Space Heating and Cooling Application Based on Low Enthalpy Geothermal Reservoirs with a Focus on Indian Subcontinent

Abstract

With rapidly growing global energy demand and challenges like shortage of fossil fuels, the requirement for renewable energy as well as energy efficient systems are need of the hour. Moreover, with the global fraternity facing challenges like global warming, these systems should also be environment friendly. With focus on tropical countries like India, with diverse geographical conditions and different climatic conditions throughout the year, both heating and cooling requirements are there in domestic and commercial areas. In addition, India is focusing on renewable and unconventional sources like Solar, wind, biomass, tidal and geothermal energy. Keeping all of the above in consideration, this paper presents an integrated system of conventional ground source heat pumps (GSHP) with geothermal energy for Space heating and cooling for commercial, industrial and domestic applications. Also The ground temperature remains more or less constant throughout the year, thus it provides a reliable heat source or sink for the operation of a heat pump. The uniqueness of the system is to produce large temperature difference between cooling side and heating side with utilization of minimal load. Designs of such systems are determined by the options of system configuration and control. The uniqueness of the system is to produce large temperature difference between cooling side and heating side with utilization of minimal load. The range of this ΔT is 60 degree celsius to 65 degree celsius. Moving one-step forward, apart from conventional heating and cooling, this system will function on higher temperature than conventional GSHPs to generate water at higher temperature, which can be utilised for small-scale power generation for remote and rural areas. This water is also utilized for direct applications such as green house, fish farming, spa, milk pasteurization etc. The cooling side is also utilized in air-conditioning system. The entire system is designed in such a way that we can use for any renewable application. It can be integrated or coupled with any of the systems such as organic rankine cycle, solar thermal system and biogas plant.