Geothermal manifolds

WHY DOES A GEOTHERMAL HEAT PUMP NEED A MANIFOLD?
A geothermal heat pump installed indoors collects heat from the surrounding ground using a liquid (antifreeze) flowing inside a pipe. The pipe with antifreeze is buried in the ground, or sunk to the bottom of a body of water. The longer is this pipe - the greater is the hydraulic resistance to the antifreeze flow, respectively, more powerful pump for pumping the antifreeze, electricity consumption increases and the energy efficiency of the heat pump system deteriorates. In order to reduce the length of the pipe - one long flow is divided into several shorter ones, using the manifold. For example for a heat pump with heat output of 10 kilowatt you need 400 running meters of antifreeze pipe, using the manifold you get 4 pipes with the length of 100 running meters each.

After the antifreeze flows through the short pipes and collects heat from the ground - the antifreeze flows are collected into one with the help of the second manifold and is supplied to the heat pump. The flow of antifreeze in the ground occurs in a circle in sealed pipes, which are called "geothermal loops".

Example of geothermal manifold for 4 geothermal loops produced by GEOTERM.PRO LLC

WHAT ARE THE TOP SPIGOTS ON THE GEOTHERMAL MANIFOLD FOR?
Before the first start-up of the heat pump it is necessary to fill the geothermal system with liquid (antifreeze) and remove air from the geothermal loops by closing the loops one by one and hydrodynamically "knocking out" the air. During operation, the geothermal system should automatically remove residual air (small bubbles and dissolved air) from the antifreeze, maintain the antifreeze pressure during temperature increases/decreases, catch dirt with a filter, have a pressure gauge, a safety group, and the possibility of adding antifreeze.

It is possible to place the necessary devices between the geothermal manifold and the heat pump by welding appropriate sockets to the connecting pipes. This will create additional work for the installer, increase the cost of materials and take up space in the room. Considering that the cost of the room is $500 or more per square meter - this solution does not look good.

We make the necessary spigots on top of the geothermal manifold, save space, and make installation faster and cheaper.

Example of heat pump installation with BOX-IN4 geothermal manifold box, airhugroaccumulator (combined air vent and expansion tank), pressure gauge, relief valve, ball valve with built-in dirt filter, and air vent on the "return line":

WHAT MATERIAL ARE GEOTHERMAL MANIFOLDS MADE OF?
Like all major geothermal manifold manufacturers, we make our geothermal manifolds from polyethylene. The serial production of plastics requires an initial investment in tooling, but the serial production process makes the products cheaper and of higher quality.

Polyethylene is used to make not only geothermal manifolds, but also the entire geothermal system. Polyethylene is inexpensive, chemically very resistant material, not subject to corrosion or aging, with minimal hydraulic resistance to flow, retains its characteristics throughout the operating temperature range of the geothermal heat pump. The best material for geothermal system.

WHAT ARE THE TEMPERATURES AND PRESSURES IN THE GEOTHERMAL MANIFOLD?
The operating conditions of a geothermal heat pump depend on the specific installation and settings. In general the geothermal manifold must be able to withstand antifreeze temperatures of minus 15°C to plus 50°C and pressures of up to 10 atmospheres.

WHY INSULATE GEOTHERMAL MANIFOLDS?
The temperature of the antifreeze in a geothermal manifold can drop below 0°C. Consequently, water from the ambient air can condense on the manifold and even build up ice. This water drains out onto the floor, resulting in puddles and mould. To prevent condensation, reduce the contact between the geothermal manifolds and the ambient air by covering the manifolds with thermal insulation.