What most people in the US call "geothermal" energy is NOT geothermal at all. It is what knowledgable engineers call "geoexchange", and it involves using the thermal stability of the near-aurface ground as a source/sink for heat pump technology. Real gethermal (what this video is about) has to go deep enough to tap the heat that is produced in the Earth's core by tidal stresses and other processes that are yet poorly understood. Real geothermal is a large scale investment and it is rare except in certain areas that have favorable geology. Geoexchange is a powerful technology, but it is not driven by geology - it is actually driven by weather. The distinction is important.
I agree. Residential vertical ground-source heating and cooling can be geothermal, though, if the well goes deep enough to tap into heat that comes from the core of the earth. Thank you for sharing! 🙏 Katha 😀
I was doing a little research for residential geothermal HVAC, and also for our pool, then I found out that there aren’t any geothermal engineers in California Central Valley and I’m wondering why. I live at about 3,000 ft elevation about 15 min from Yosemite south entrance temps can from 110 in summer to as low as 22 in winter
Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts. Great question. California has two of the largest geothermal reservoirs in the United States, the Salton Sea resource area and the Geysers, with an estimated generation capability of 2,200 MW and 1,800 MW respectively. The standard might simply be what companies and customers are used to. I often see a focus on low upfront cost in the short term vs. ROI over the lifetime of the systems, which is heavily influenced by long-term running cost. Drilling companies also often prefer large commercial projects over residential. Last but not least, there are local differences in the geothermal gradient. Heat pumps are great for pools. Could also be an air-to-water heat pump.
For residential applications a water source heat pump is a great idea. The source can be a well, a shallow ground loop or a surface lake or stream. Your ambient air temperature is also within the operating range of air source heat pumps. Models are available that work down to -10 F°. Both of these systems can heat and cool and make hot water for your home or pool. You need to work with a contractor that is familiar with commercial HVAC equipment. I install LG equipment but there are many other manufacturers.
Ground source heatppumps are great for residential. But not considered true "geothermal" by most in the deep heat tapping industry. You are moreso tapping a constant temp, even coolness in the summer.
Thank you. It depends on the temperature gradient underground more than the convection coefficient that you are referring to. If the water tank is large enough, it's more or less steady state for the transfer. Same reason why it is also less important that you typically HDPE (high-density polyethylene) instead of copper for piping. My two cents. Hope this makes sense. Thank you very much for commenting!
The water losses are in open usually fracked holes where water is pushed down from one hole and free flows up the production hole. This system is currently used in most deep powerplant geothermal systems
Thank you for sharing this very important and valuable information! Very exciting 😊and very entertaining also
Thank you very much! 🙏 I appreciate it! 😀 Katha
Hello thank you
Hi, Thank you! 🙏 I appreciate it.
What most people in the US call "geothermal" energy is NOT geothermal at all. It is what knowledgable engineers call "geoexchange", and it involves using the thermal stability of the near-aurface ground as a source/sink for heat pump technology.
Real gethermal (what this video is about) has to go deep enough to tap the heat that is produced in the Earth's core by tidal stresses and other processes that are yet poorly understood. Real geothermal is a large scale investment and it is rare except in certain areas that have favorable geology.
Geoexchange is a powerful technology, but it is not driven by geology - it is actually driven by weather.
The distinction is important.
I agree. Residential vertical ground-source heating and cooling can be geothermal, though, if the well goes deep enough to tap into heat that comes from the core of the earth. Thank you for sharing! 🙏 Katha 😀
I was doing a little research for residential geothermal HVAC, and also for our pool, then I found out that there aren’t any geothermal engineers in California Central Valley and I’m wondering why. I live at about 3,000 ft elevation about 15 min from Yosemite south entrance temps can from 110 in summer to as low as 22 in winter
Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts. Great question. California has two of the largest geothermal reservoirs in the United States, the Salton Sea resource area and the Geysers, with an estimated generation capability of 2,200 MW and 1,800 MW respectively. The standard might simply be what companies and customers are used to. I often see a focus on low upfront cost in the short term vs. ROI over the lifetime of the systems, which is heavily influenced by long-term running cost. Drilling companies also often prefer large commercial projects over residential. Last but not least, there are local differences in the geothermal gradient. Heat pumps are great for pools. Could also be an air-to-water heat pump.
For residential applications a water source heat pump is a great idea. The source can be a well, a shallow ground loop or a surface lake or stream.
Your ambient air temperature is also within the operating range of air source heat pumps. Models are available that work down to -10 F°.
Both of these systems can heat and cool and make hot water for your home or pool. You need to work with a contractor that is familiar with commercial HVAC equipment. I install LG equipment but there are many other manufacturers.
Thank you very much, @@alberthartl8885 ! Hope our responses help, @paulcontreras4041. Warm regards, Katha
@@alberthartl8885 Thank you for sharing. I fully agree. Katha
Ground source heatppumps are great for residential. But not considered true "geothermal" by most in the deep heat tapping industry. You are moreso tapping a constant temp, even coolness in the summer.
Anywhere? I hear of water losses 5-10 percent underground. So, anywhere with enough water.
Thank you. It depends on the temperature gradient underground more than the convection coefficient that you are referring to. If the water tank is large enough, it's more or less steady state for the transfer. Same reason why it is also less important that you typically HDPE (high-density polyethylene) instead of copper for piping. My two cents. Hope this makes sense. Thank you very much for commenting!
The water losses are in open usually fracked holes where water is pushed down from one hole and free flows up the production hole. This system is currently used in most deep powerplant geothermal systems
@@joeycad Thank you for sharing! Much appreciated.
Is she an AI?
Hi, no. I’m a real person. Looks like I should do live sessions. Thanks for tuning in. Katha