How does Geothermal Heating System Work

Geothermal heat refers to heat retained inside the Earth's surface. The term geothermal is derived from the Greek words, geo for Earth and thermos for heat. As per evidences, heat energy in the deep underground results from the decay of radioactive particles and absorption of solar heat. The average temperature of geothermal heat is 50 - 70 degrees Fahrenheit. This geothermal energy can be used as an alternative energy source for heating homes and household appliances.

Geothermal Heating

Geothermal heating is a new technology implemented for solving the global energy crisis. It makes use of geothermal energy for heating or cooling applications. As of now, it has succeeded in providing more than 0.07 percent of the worldwide energy consumption. In a geothermal heating system, the heat energy stored inside the Earth's surface is used for heating purposes. It is also referred to as ground source heat pump. A standard geothermal heating system has the capacity to warm up a building without using other heating appliances. Let's see in brief how does geothermal heating system work.

Working of Geothermal Heating System

For better understanding of the working of a geothermal heating system, first let's discuss about its main components. In this heating system, there are three primary parts, namely, a geothermal heat pump, ground loop system and a distribution system. The geothermal heat pump is installed inside the house or property, while the ground loops or pipes are configured under the Earth's crust at a specific depth. The depth of the piping depends upon the possibility of geothermal heat in the particular area.

The pipes of the ground loop are connected to the geothermal heat pump and the distribution system is configured as per the requirement of the user. The heat pump forces a liquid refrigerant or cool water into the pipes of the ground loop, which is then circulated underground. The refrigerant is warmed up naturally due to geothermal heating inside the Earth's surface. The heated water is circulated back to the heat pump that exchanges the heat by using a heat exchanger. This heat exchanger then circulates warm air inside the house via the distribution system.

Speaking about the uses of geothermal heating system in warmer months, this can be operated for cooling a house similar to air conditioners. The working principle of the system is reversed so that heat exchanger now supplies cool air in the house. For setting the desired temperature, an electronic thermostat is configured in the system, which heats or cools the house accordingly. This is in brief an answer to how does a geothermal heating system work.

Since the heat exchanger is operated by using electricity, the overall working of geothermal heating system consumes some amount of energy. Nevertheless, it is very cost effective to use geothermal heating in comparison to other heating systems. Geothermal heating system is more successful in areas that lie near the plate tectonic boundaries. Over these regions, the heat-laden magma often rises near to the earth's surface. In such cases, geothermal heating can be effectively used for heating water.

One of the major advantages of geothermal heating is that it is renewable and eco-friendly. It is renewable since heat trapped inside the Earth's surface can be used for both heating or cooling purposes. Also, unlike other conventional heating appliances, operation of geothermal heating system does not emit toxic gases or pollutants.