Home power plants for autonomous power supply to dachas, cottage villages, country houses, new microdistricts. Geothermal heating systems for a country house: do-it-yourself features

You've probably heard about geothermal heating more than once. Such systems are installed in many European countries and they are very successful and popular among the population. Is it possible to install it here? To understand this, you need to understand the principle of operation, and also consider all the advantages of such a system.

Benefits of Geothermal Heating

Cost of geothermal heating at home

This is probably the only point due to which the system has not yet widely come into use. Initial costs can reach one million rubles. It all depends on the size of your home and the heat source. So, Laying a heating circuit in reservoirs is cheaper at the same cost for the pumping station and related materials (pipes, sealants, etc.).

This installation is most beneficial for small houses. The costs are recouped within two to three years, since no need to pay for gas/coal/wood, and all costs come down to paying for a small amount of electricity, which is spent on operating the pumping equipment. Is it worth saving money by performing such an installation not on a turnkey basis, but on your own? Perhaps, provided that you carefully study all the features of the process. In practice, there are cases of successful assembly by the owners themselves.

The cost of turnkey work consists of:

• from calculations of pump power, heating circuit length;
• from the price of work in soil or water (drilling wells, digging trenches, laying under water), as well as related installation and installation work;
• from the installation and connection of the pumping station.

As an example, we give approximate calculations for a house with an area of ​​150 square meters. m.

1. For such a home, a heat pump with a power of 14 kW is required. Its price is 260 thousand rubles.
2. The amount for all work on the arrangement of the vertical earthen contour is approximately 427 thousand rubles. May vary depending on soil types.

Total - 687 thousand rubles. We see that the initial costs for installing geothermal heating are quite significant. The price of conventional boilers is much cheaper. For comparison, calculate what your current heating costs are and calculate how much you'll spend with geothermal heating. Consider both cases in perspective for many years (10-15 years). The difference is very, very significant.

Basic components of geothermal heating systems

Geothermal heating does not use conventional heat sources. We are not talking about any firewood, coal, gas or electricity (in the amount that a conventional electric boiler uses).

The entire system consists of three main elements. They are:

• heating circuit inside the house;
• heating circuit;
• pumping station.

The heating circuit that will be located inside the house can be either ordinary conventional radiators or a heated floor system (more energy is used to heat it). In addition, this the system can be connected to heat the greenhouse, swimming pools, paths inside the site, etc.

The heating circuit in this case is geothermal heat sources. So, heating occurs using the energy of earth, water, and air.

A pumping station is necessary to pump heat from the geothermal heating circuit to the heating circuit.

More about heating method

To heat a room, geothermal heating uses energy that is stored in the environment. The operating principle is borrowed from the design of a refrigerator. In it, heat from the inner chamber is removed outside in order to achieve minimum temperature values ​​in the chamber itself. This causes the rear wall to heat up. With geothermal heating, heat from the ground (or water, air) is removed into the living space. The difference is that the heat source does not cool down, but has a stable temperature. Because of this, heating of the room can occur at any cold time of the year. And in hot weather, you can set the system to keep your home cool.

Let's consider an example with a heating circuit for heating housing inside the ground. This option is the most common, since the position of the geothermal circuit in water sources requires its presence near the house. This is less common.

Warmth from the earth

At a certain depth, the earth has its own temperature. It does not depend on weather conditions and time of year. We are talking about those layers that are below the freezing level. That is, the heating circuit is laid where the temperature always has a stable positive value.

Methods for positioning heating circuit pipes in the ground

Vertical installation

It consists in the fact that on the site drill deep wells, in which the pipes will be laid. Their depth depends on how much area will need to be heated. The value reaches up to 300 meters. The calculation is based on the fact that one meter of geothermal pipeline accounts for 50-60 W of the earth's thermal energy. For a pump with a power of 10 kilowatts (it is suitable for a house with an area of ​​up to 120 sq. m.) you will need a well with a depth of 170 to 200 m. You can drill several wells, but of less depth. The advantage of this method is that with this installation there is the least interference in the landscape of your site, if the house has already been built and the site is in proper shape. But at the same time there are high costs of work.

