Geothermal Heating and Cooling System - Report Example

Geothermal Heating and cooling system Building Services, two Name of the student: Student number: Building Name: Manitoba Hydro, Canada System: Geothermal Cooling and Heating System Word Count: 1531 Contents Function 2 Benefits 3 Location 4 Spatial requirements 7 Operation and maintenance of the system 8 Other relevant information 10 Function This system aids in temperature regulation by ensuring powered radiant slabs and even consistent heat distribution throughout the course of the year. It therefore provides a supportive workplace for the workforce and the customers as well as adhering to the global requirements of high standards and energy efficiency as well as sustainability. The main function of the system is therefore to increase heat supply during winter and cooling system during summer. The system is designed to have a regulated all year round temperature within the building. Geothermal system for cooling and heating therefore has an ability to provide either cold or hot air into the room from the excess stores of both hot and cold air (Turanli, 2007). This air is then channeled into the rooms maintaining a relatively constant whether in the rooms. It has an ability to conform to the climatic variations that is a feature of the building and Canada at large. The system is also able to utilize the excess heat from the room and use to heat the cold incoming air which is then circulated as humidified air. Benefits The system produces no smoke stacks. Environmentally, the system demonstrates stewardship in its ability to promote as green environmental practice. It reduces the annual costs spent on heating as it is cheap. The amount spent as heating costs is reduced by 60% compared to the cost that would be required when conventional electricity is utilized. This system utilizes a small space making it cost effective by its ability to fit the available space without compromising the installation of other essential elements in a building. Geothermal heating and cooling system is able to provide a uniform heating and cooling system. In this regard, the temperature regulation occurs within a determined range. The limits can be determined since there are no cases of excesses. The increased comfort in terms of efficient temperature regulation translates to increased productivity and better outcome in terms of profits. This improves the marketability of the building due to reduced costs of production and increased productivity and value addition (Turanali, 2002). The mechanism has shown a commitment towards the realization of a sustainable future through well established zero tolerance to global warming. This is as a result of minimized smoke emission that is a characteristic of most heating systems. Simplicity and reliability makes it a more efficient system that regulates the temperature of the building. The system is made of simple materials such as copper which is easy to obtain. The system does not have moving parts which makes it more efficient due to less maintenance cost required in the operation of the machine. The system is more durable compared to other systems that lasts for a short duration and would necessitate replacement. Once it is installed, the system can last up to 30 years, all this while sustaining a temperature regulated environment. The flexibility of the system makes it easy to adjust to the emerging trends in technology as it easily adjust and conform to the new trends that changes over times. Location Figure 1: Illustration of the location geothermal cooling and heating system (Manitoba Hydro, 2007) The system is located in the inner wall of the building and the underground basement of the building. The picture above represents an artistic view locating the exact points the system is located. On the left side shows the location of the inner heating and cooling units. This further condition the air as it makes its way into the raised floor distribution plenum. On the right side is a demonstration of the artistic impression of the exact point of location for the geothermal heating and cooling system. It shows the location of underground location of the 280 boreholes that are drilled up to 125 meters in depth. This permits the excess heat stored within the soil to be drawn into the building during the winter season (Rezaei, 2015). The building is thus conditioned during the cold seasons. Hot whether during the summer seasons, the deep boreholes are able to draw the excess cold that is stored in the soil up to the building to provide a cooling effect to the building. The picture below illustrates the view of the boreholes into the soil (Manitoba Hydro et al., 1999). This is a picture that was taken from within the building indicating the drilled boreholes for temperature regulation. The warmth carried from the soil during winter season is channeled upwards though the boreholes through the pipes and conditioned after which it is supplied to all the rooms of the building. This then provides an atmosphere that is able to increase productivity of the workers and the occupants of the building. Figure 2: Illustration of the internal location of the geothermal Cooling and heating system (Turanli, 2007) Spatial requirements The boreholes are drilled with a distance of 8 meters distance from each other with an average of meters apart. This means the area covered by the system is equal to the base are that can accommodate 