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Midwest Geothermal on the Rise?Before I began working on my book about renewable energy, I had no idea what geothermal energy was. If I'd had to guess, I probably would have muttered something about hot spring or maybe volcanoes. A few months into my project, I'm still mostly in the dark about the ins and outs of geothermal, but my eyes have been opened, thanks largely to a trip I made last Monday to Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, where engineers and drillers and workers are busy installing what is currently the largest closed-loop geothermal heat exchange system in the US, and maybe in the world. I won't get too deep into the technical details, mainly because I still don't completely understand them. But here's the basic story ... About ten years ago, the university brass realized that the four coal-fired boilers in the campus heating/cooling plant were on their last legs. Indiana is a major coal state, so the first thought was to replace the four boilers with a brand new, state-of-the-art, ten-story coal boiler. But that turned out to be too expensive. So, looking for other option, BSU planners and engineers considered geothermal. And, much to their surprise, after working with a geothermal consulting company in Minnesota, it turned out to be the most efficient, cost-effective solution. University administrators got on board, as did state and federal politicians, and this past May the university drilled the first of what will eventually by more than 4000 "bore holes," or wells. Now, again, in my limited understanding of geothermal power, I'd assumed that for geothermal to work you need access to some serious underground heat, like in Yellowstone or in northern California. So I was really surprised when I heard about the Ball State project. As far as i knew, there were no hot springs or volcanoes in north-central Indiana. And, of course, there aren't. But as I learned, not all geothermal systems work like that. Again, I don't want to spend too much time here trying to describe how the BSU system does work. You can read about that on the BSU geothermal website. But what I like about this story are two basic facts: 1) that BSU embarked on the geothermal project not to make a statement about going green but because it was the best financial option, and 2) that once completed, the BSU project will stand as an example of how this type of geothermal system can happen pretty much anywhere--even in a die-hard coal state like Indiana.
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Jeremy Shere
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Could you ask a few "top" manufacturers for an answer to some of these tech Q's we ask to see what they REALLY provide for Hot Water On-Demand with Heat-Reclaim and the like in all modes specifically.
You will get 3 to 4 very different answers and more comments::::
Manufacturing Do you have On-Demand 100% "instant" HW heating PRIORITY capabilities with GeoThermal Heat Pumps? While IN COOLING?
Temperature controlled? While IN HEATING? (Hot-Gas SENSING)... FULL CONDENSING with Radiant In Floor DUAL (FULL- condensing) capability? ---And same still having all HVAC forced air operationally working at that time of HW production?.
Heat reclaim and HW production can be accurately presented:
HVAC + PATETED 1981 PRIORITY 100% DEMAND HW and additional Priority In-Floor heating with all Cooling satisfied. www.HYDRO-TEMP.com Arkansas Co:
Further option of an additional in-line-coil with air-coil for Cold and Hot FLUIDE: Hydro-Zone very fitting for/to retrofits requiring easier-installed zones (old mansions/ commercial, etc.).
When the Customer/Engineer understands how simply the PATENTED PRIORITY came about---
and I do mean: UNlike new designs since 2004. (UNlike other "type-4" units)
that 'shut-off-HVAC-for-HW-in-full-condensing')--- then others just are not then 'competition'.
ASK in your words:
Do you offer a
100% Heat -ReClaim in Cooling , and Hot Gas sensing (say like a particular sensor set up in heating from one of 9 sensors for (and using too, an IRD Infra-Red-'zapper' = "point-and-get-diagnostics" ) set up,
so a tech PROGRAMS ---for reasonable temperatures and with large-enough heat-exchange [Patented in 1981] to survive 30+ years easily... ?
Have you REALLY SEEN the state-of-the art, -company building for other's
[lowest costing of operation per sq.ft./school year documented]
-- having the best for those manufacturers by the Arkansas Co (since 1978):
HYDRO-TEMP designs and proven performance- (not the Hydro-Delta/Heat units.)
Have you professionally noted the accurate performance which has since the 70's allowed ALL Rebates and ALL tax credits?
This is the exactly that of any other rated-ARI-BOX system gets/ which WITHOUT ARI-BOX sticker, (no third-party rating since the penalty for not complying is equal for all: replace it!)
Hydro-Temp simply receives- in any venue- because of the company- and its designs- receives EQUAL CONSIDERATION in all projects, have you been shown this ?
PLEASE REALIZE WE ARE NOT EXPECTING MORE than where we may help you help others in a general custom built Earth Coupled Heat Pump Systems (ECL) which operate in larger jobs to sizes of OVER 22.0 on just ONE HORSEPOWER OF LOOP CIRCULATION !
Have you heard of up to size 6.0's working just perfectly well on ONE 1/6 HP pump/ limited to 5-runs of 3/4" piping long enough to provide 34 - to - 35 degree-entering-fluids @ 18-20% Methanol (not 25%) in FEB-MARCH NEO operation/ 52-degree Earth conditions...? If the water heat exchanger is a lower pressure drop, then the pump KWH usages are very low... and PUMPS CAN BE BUILT-IN / near units such the old style mechanical rooms with big electrica boxes are no more...: Diversified Pumping is better...