Horizontal installation

Trenches of a huge area are being dug across the adjacent area. Their the depth depends on the level of ground freezing in your region(from 3 meters and deeper), and the area of ​​the pit - from the square footage of the house. It should be calculated from the fact that 1 meter of pipeline consumes from 20 to 30 W of energy. If you install the same 10 kW heat pump, the length of the circuit should be from 300 to 500 m. Pipes are laid along the bottom of these trenches and backfilled with earth.

Scheme of operation of the entire structure

Essentially, there are three circuits through which fluid circulates. We designated the first of them as heating. The next circuit is located inside the pump. There, the refrigerant takes heat from the heating circuit and transfers it to the third cycle through pipes into the house.

The coolant passes through a circuit underground and is heated to a temperature of 7° C (this is the indicator at a depth below the freezing level). All the energy that the coolant took from the ground comes to the heat pump.

The heat pump has a first heat exchanger. In him coolant from the earth circuit heats the refrigerant, increasing not only his temperature, but also his pressure. In the gas state, the refrigerant passes into the second heat exchanger. Here it heats the coolant, which circulates through the pipes inside the house, and then returns to a liquid state again.

The popularity of autonomous communications is growing from year to year. The reason is the uninterrupted renewable use of resources - water, heat, electricity - at a low cost. However, there are a number of difficulties and before deciding to install any system, you should familiarize yourself with the requirements for it. Today we are talking about geothermal heating of the house and turnkey costs.

Types of Geothermal Heating Systems

The principle of obtaining thermal energy is to collect it from the bowels of the earth or reservoir. In winter, natural resources are able to accumulate heat in the soil or in non-freezing water. It is brought to the surface through the system components and spent on household needs. The work is based on the movement of a special coolant - freon - through the collectors and pipes and is similar to the processes occurring in the refrigerator. Heat is taken from the depths of the soil or reservoir, released to the pipework, a repeating cycle.

The system consists of the following:

• Heat pump. Its task is to generate heat pumping from the ground or reservoir to the home heating system.
• Highways. The wiring goes into the depth of the soil vertically or is located horizontally in the thickness of the earth.
• Freon - coolant. Boiling at low temperatures, it rises through the main pipeline to, in turn, give off heat to the water circulating through the radiators.

The apparent simplicity of the system is nevertheless difficult to install - only professionals can do it.

Geothermal heating options

The system is laid in several ways, requiring certain territorial conditions. For example:

• Horizontally, below the ground freezing level. This option requires an impressive local area, excluding plantings, buildings and the house itself. Otherwise, the amount of heat produced by the heat pump will not be enough for a comfortable optimal temperature.
• Horizontally along the bottom of the reservoir. It is considered the most cost-effective, since the water temperature in winter is higher than that of the ground, therefore, energy efficiency is better. There is no need to remove the soil layer near the house, which is conducive to landscaping. But the method is beneficial to land owners whose property is located in close proximity to a water source - a lake, pond.
• Vertical probe. It does not require clean soil and its vastness, as well as a reservoir, however, it is expensive due to a specially drilled well of at least 30 m.

Only a specialist who has visited the site will give a professional assessment. In addition to the territory, it is important to evaluate the composition of the soil - on sandstones, geothermal heating is practically useless; moist loamy soils are required.

Geothermal system estimate

Owners of private houses, fired up by the idea of ​​receiving free heat, must consider the situation with a sober head - in order to get an economically profitable system that pays for itself, you need to invest in it quite seriously, since you cannot arrange geothermal heating on your own. Installations are incredibly expensive. Judge for yourself:

• Heat pump cost. Productivity depends on the power of the unit, which is calculated in advance based on consumption needs. The approximate calculation formula is 1 kW per 10 sq. meters of area - does not give the correct result, since it does not take into account the material of the walls, floors and the need for hot water supply (hot water supply).
• Excavation. Manually digging a pit below the freezing level of the ground and equipping it according to all the rules is unrealistic. The same as drilling a well. You will have to hire construction equipment and accompanying crews.

Advice - one company should be involved in the arrangement of geothermal heating - separate types of work will cost more in the future, especially if problems occur due to the fault of any team - there is no guarantee.

• Pipe set price. A geothermal installation requires the presence of three circuits: an external circuit, outside the residential building, a middle circuit, located inside the pump housing, and an internal circuit - the piping of the home system.
• Installation cost. In addition to installing the pump and probes, commissioning work, installation of heated floors and other related work are taken into account.

