Visit the Energy Systems Laboratory Homepage.
Earth-Coupled Water-Source Heat Pump Research, Design and Applications in Louisiana
Abstract
An earth-coupled water-source heat pump uses
the earth as the thermal source and sink for
economical, energy efficient, space heating and
cooling. Water exiting the heat pump passes through
an earth heat exchanger, which is a closed loop of
plastic pipe embedded in the earth, and gains or
rejects heat before returning to the heat pump.
Three earth heat exchanger configurations have
been field tested, and a design method for sizing
these to water-source heat pumps for residential and
commercial applications has been developed.
This paper summarizes the results of the field
tests, explains the design method, overviews
residential and commercial applications, and
compares the economics of earth-coupled water-source
heat pump systems to conventional space heating and
cooling systems.
Citation
Braud, H. J.; Klimkowski, H.; Baker, F. E. (1985). Earth-Coupled Water-Source Heat Pump Research, Design and Applications in Louisiana. Energy Systems Laboratory (http://esl.tamu.edu); Texas A&M University (http://www.tamu.edu). Available electronically from https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /6743.