Absolutely everyone dreams of a good comfortable house. And one of the main components of a dream is the correct atmosphere in the room, that is, when it is warm in winter and in summer it feels comfortable. At the moment, there are many types of heating systems, so there is a choice. Somewhere and now they heat the house by burning wood, somewhere they prefer peat or coal, and someone uses natural gas or electricity for these purposes. For different types of heating and prices are different. There are problems associated with the safety of the heating system, as well as environmental issues.
Alternative to tradition
Quite often you can hear that the use of natural gas is considered the best option for heating a house. It is cheaper than other heat sources, however, there are certain problems. Natural gas is not accessible to everyone, since gas pipelines have not yet been routed everywhere. The geyser needs constant monitoring and maintenance. In addition, it is required to observe safety precautions, as well as first obtain permission from special offices.
There is such an alternative as geothermal heating. A similar idea is based on the principle of physical transfer of thermal energy to the refrigerant from the environment. The most important advantage of geothermal energy is that it is completely independent of the environment, time of year and time of day, and is also almost inexhaustible. Even solar energy, which also refers to renewable resources, is deprived of these properties. This technology was used quite successfully back in the eighties of the last century in the Soviet Union. However, in those days it was inaccessible and very expensive. At the moment, the situation has become completely different.
Russian developments in the field of renewable resources
At the moment, Russia can not boast of the presence of unique developments in this area. After all, they also require intelligence, certain research. Geothermal heating, based on the use of the same energy, has such a main advantage as complete independence and practical inexhaustibility. Now about the incredibly enormous possibilities of using the heat of the earth's depths we can speak only as a fundamental perspective. Water or a mixture of steam and water can be directed to the needs of heat supply and hot water supply, as well as to generate electric energy designed for different purposes. It all depends on the temperature.
High temperature heat should be used to generate electrical energy and heat supply. The station has a specific device, depending on which geothermal energy sources are used there. If there is a source of underground thermal water in the region, you can direct them to hot water supply and heat supply.
Geothermal heating systems are used more and more every day, since such heating has a lot of advantages, among which are safety, environmental friendliness and profitability. One of the main problems can be called the need for reverse water injection into the underground aquifers. Typically, thermal waters contain many salts, as well as toxic metals and a variety of chemical compounds. Because of this, it is impossible to discharge such waters into surface water systems.
So far in Russia there are not many geothermal stations. However, from year to year there are more and more supporters and users who prefer geothermal heating.
How it works?
It is very difficult to state the principle of operation of such an installation in an accessible form, since it has a rather complicated design. It’s easier to explain by resorting to some abstract example. It is worth imagining a system in the form of a refrigerator, just the opposite. Here, an evaporator located in the earth's depths acts as a freezer. The condenser, made of a copper coil, brings the air temperature to the desired level. And the temperature of the evaporator is much lower than at the surface. In such systems, the energy of the earth is used not only for heating, but also for air conditioning.
Geothermal heating involves the use of reliable and durable compressors based on innovative technologies of refrigeration systems, which allows you to create such unusual methods of transforming heat from the depths of the earth into high-quality heat, which is then used to heat the room. The heat pump in such a system is one of the most important components.
System basis
As a basic principle of the functioning of such a system, the physical transfer of thermal energy to the refrigerant from the environment is used. This can be seen in any refrigerator. The geothermal heating of a private house suggests that more than 75% of the total heat produced during the operation of such systems is the environmental energy that accumulates and enters the home. That is why this energy is distinguished by such an excellent property as self-healing. It turns out that geothermal heating at home is safe to use and is unable to do any damage to the energy or environmental balance of the planet.
Technology development
Geothermal heating systems began to be developed after energy crises of the seventies of the last century. When innovative installations only appeared, in their house they could be used not only by simple, but by very well-to-do families. However, subsequently, systems became more widespread, so that their cost became more affordable. Now a middle-income family can use geothermal heating, the price of which is from 35-40 thousand rubles and has become much affordable. Naturally, work is underway to improve equipment designed for these purposes. Every year more and more economical and convenient units appear.
Environmental friendliness
Geothermal heating of a private house, the price of which is becoming more affordable every year, is based on a qualitatively different fuel, unusual for us. The heating and conditioning of an individual dwelling is carried out through the energy of the earth, with the help of which it is possible to create optimal conditions for life. In addition, such heating is environmentally friendly, since its use does not lead to environmental pollution by toxic emissions and hazardous waste.
Safety in operation
Geothermal heating plants operate without the use of combustion processes. Thanks to this, any prerequisites for explosions or fires are completely excluded. The important advantages are often called the absence of the need for the purchase and installation of additional exhaust hoods and chimneys, which is required for heating systems that work on other principles. During the operation of such a system in the house does not appear harmful odors or fumes. In addition, it is worth mentioning the silent operation of such a heating system, as well as its compactness.
If we compare geothermal installations with solid fuel or liquid fuel systems, it is worth noting that they not only do not violate the interior of the home, but also do not require time to solve the problems associated with the acquisition, delivery and subsequent storage of fuel, since the energy of the earth can be called inexhaustible .
Issue price
When it comes to choosing devices and heating systems, one of the first places is always financial issues. Installation of a geothermal heating system will require significantly higher costs than diesel or gas equipment. However, it should be remembered about a significantly lower level of energy consumption. So in the long term, the acquisition and installation of such a system is more economical.
Space saving
There are several ways by which you can significantly reduce the space occupied by heat pumps if you do geothermal heating yourself:
- use special underground probes, for which a contour filled with antifreeze is lowered into the well;
- the use of warm groundwater, which requires drilling a deep well, and the water pumped out by the pump will be driven through the heat exchanger;
- probes are laid horizontally at a level below the level of glaciation of the bottom of ponds in winter.