In addition to the listed expenses, it is necessary to mention bureaucratic delays. Those organizations whose communications pass through the site - gas supply, electricity, water - must give the go-ahead for excavation work. Accordingly, an examination is being carried out to determine the feasibility of the device, which, naturally, will also require investment. It is important to prepare for the waste of nerve cells - this is not a joke!

Efficiency Factors

It is important to remember that the autonomous installation itself for producing cheap heat (electricity costs are taken into account) is rational only after the following conditions are met:

• High-quality home insulation. Including facades, floors, ceilings. The construction material is taken into account - stone and brick will significantly increase the power consumption of the heat pump. Which will entail an increase in the cost of the project and payment of bills.
• Correct calculation of heat loss. They are directly influenced by the architecture and layout of the house. An object with a large number of windows and doors, as well as the volume of technological openings, are the main factors of heat leakage.
• Heat exchangers with high heat transfer materials. The coefficient is known in advance.
• Climatic conditions. The sub-zero temperatures in Siberia or the Urals are not at all the same as in the east and west of Russia. Cold regions require more unit power.
• Required hot water supply. A residential building with year-round living, several bathrooms, a bathhouse and bathrooms has a higher water consumption for household needs than, say, a cottage with a kitchen. That is, this will also increase resource consumption.
• The influence of cold underground currents. This is clarified during the project development stage. Otherwise, laying and putting into operation geothermal pipes with unaccounted sources will negatively affect the productivity of the entire system.

It is impossible to take into account all the nuances of installing an alternative heat source on your own. No required knowledge. To do this, choose a company according to its profile and simply enjoy the result. The payback of projects occurs after 5–10 years of operation.

Turnkey cost of geothermal heating

The advantage of turnkey installation is obvious. Apart from investments, you won’t have to do anything on your own - many companies take on obligations related to paperwork. Also, any type of work has a guarantee; in case of an unsatisfactory result, compensation is provided - this is a separate clause in the contract.

The cost is as follows:

• For a residential building with an area of ​​up to 80 sq. m – from 350 thousand rubles. The low cost is due to the presence of a low-power pump.
• Cottage from 100 sq.m. m – from 440 thousand rubles.
• Area from 130 sq. m – from 520 thousand rubles.
• Up to 220 sq. m – from 750 thousand rubles.

Prices are approximate and depend on the cost of the selected equipment. When contacting the company, specialists will tell you how to reduce the cost of the project. However, you cannot choose low power in favor of cost - this will affect the productivity of the system.

Video on turnkey installation of geothermal heating

Damless all-season hydroelectric power station

A damless all-season hydroelectric power station (BVHPP) is proposed, which is designed to generate electricity without constructing a dam by using the energy of gravity flow.

Due to the manufacture of various standard sizes for different flow speeds, as well as cascade installation, BVGES installations can be used both in small farms and for industrial electricity production, especially in places remote from power lines.

Structurally, the rotor of a hydroelectric power station is installed vertically, the height of the rotor is from 0.25 to 2.5 m... The structure is fixed on rivers with freeze-up at the bottom of the channel, and in an open (non-freezing channel) __ on a fixed catamaran.

The power of the installation is proportional to the area of ​​the blade and the flow speed in the cube. The dependence of the power received at the shaft of the BVGES on its size and flow speed, as well as the estimated cost of the hydraulic unit is presented in the following table:

BVHPP power, kW depending on flow speed and installation size

The payback period of the installation does not exceed 1 year. A prototype of the BVGES was tested at a full-scale water test site.

Currently, there is technical documentation for the production of industrial samples according to customer specifications.

Pressure micro and small hydroelectric power stations

Hydraulic units for small hydroelectric power plants are designed for operation in a wide range of pressures and flow rates with high energy characteristics.

Microhydroelectric power stations are reliable, environmentally friendly, compact, quick-payback sources of electricity for villages, farmsteads, holiday villages, farms, as well as mills, bakeries, small industries in remote mountainous and hard-to-reach areas where there are no power lines nearby, and building such lines is now feasible longer and more expensive than purchasing and installing micro hydroelectric power stations.

