Installation Techniques
Horizontal Loops
Often used when adequate land surface is available. Depending on geothermal system needs and space available, pipes are placed in trenches that range in length from 100 to 400 feet.
Pond (Lake) Loops
Very economical to install when a large body of water is available for use by the geothermal heating and cooling system.
Coils of pipe are simply placed on the bottom of the pond or lake to capture the geothermal energy.
Vertical Loops
The ideal choice for a geothermal heat pump when available land surface is limited. Well drilling equipment is used to bore small-diameter holes from 100 to 400 feet deep. Open loops (Well-Water Systems)
Open loops (Well-Water Systems)
In ideal conditions, an open-loop application can be the most economical type of geothermal system. These use groundwater from a well as a direct energy source.