Most geothermal heat pump installations produce either hot water OR air for hydronic or forced air distribution as well as domestic hot water. A triple function installation does both, it provides hot water AND air for hydronic and forced air space heat as well as domestic hot water. The added flexibility for that this type of installation provides for new and existing buildings is tremendous. In the case below, the owner had never made use of the radiant slab because the heating system was forced air distribution.
Major advantages over a water to water unit using a fan coil or air handler include reduced footprint since it is all contained in one unit, integrated controls, system reliability and performance.
This installation operates at a system COP (coefficient of performance) in excess of 4.35. This means that for every part of electrical energy we input into the system, 3.35 or more are extracted from the ground – for free! This truly is the most efficient way to heat and cool you building.
The high amount of moving groundwater made this installation difficult but the performance of the groundloop exceptional due to the high conductivity and ability of the soil to recharge.
The antifreeze mixture is carried out to the groundloop at temperatures much colder than freezing during the heating season. The antifreeze mixture is heated by the earth and returned to the heatpump where its heat is extracted to drive up the cycle efficiency of the vapour compression cycle.
Distribution to the radiant slab is done via a distribution manifold that is equipped with adjustable flow meters and isolation valves. This permits precise control of the various zones.