The delivery set includes: a power unit, a water intake device and an automatic control device.

There is successful experience in operating equipment at the drops of existing dams, canals, water supply and drainage systems of industrial enterprises and municipal facilities, wastewater treatment plants, irrigation systems and drinking water pipelines. More than 150 sets of equipment have been delivered to customers in various regions of Russia, CIS countries, as well as Japan, Brazil, Guatemala, Sweden and Latvia.

The main technical solutions used to create the equipment are at the level of inventions and are protected by patents.

1. MICROHYDRO POWER PLANTS

with propeller impeller
— power up to 10 kW (MGES-10PR) for a pressure of 2.0-4.5 m and a flow rate of 0.07 - 0.14 m3/s;
— power up to 10 kW (MGES-10PR) for a head of 4.5-8.0 m and a flow rate of 0.10 - 0.21 m3/s;
— power up to 15 kW (MGES-15PR) for a head of 1.75-3.5 m and a flow rate of 0.10 - 0.20 m3/s;
— power up to 15 kW (MGES-15PR) for a pressure of 3.5-7.0 m and a flow rate of 0.15 - 0.130 m3/s;
- power up to 50 kW (MGES-50PR) for a head of 4.0-10.0 m and a flow rate of 0.36 - 0.80 m3/s;

with diagonal impeller
- power 10-50 kW (MGES-50D) for a pressure of 10.0-25.0 m and a flow rate of 0.05 - 0.28 m3/s;
— power up to 100 kW (MGES-100D) for a pressure of 25.0-55.0 m and a flow rate of 0.19 - 0.25 m3/s;

2. HYDRO UNITS FOR SMALL HYDRO POWERS

Hydraulic units with axial turbines with a power of up to 1000 kW;
-hydraulic units with radial-axial turbines with a power of up to 5000 kW;
-hydraulic units with bucket turbines with a power of up to 5000 kW;

DELIVERY TIME

Micro hydroelectric power station 10 kW; 15 kW is delivered within 3 months after signing the contract.
Micro hydroelectric power station 50 kW; delivered within 6 months after signing the contract.
Micro hydroelectric power station 100 kW; delivered within 8 months after signing the contract.
Hydraulic units are delivered within 6 to 12 months after signing the contract.

The company’s specialists are ready to help you determine the optimal option for installing micro and small hydroelectric power plants, select equipment for them, assist in the installation and commissioning of hydraulic units, as well as provide after-sales service for the equipment.
during its operation.

COST OF EQUIPMENT

Russian-made micro-hydroelectric power station

Appearance

Micro-hydroelectric power station 10 kW

Micro-hydroelectric power station 50 kW

InzhInvestStroy

Mini hydroelectric power station. Microhydroelectric power plants

Small hydroelectric power station or small hydroelectric power station (SHPP) is a hydroelectric power station that generates a relatively small amount of electricity and consists of hydroelectric power plants with an installed capacity of 1 to 3000 kW.

Micro hydroelectric power plant designed to convert the hydraulic energy of a fluid flow into electrical energy for further transmission of the generated electricity to the power system.

The term micro means that this hydroelectric power station is installed on small water bodies - small rivers or even streams, technological streams or differences in elevation of water treatment systems, and the power of the hydraulic unit does not exceed 10 kW.

SHPPs are divided into two classes: micro-hydroelectric power plants (up to 200 kW) and mini-hydroelectric power plants (up to 3000 kW). The former are used mainly in households and small enterprises, the latter - in larger facilities.

For the owner of a country house or small business, the former are obviously of greater interest.

Based on the principle of operation, micro-hydroelectric power plants are divided into the following types:

Water wheel. This is a wheel with blades, mounted perpendicular to the surface of the water and half immersed in it. During operation, water presses on the blades and causes the wheel to rotate.

From the point of view of ease of manufacture and obtaining maximum efficiency at minimum cost, this design works well.

Therefore, it is often used in practice.

Garland mini-hydroelectric power station. It is a cable thrown from one bank of the river to the other with rotors rigidly attached to it. The flow of water rotates the rotors, and from them the rotation is transmitted to a cable, one end of which is connected to the bearing, and the other to the generator shaft.

