DC-83-08-5 -- Applications of Heat Pumps Using Groundwater Resources PDF

This paper discusses the application of heat-pumps using low-temperature groundwater sources for commercial and institutional building heating applications. Two projects are highlighted. One is a hospital retrofit project, installed in 1380, funded under the National Energy Conservation and Policy Act. The other is a district central heating plant in central Washington state funded as part of a Housing and Urban Development demonstration of the use of low-temperature geothermal resources in an applied heat-pump situation. Circumstances surrounding the selection of these sites and heat-pumping concepts are discussed. Elements of the designs are discussed with respect to how they were incorporated to reduce the energy consumption of each project in source energy units. Economic considerations are addressed as are the general parameters of sites for which this type of solution could be considered by other engineers for similar applications. Results of the hospital installation are discussed and the expected results of the central Washington site are explored. Conclusions are drawn with respect to the general application of this type of heat-pump system.