Sign in  |  Register
Advanced search
Publication Cover

CITATION

Egg, Jay and Howard, Brian. Geothermal HVAC. US: McGraw-Hill Professional, 2010.

Geothermal HVAC

Authors: Jay Egg and Brian Howard

Published:  October 2010

eISBN: 9780071746113 0071746110 | ISBN: 9780071746106
Open eBook
  • Contents
  • Acknowledgments
  • Introduction
  • 1 Introduction to Geothermal Technologies
  • “Discovering” Geothermal Cooling
  • What Is Geothermal?
  • What Is “Earth-Coupled” Heating and Cooling?
  • The Clean, Green Energy with Great Promise
  • Reducing Peak Demand
  • Reducing the Use of Fossil Fuels
  • Reducing Carbon Emissions
  • Coal-Fired Electricity for Geothermal versus Natural Gas
  • Summary
  • 2 Heat Transfer and HVAC Basics
  • Understanding Heat Transfer
  • Heat Transfer and Geothermal HVAC
  • The Main Parts of a Geothermal System
  • The Basics of Mechanical Refrigeration
  • Types of Heating and Cooling Equipment
  • Conventional Fuel Burners
  • Electric Resistance Heating
  • Heat Pumps
  • Passive Solar
  • Adiabatic, Evaporative, or Swamp Coolers
  • Direct Expansion Systems
  • Chillers
  • Absorption Chiller System
  • Cooling Towers
  • The Critical Issue of Equipment Sizing
  • What Is the Size of My Current System(s)?
  • Summary
  • 3 Geothermal Heat Pumps and Their Uses
  • Passive and Forced-Air Earth-Coupled Duct Systems
  • Water-Source, Forced-Air Heat Pumps (Water-to-Air Heat Pumps)
  • Direct Expansion Geothermal Heat Pumps
  • Water-to-Water Heat Pumps (Heat Pump Chillers and Boilers)
  • Applications of Geothermal Heat Pumps
  • Pool Heaters
  • Domestic Hot Water
  • Process Cooling and Heating
  • Rooftop Equipment
  • Modular or Piggyback Units
  • Package Terminal Heat Pumps
  • Vertical Stack Modular Units
  • 100% Fresh Air Equipment
  • Refrigeration Systems
  • Hybrid Systems
  • Superefficient DC HVAC
  • Keeping the Cows Cool
  • Summary
  • 4 Earth Coupling through Ground Loops
  • Getting the Load and Loop Size Right
  • Piping Material
  • Grout and Backfill
  • Manifolds or Header Systems
  • Loop Designs
  • Vertical Loops
  • Horizontal Loops
  • Pond, Lake, or Ocean Loops (Use with Caution)
  • Pumping Groundwater, Lake Water, or Seawater (Open-Loop Systems)
  • Pump and Reinjection
  • Standing Column Wells
  • Surficial Aquifers and Caisson Infiltration
  • Concerns with Open Loops
  • Open Loops versus Closed Loops
  • Summary
  • 5 Introduction to Load Sharing
  • Benefits of Load Sharing
  • The Case of a Large Hotel
  • Earth Coupling as Thermal Savings Bank
  • Summary
  • 6 Efficiency and Load Calculations Simplified
  • Rating Geothermal Systems
  • Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) (for Gas Furnaces)
  • Cooling Load in kW/ton
  • Coefficient of Performance (COP)
  • Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER)
  • Determining Actual Efficiencies
  • Load Calculations
  • Manuals Published by the Air Conditioning Contractors of America
  • Manual J: Residential Heat Gain and Loss Analysis
  • Manual N: Commercial Heat Gain and Loss Analysis
  • Manual D: Residential Duct Design
  • Manual Q: Commercial Low-Pressure Duct Design
  • Energy Calculations and Value
  • Summary
  • 7 Understanding Pricing of Geothermal Systems
  • Factors That Affect the Price of Geothermal HVAC
  • Efficiency Ratings
  • Quality
  • System Sizes
  • Topography
  • Load Sharing
  • Sales Volume and Competition
  • Optional Upgrades
  • Heat Recovery for Domestic Hot Water
  • Domestic Hot Water Geothermal Heat Pumps
  • Exchanger Materials
  • Compressor Stages
  • Hot Gas Reheat
  • Intermediate Exchangers
  • Direct Digital Controls (DDC)
  • Summary
  • 8 Incentives, Tax Credits, and Rebates
  • U.S. Federal Tax Credits
  • Commercial Tax Credits and Incentives
  • The Feingold-Ensign Support Renewable Energy Act
  • Home Star (Cash for Caulkers)
  • Rural Energy Savings Program Act
  • State and Local Incentives
  • PACE Funding
  • Summary
  • 9 Understanding Geothermal Project Proposals
  • Typical Geothermal HVAC Proposals
  • Poor Proposals
  • Good Proposals
  • Summary
  • 10 How to Calculate Your Payback
  • Determining ROI on Residential Systems
  • ROI on Geothermal Pool Heat Pumps
  • Calculating Payback Periods for Commercial Geothermal Systems
  • Net Present Value
  • 30 Cents a kWh: The Big Impact of Higher Electric Rates
  • Summary
  • 11 Verifying Your System
  • Actual SEER and EER Results
  • Factors That Can Affect Efficiency
  • Regional Climate Issues
  • How to Calculate Your Own EER
  • Data Points
  • Minimum Efficiency Standards
  • Summary
  • 12 Life Cycles and Longevity
  • The Benefits of Indoor Equipment
  • How to Determine When Upgrades Pay Off
  • Summary
  • 13 Common Problems and Horror Stories
  • A Word on Water Conservation
  • Common Issues
  • Underground Hazards
  • Pressurized Pockets
  • Broken or Damaged Loops
  • Design and Installation Fails
  • Choosing the Wrong Loop Type
  • Unfinished Jobs
  • Pushy Contractors
  • Miscommunication, Faulty Equipment, Inexperience—Oh My!
  • Misunderstanding the Technology
  • Summary
  • 14 Geothermal Spreads around the Globe
  • Geothermal HVAC Efforts Around the World
  • Australia
  • China
  • Eastern Europe
  • South Korea
  • Western Europe
  • Conclusion
  • Appendix: Geothermal HVAC Resources
  • Government
  • Advocacy and Professional
  • Manufacturers
  • Installers
  • Index