Disadvantages of a garland hydroelectric power station: high material consumption, danger to others (long underwater cable, rotors hidden in the water, blocking the river), low efficiency.

Rotor Daria.

This is a vertical rotor that rotates due to the pressure difference on its blades. The pressure difference is created due to the flow of liquid around complex surfaces. The effect is similar to the lift of a hydrofoil or the lift of an airplane wing. In fact, SHPPs of this design are identical to wind generators of the same name, but are located in a liquid medium.

The Daria rotor is difficult to manufacture; it needs to be untwisted before starting work.

But it is attractive because the rotor axis is located vertically and power can be taken off over water, without additional gears. Such a rotor will rotate with any change in flow direction. Like its airborne counterpart, the efficiency of the Daria rotor is inferior to that of propeller-type small hydroelectric power plants.

Propeller.

This is an underwater “windmill” with a vertical rotor, which, unlike an air one, has blades of a minimum width of only 2 cm. This width provides minimal resistance and maximum rotation speed and was chosen for the most common flow speed - 0.8-2 meters per second.

Propeller SHPPs, as well as wheeled ones, are easy to manufacture and have relatively high efficiency, which is the reason for their frequent use.

Classification of mini hydroelectric power stations

Classification by power output (areas of application).

The power generated by a micro hydroelectric power station is determined by a combination of two factors, the first is the pressure of water flowing onto the blades of the hydraulic turbine, which drives the generator generating electricity, and the second factor is the flow rate, i.e.

the volume of water passing through the turbine in 1 second. Flow is the determining factor when classifying a hydroelectric power station as a specific type.

Based on the generated power, small hydroelectric power stations are divided into:

• Household power up to 15 kW: used to provide electricity to private households and farms.
• Commercial up to 180 kW: supply electricity to small businesses.
• Industrial with a capacity of over 180 kW: they generate electricity for sale, or energy is transferred to production.

Classification by design

Classification by installation location

• High-pressure - more than 60 m;
• Medium pressure - from 25 m;
• Low-pressure - from 3 to 25 m.

This classification implies that the power plant operates at different speeds, and a number of measures are taken to stabilize it mechanically, because

the flow rate depends on the pressure.

Components of mini hydroelectric power station

The power generating installation of a small hydroelectric power station consists of a turbine, a generator and an automatic control system. Some of the system elements are similar to solar or wind generation systems. Main elements of the system:

• Hydro turbine with blades, connected by a shaft to the generator
• Generator.

  Mini hydroelectric power station (HPP) for home

  Designed to generate alternating current. Attached to the turbine shaft. The parameters of the generated current are relatively unstable, but nothing similar to power surges occurs during wind generation;

• Hydro turbine control unit provides start and stop of the hydraulic unit, automatic synchronization of the generator when connected to the power system, control of operating modes of the hydraulic unit, and emergency stop.
• Ballast load block, designed to dissipate power currently unused by the consumer, avoids failure of the electric generator and monitoring and control system.
• Charge controller/stabilizer: designed to control battery charge, control blade rotation and voltage conversion.
• Bank AKB: a storage tank, the size of which determines the duration of autonomous operation of the object powered by it.
• Inverter, many hydroelectric generation systems use inverter systems. If there is a battery bank and a charge controller, hydraulic systems are not much different from other systems using renewable energy sources.

Mini hydroelectric power station for a private house

Rising electricity tariffs and the lack of sufficient capacity make urgent questions about the use of free energy from renewable sources in households.

Compared to other sources of renewable energy sources, mini hydroelectric power stations are of interest, since with equal power to a windmill and a solar battery, they are capable of delivering much more energy in an equal period of time.

A natural limitation on their use is the lack of a river

If a small river, stream flows near your house, or there are elevation changes on lake spillways, then you have all the conditions for installing a mini hydroelectric power station. The money spent on its purchase will quickly pay for itself - you will be provided with cheap electricity at any time of the year, regardless of weather conditions and other external factors.

The main indicator that indicates the efficiency of using SHPPs is the flow rate of the reservoir.

If the speed is less than 1 m/s, then it is necessary to take additional measures to accelerate it, for example, make a bypass channel of variable cross-section or organize an artificial height difference.