280 bores that are five meters apart (Manitoba Hydro et al., 1999). In consideration of the space required by the geothermal system, the total number of boreholes drilled would be multiplied by the average 8m x280 boreholes =2240meters length required 2240 meters x 125 meters deep =280,000 280,000is the total area covered but the 125 meters is under ground Therefore the total area required would be a square root of 2240 =47.328 Therefore the total area covered by the 280 boreholes is 47.382 Vertically, that is when within the space, the air within the tubes from the boreholes is channeled to one tube that supplies the conditioned air to the 18-stotey building. This single tube therefore covers the extent of the building supplying the 18 storeys. Operation and maintenance of the system The geothermal system consists of 280 copper pipes that are 125 meters long. The reason for such a deep ground follows the consideration that the temperatures tend to remain constant as the depth increases above six meters underground (Manitoba Hydro, 2002). This therefore prevents the tendencies of inconsistent temperatures that could be the case with shallow pipes. The main principle lies in the basic principle of a water heating system. The figure below illustrates the basic principles of its operation. Figure 3: illustration of basic mechanism of cooling and heating system (Manitoba Hydro, 1992) The system performs by storing either hot or cold conditions deep in the soil. In considering the first picture, hot water is drawn in and is used to heat the cold water that is coming in. This occurs during the summer. The hot used water from the room is heat the water from the ground after which it is supplied to the room through the single tube referred to above under the location of the geothermal heating system. This cold water is thus used to condition the air that is supplied to the rooms as cold humid air. This therefore maintains a conducive atmosphere that permits operations within the rooms. The occupants release hot air taken up and used to heat the incoming cold water. This therefore provides a vicious cycle or temperature regulation. During winter, cold air from the room is heated as shown in the second diagram by the photo at the middle. The cold air is heated and then recirculated into the rooms as hot air after being conditioned. The hot air produced is then used to heat the cold air getting into the room and recirculating it as warm air. The long deep boreholes are the center of this operation with their ability to supply conditioned air based on the building requirements. During winter seasons, the boreholes draw in the excess heat that is stored in the soil and channels it upwards into the building (Manitoba Hydro et al., 1999). This hot air is used to heat the incoming cold air after which the air is channeled into the rooms as hot air which then increases the room temperature. These adjustments also permit cold air to be drawn from the soil during summer seasons and used to cool the incoming hot air and feel the room with cold air. Other relevant information Other systems also take place in the temperature regulation. Figure 4: Illustration of the Atrium water feature (Rezaei, 2015) On the walls is the atrium water feature as that aids in humidification in summer season or dehumidification of air during winter seasons. During summer time, water vapor from the rooms targets the atrium water feature. It then melts the water columns which then flows down as ribbons as shown above (Manitoba Hydro, 1992). The cold water then dehumidifies the air allowing cold air to supply the room. This mechanism is able to extract the excess heat from the rooms as the vapor from the rooms is used to melt the condensed water which is therefore able to humidify the air around. In winter seasons, warm water is used to humidify the air thus conducting away the cold. The air that is circulated into the rooms is therefore cold free. A mechanism is also deployed during the normal whether conditions. This consists of shutting down air intake into the building (Manitoba Hydro, 2003). The windows are therefore able to open and take in fresh air. This is majorly done by the east and west aligned windows. The room is therefore supplied richly by fresh air. The location of the windows is as shown below. Figure 5: Illustration of the East West windows (Turanli, 2007) References Manitoba Hydro. (1992). Dorsey-Riel transmission link: Route selection and environmental assessment status report. Winnipeg: Author. Manitoba Hydro. (2007). North Central Project: Environment Act proposal. Winnipeg: Author. Manitoba Hydro. (2003). A history of electric power in Manitoba. Winnipeg: Author. Manitoba Hydro, Northern Flood Committee, Inc, & Manitoba. (1999). The Northern flood agreement: Signed in 1977 by Canada, Manitoba and Manitoba Hydro with the Northern Flood Committee. Winnipeg: Manitoba Northern Affairs. Rezaei, S. (2015). Impact of Ferroresonance on protective relays in Manitoba Hydro 230 kV electrical network. 2015 IEEE 15th International Conference on Environment and Electrical Engineering (EEEIC). doi:10.1109/eeeic.2015.7165427 Turanli, H. (2002). Preparing for the next generation at Manitoba Hydro. IEEE Power Engineering Review, 22(3), 19-23. doi:10.1109/mper.2002.989190 Turanli, H. (2007). Preparing for the next generation at Manitoba Hydro. IEEE Power Engineering Review, 28(3), 19-23. doi:10.1109/mper.2002.989190 Read More