Quote:
Originally Posted by vanderzac
Vlad, I understand I am lacking a ton of experience, but the only way to get it is to get my hands dirty...
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vanderzac,
Getting your hands dirty is not the only way to learn about this stuff...
I looked over rhino 660 and Vlad's replys and they are both right...
GSHP technology pretty much had its epicenter in Oklahoma, and it was originally used for cooling, like what you are trying to do.
In Oklahoma, there is an organization with the unpleasant to say acronym IGSHPA, which stands for
International Ground Source Heat Pump Association.
They are a huge repository of historical and theoretical information. They sponsor seminars, have hands-on trainings and also have an on-line bookstore where they sell the very best books on the subject. The books aren't cheap (about $100) but they have ALL the information you need. Compared to the time and expense of learning-by-doing, the books are an incredible bargain. I bought one of their books and I learned an incredible amount from it. The book store is
HERE. I bought the original manual ("CLGS Installation Guide") and it is wonderful. If I were doing it again today, I would go for the updated version ("Residential and Light Commercial Design and Installation Manual").
Also if you haven read all the way through the
Homemade Heat Pump Manifesto thread from beginning to end, it's free and loaded with good information.
One of the things I reccommended repeatedly was that anyone who is considering to install their own GSHP for heating or cooling, should read the IGSHPA manual.
You can build your own GSHP cooling and heating system for considerably less than you can hire it done, but it is not a walk in the park.
I have come across a web site where someone installed a loop system that was immersed in a fairly large pond. The guy also self-installed a packaged heat pump system and got it all to work. He said it was the biggest project he had ever attempted in his life.
Well, I'm here to tell you that designing and digging your own loop-field and building your own heat pump is much more demanding than that.
I am not trying to discourage you in your project, but you will need to seriously educate yourself, and you will need to gather or build the appropriate array of tools and know how to use them.
There are some very resourceful and capable people on this blog and they can be helpful to you, if you are willing to do your homework.
Best,
-AC