Advantages and disadvantages of microhydropower

The advantages of a mini hydroelectric power station for the home include:

• Environmental safety (with reservations for fry fish) of equipment and the absence of the need to flood large areas with colossal material damage;
• Ecological purity of the energy produced.

  There is no effect on the properties and quality of water. Reservoirs can be used both for fishing activities and as sources of water supply for the population;

• Low cost of generated electricity, which is several times cheaper than that generated at thermal power plants;
• Simplicity and reliability of the equipment used, and the possibility of its operation in autonomous mode (both within and outside the power supply network).

  The electric current they generate meets GOST requirements for frequency and voltage;

• The full service life of the station is at least 40 years (at least 5 years before major repairs);
• inexhaustibility of resources used to generate energy.

The main disadvantage of micro-hydroelectric power stations is the relative danger for the inhabitants of aquatic fauna, because Rotating turbine blades, especially in high-speed flows, can pose a threat to fish or fry.

general information

Micro hydroelectric power plant (Micro HPP) is designed to provide power supply to a consumer isolated from the power grid.

The complete supply of micro-hydroelectric power plants is shown in Table 1

Terms of Use:

— air temperature, 0 ° C

— at the power point from -10 to +40;

— at the location of electrical cabinets from 0 to +40;

— altitude above sea level, m up to 1000; (When installing a micro-hydroelectric power station at an altitude of more than 1000 m, the maximum power must be limited)

— relative air humidity at the location of electrical cabinets does not exceed 98% at t = + 250 ° C.

The warranty period for micro-hydroelectric power stations is 1 year from the date of its launch, but not more than 1.5 years from the date of dispatch, installation of control and commissioning of work with the participation of the company and compliance with the rules of transport, storage and operation of experts.

Complete supply of micro-hydroelectric power plants

Table 1

technical data

MicroHP specifications are shown in Table 2

table 2

parameter
Head (net), m
Water consumption, m3/s
Output power, kW
Rotation speed, rpm
Voltage, V
Current frequency, Hz
Disc diameter, mm
Feed diameter, mm

Requirements for the network and consumer load (the load is determined as a percentage of the actual input to the micro-hydroelectric power station):

- characteristics of local, four-phase, three-phase;

— power of each engine,% not more than 10;

Total motor power, if additional compensation capacitors are installed, % not more than 30.

DESIGN

The power supply is designed to generate electricity and consists of a hydraulic turbine and an asynchronous motor, which is used as a generator.

It is designed to absorb excess active power of micro-hydroelectric power plants. BNN is a cabinet containing thermoelectric heaters.

The automatic control device is designed to control and protect the drive. It provides excitation of an asynchronous generator and automatic control of the produced voltage and frequency.

UAR provides protection against overload, overvoltage and short circuits

The water supply device is made in the form of a network box, inside of which there is a water supply hose with a closing housing.

The water supply device is designed in such a way that floating residues do not enter the drive.

Full, installation and connection dimensions are shown in Figure 1.

installation requirements

For the operation of a micropower plant, the presence of pressure (difference in water levels) is a precondition (see Figure 2).

Full screen hydroelectric dam

The head may be obtained due to the difference in watermarks between:

- two rivers;

- lake and river;

- on the same river, due to the flattening of the curve.

Pressure is also possible during dam construction.

Figure 2 shows the installation of micro HP according to the barrier design diagram. To create pressure on the turbine along the river, which has many slopes and rapids, an outlet pipeline is installed.

A small rock dam dissipates to increase the pressure.

The piping must provide water for the installation with minimal loss of head.

The length of the pipeline is determined by local conditions.

Before the power supply, the inlet and main valves required to start and stop the micro HPW must be installed on the pipeline.

Rice. 1
In general, the installation and connection dimensions of Micro HPP 10Pr.
1 - drive,
2 - block ballast load BBN,
3 - Automatic control device UAR

Low power cogeneration plants (review)

Cogeneration plants for individual houses - micro-CHP,« Micro-CHP (microCHP)" is an abbreviation for " heat and power combined” (combining heat and electricity) is an installation designed for heating individual housing) is one of the most interesting areas of development of heating technology.

Micro-CHP(microCHP) have already found thousands of users and will be included in manufacturer catalogs in the coming years.

