GEO-THERMAL
Inline system
Earths Core layers
GEO-THERMAL works like this, the center of the earth is approx 5500°C - 9930°F , this is similar to the temperature of the sun and consists mostly of iron-nickel. The reason the center is so hot is still up for debate and there are many theory's, but most of them rely on friction and pressure and the presence of radio active and combustible particles This means that the center of the earth is a super massive energy exchange system. Other then keeping the planet alive and allowing us to live our day to day lives this does very little for us on a practical level or does it? The fact of the matter is that the deeper you dig into the the earth the warmer it will get. The first 4 to 6 feet of the earth is called the frost line, this area is susceptible to the current seasons that the surface of the earth is experiencing as well as the geological area. Once you have penetrated this area and get below the 4- 6 foot mark the temperature will become more constant and stable between 45 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit, this heat is the result of the earths thermal inertia from the core heat of the earth, the deeper you go the higher the temperature will raise. Dogs dig holes to lay in on hot days because the temperature is cooler in the hole then it is on the surface of the earth, it's cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. So how do you harness this energy and make it work for you? "You dig a hole".
Who doesn't love digging a hole. Now you just have to figure what kind of hole to dig. Some Geo-thermals work off what is like drilling a well, You dig a deep vertical hole approximately 10 to 14 inches wide anywhere from 25 to 250 feet deep depending up your needs and the square foot areas that you are trying heat. once your hole/well is dug you will submerge a long coiled tube to the bottom of the hole and then the hole is filled back in and the tube is filled a liquid, usually known as "Ethylene glycerol" (it is close to what you put in your radiator in your car) which is a sugar based compound that freezes and boils at lesser and higher rates then water making it stable for this application. The other hole that can be dug is a shallower wider hole, maybe 10 feet deep but with a wider berth of maybe 40 by 40 feet. again this depends on your energy needs. The glycerol is brought to the 45 - 65 degree range in the subsection of the earth and then pumped into your dwelling where it used by heat exchanges to heat your hot water or ran through the floors in a series of hoses to heat or cool the mass of the building. This energy is totally free from mother nature. If you use a solar powered pump then eventually the entire system will pay for itself.
Links and resources
-GeoThermal -How it works -Tax Credits -The Guide to Home Geothermal Energy
Who doesn't love digging a hole. Now you just have to figure what kind of hole to dig. Some Geo-thermals work off what is like drilling a well, You dig a deep vertical hole approximately 10 to 14 inches wide anywhere from 25 to 250 feet deep depending up your needs and the square foot areas that you are trying heat. once your hole/well is dug you will submerge a long coiled tube to the bottom of the hole and then the hole is filled back in and the tube is filled a liquid, usually known as "Ethylene glycerol" (it is close to what you put in your radiator in your car) which is a sugar based compound that freezes and boils at lesser and higher rates then water making it stable for this application. The other hole that can be dug is a shallower wider hole, maybe 10 feet deep but with a wider berth of maybe 40 by 40 feet. again this depends on your energy needs. The glycerol is brought to the 45 - 65 degree range in the subsection of the earth and then pumped into your dwelling where it used by heat exchanges to heat your hot water or ran through the floors in a series of hoses to heat or cool the mass of the building. This energy is totally free from mother nature. If you use a solar powered pump then eventually the entire system will pay for itself.
Links and resources
-GeoThermal -How it works -Tax Credits -The Guide to Home Geothermal Energy
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