GEOTHERMAL WATER WELL DRILLING
WHAT IS GEOTHERMAL?
Geothermal energy, essentially, refers to the heat generated by the constant heating of the Earth by the sun, resulting in temperatures ranging from 45 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. This natural and renewable resource can be utilized through geothermal heating and cooling systems to regulate the temperature of homes during summer and winter.
The fundamental principles of ground water geothermal wells are straightforward. Water within the well maintains a consistent temperature of 50 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the year, located several miles beneath the Earth’s surface. Through the well pump and piping, the water and its heat are absorbed and transferred to the geothermal heat pump installed within the building. Once inside, the geothermal heat pump concentrates and transfers the heat from the water to the building’s forced air ducts or radiant piping. In the summer, the forced air systems extract heat from the air within the home, resulting in cooler indoor temperatures.
Advanced Drilling offers installation services for two types of geothermal wells: Standing Column and Closed-Loop. Our team of certified drillers and pumping installers specialize in both residential and commercial geothermal systems.
Standing Column Geothermal Wells
A standing column geothermal well is a conventional water well that is drilled and equipped with a submersible pumping system. These wells serve a dual purpose by providing drinking water to the house while also supplying water to the geothermal heat exchanger. In many cases, the submersible pumping system operates as a constant pressure system, ensuring a consistent flow of water to the household fixtures.
Standing column wells closely resemble standard water supply wells, with a slight modification. Instead of the water entering the house and flowing from the pressure tank to the household fixtures, the water is divided into two streams. One set of pipes distributes water to the household plumbing, while the other set directs water to the heat pump. In the heat pump, the water transfers its heat energy, and then it is sent back into the well. In heat mode, the heat pump extracts heat from the water, lowering its temperature before returning it to the well. It’s important to note that the water distributed to the plumbing fixtures does not return to the well; it only flows in one direction.
Compared to closed-loop well systems, standing column wells are more cost-effective and offer greater energy efficiency.
Closed Loop Geothermal Wells
A closed-loop geothermal well consists of a drilled borehole with two parallel high-density polyethylene pipes (HDPE) that are fully grouted along the entire length of the well. Typically, multiple closed-loop wells are interconnected through piping. Within these closed loops, a water-based glycol solution is circulated and pumped to the heat pump, which extracts heat energy from the fluid. Similar to the open-loop system, the temperature of the water is reduced during this process.
After passing through the heat pump, the fluid is returned to the HDPE pipes. Through the grout surrounding the pipes, the heat present in the ground naturally transfers to the fluid, thereby warming it up again. Unlike standing column geothermal wells, closed-loop systems solely focus on the heating aspect and do not involve the supply of domestic drinking water. Consequently, closed-loop wells are not reliant on accessing water sources.
From Design to Final Seeding, Advanced Drilling Handles Your Complete Geothermal Drilling Project
Advanced Drilling serves clients throughout New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Delaware. Our primary service areas include Central & Northwestern New Jersey and The Lehigh Valley and Bucks County areas in Pennsylvania.
Our service area includes, but is not limited to:
In Pennsylvania
Alburtis, Allentown, Bath, Bethlehem, Breinigsville, Catasauqua, Center Valley, Coopersburg, Easton, Emmaus, Fogelsville, Hellertown, Lehigh Valley, Macungie, Nazareth, Northampton, Quakertown, Stockertown, Trexlertown, Wind Gap, Upper Bucks County, Lehigh County, Northampton County
In New Jersey
Avenel, Bayonne, Bedminster, Bound Brook, Branchburg, Bridgewater, Carteret, Clinton, Dayton, East Windsor, Edison, Elizabeth, Flemington, Hamilton Township, Hillsborough, Jersey City, Kearny, Lebanon, Linden, Maplewood, Monroe Township, Metuchen, Middlesex, New Providence, New Brunswick, Phillipsburg, Piscataway, Rahway, Somerset, South Plainfield, South Bound Brook, Trenton, Union, Washington, Watchung, Whitehouse Station, Woodbridge Township, Essex County, Hudson County, Mercer County, Middlesex County, Morris County, Somerset County, Union County, Warren County