Direct Insertion Ground Loop Heat Exchanger

The Direct Insertion Ground Loop Heat Exchanger being developed by Promethient LLC responds to Topic 3, Subtopic d and addresses the issue GSHP ground loop cost reduction. The Principal Investigator for this program is Charles Cauchy. The cost of installing a ground loop for Ground Source Heat Pump (GSHP) systems is as much or more than the cost of the remainder of the hardware and labor to install a complete GSHP system. This high cost is driven by labor and equipment amortization costs associated with drilling wells/boreholes or large area horizontal loop fields. Ground loop costs may average $1,800 or more per ton of system capacity, with a common four ton system costing the consumer $7,200 or more. This Phase I effort entails the design, development and testing of a unique concept utilizing new pipe/tube driving technology to drive thermally effective ground loop heat exchangers in the ground at a rapid rate. Phase II will center on system improvements, design for manufacturability and broader data collection to position the concept for commercialization. The public benefits of taking this technology through Phase I and Phase II include the greater proliferation of GSHP use leading to energy savings for the consumer, reduced loads and peak loads for utilities and the reduction of CO2 emissions. Less environmentally disruptive ground loop placement and the ability to install loops in tight locations are also benefits.