop will significantly lower operating efficiency and will negatively impact system life and maintenance requirements. However, two of the other subsystems typically receive little attention—the piping loop and the air distribution system. Modifications to traditional piping and ducting methods can both reduce installation costs and improve operating efficiency. This chapter will discuss the design methods that will lead to these benefits. The chapter will also integrate these methods with a widely used ground loop sizing procedure.
