WorldWide Drilling Resource

Geothermal Monitoring Online by Peter Tavino Litchfield Geothermal We installed temperature and electrical sensors at a new home with three, 500-foot boreholes I designed and inspected last year. The sensors are connected to Carrier 3-, 4-, and 5-ton split water-to-air heat pumps. With a Gateway Internet conne ction to the homeowner's router, we can now see how all three heat pumps are performing at GroundEnergySupport.com The images show the equipment and table set up in the basement to organize the 11 temperature sensors installed, plus the three electrical sensors installed. Three sensors were placed on the three entering ground-loop water brass pipes at the heat pumps, and three at the return pipes. We were pleased to see readings in the mid- forties range in late January, although the basement floor slab does have propane-fired radiant heat. Three more sensors monitor when auxiliary propane hydronic heat in third stage is activated, and two sensors monitor the hot water desuperheater. At a glance on a laptop or cell phone, one can see which heat pump is running and for how long. We noticed immediately that the desuperheater water entering the domestic hot water tank was at the same temperature as the water leaving the tank. So we are planning perhaps a buffer tank to better preheat the cold water instead. And although not monitored, the desuperheater leading to the spa is being investigated too. These concerns would never have been addressed if the monitoring had not told us the story. While taking pressure readings across the coaxial heat exchanger, we noted the 5-ton flows were low, so we reset the circulator pumps to medium speed. unfortunately, this reduced the flow to the 3-ton unit when all ran simultaneously. So the flows were all reset for optimal performance. The floor plan diagram which I AutoCAD ® drafted, shows the sensor identification numbers. It is a benefit to the homeowner who can better manage his system. The Ground Energy Support Team is extremely helpful in interpreting their diagnostic tools. I recommend this equipment for owners who literally want to know "What's Going On?!" The statements and comments in this article are based on information and references believed to be true and factual. If you have any questions or comments, please forward them to me in care of WWDR . Pete Peter Tavino may be contacted via e-mail to michele@worldwidedrillingresource.com )0&"%1 "6)&4 ,, ,, 2)&0 -%3120*"+ )0&"%1 "-% 312., )0&"%1 "-3'"$230&0 .' -&02*" !&+%&% 0*++ */& 3"+ !"++ 0*++ */& !*0&+*-& 0*++ .% "1*-( .,/.1*2& !*0&+*-& 0*++ .%1 .-*$ 0*++ */& "1*-( *21 &0$311*.- "1*-( *21 0*++ .++"01 *1)*-( ..+1 3#1 2"02&0 .%1 "-% 2"#*+*7&01 0*++ */& -$ )*0% 2 8 !*-12&% ).-& 8 8 "5 2., %0*++/*/&*-$ $., 8 444 %0*++/*/&*-$ $., 39 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® MARCH 2016