Energy

How it works

Even though it is characterised by very high technology and very high performance, a domestic geothermal system is very simple. It consists of three principal elements:
- geothermal sensors or probes: these are simple pipes dug in the ground which have the task of absorbing the heat of the subsoil. So that the heat exchange with the ground is more efficient, the probes are filled with a so-called “thermovector” fluid, characterized by high thermal conductivity.
-heat pump, or thermopump: it is the “heart” of the system, in practice a generator that uses the heat extracted from the probes so that it can be exploited by the distribution system.
-an internal heat distribution system: this is the normal heating distribution system that is present in all the homes; however, so that the system can exploit geothermal energy in the best manner, using only a very small amount of external electricity, it is advisable that this should be a low temperature type of system (35°C), for example, radiation panels instead of normal radiators, that use water at a high temperature(60-70°C). The same system can be used for cooling in summer by simply inverting the heat pump operation. Additionally there is a reservoir to accumulate the hot water (very similar to a normal “boiler”).