Various technical solutions are implemented in manufactured and designed designs - from the traditional internal combustion engine (Otto engine), to steam turbines and piston engines, as well as the Stirling external combustion engine. When promoting this equipment, manufacturers make arguments of both economic and environmental nature: high (more than 90%) total Efficiency micro-CHP ensures a reduction in energy supply costs and the volume of harmful emissions, in particular carbon dioxide, into the atmosphere.

Company Senertec GmbH, part of Baxi Group, which has sold about one and a half ten thousand installations to date Dachs(Badger) with an internal combustion engine.

Electric power - from 5 kW, thermal power - from 12.5 to 20.5. Senertec offers an energy center for an individual home, and when using several modules, for a large commercial facility. In addition to the compact cogeneration module, it includes, as standard, a buffer storage tank with a capacity of up to 1000 liters with a heat station mounted on it, combining all the piping elements necessary for heating and domestic hot water.

Additionally there is also an external condensation heat exchanger. Various models of Dachs units operate on natural, liquefied gas, and diesel fuel.

There is a Dachs RS model designed to run on biodiesel fuel made from rapeseed oil. The estimated cost of the gas model is 25 thousand euros.

Micro-CHP (Mini-BHKW) ecopover German company PoverPlus Technologies(included in Vaillant Group) is already sold on the European market.

Its electrical power is modulated in the range from 1.3 to 4.7, thermal - in the range from 4.0 to 12.5 kW. The total efficiency of the installation exceeds 90%; the fuel used is natural or liquefied gas.

The estimated cost of the model is 20 thousand euros.

At the end of last year the company Otag Vertribes A pilot batch of floor-mounted gas micro-CHP was released lion ®-Powerblock electrical power 0.2-2.2, thermal - 2.5-16.0 kW.

It uses steam two cylinder engine with a double freely moving piston: steam alternately enters the left and right cylinders, driving the working piston.

The steam generator of the apparatus consists of a forced-air burner and a steel coil; steam temperature - 350 °C, pressure - 25-30 bar. Its condensation is carried out directly in the apparatus.

As expected, lion ® on pellets will be available in April 2010.

Company Microgen(UK), one of the leaders in production mini-CHP, first developed Stirling's engine so small in size that it can be built into the boiler of an autonomous heating system.

by the company Baxi Heating UK announced its intention to bring to the UK market in 2008 a compact (wall-mounted) micro-CHP with an electrical power of 1 kW and a thermal power of up to 36 kW. The installation was developed jointly with Microgen Energy and is a combination of a compact single-piston Stirling engine created by it with a Baxi condensing boiler.

The model is equipped with two burners: the first - forced-air modulation - ensures the operation of the electric generator and produces 15 kW of thermal power, the second - satisfies the additional heat demand of the facility. A prototype of the installation was presented at the ISH-2007 exhibition.

Microgen, in collaboration with Dutch natural gas supplier Gausine and De Dietrich Remeha Group, producing boilers Remeha, develops a complete solution for heating and electricity generation.

De Dietrich-Remeha Group plans to produce and sell wall-mounted condensing boiler with built-in Stirling engine. It has already been exhibited at the ISH-2007, 2009 exhibitions. The boiler will be produced in single- and double-circuit versions. Some technical characteristics of the boiler: Its thermal output will be 23 kW, in the second case - 28 kW; electric power - 1 kW; Stirling heat output – 4.8 kW, efficiency at 40/30°C - more than 107%, low CO2 and NOx emissions, noise level - less than 43 dB(A) per 1 m.

Dimensions: 900x420x450 mm.

The most important advantage of the HRE boiler is that part of its high output of up to 107% (thanks to condensing technology) is used to generate electricity. The cost of electricity, as well as emissions of harmful substances, are reduced by 65% ​​compared to thermal power plants using traditional fuel.

For an average home, the “Remeha-HRE” boiler produces 2500 – 3000 kW per year, which is 75% of average consumption, thereby saving approximately 400 euros per year. When heating and generating electricity, emissions of harmful substances are reduced by 20%. 8 boilers are being tested in Holland. An additional 120 boilers are currently being launched for larger testing. Commercial production is expected to begin in 2010.

In Japan, more than 30,000 homeowners have installed micro-CHP Honda with quiet, efficient internal combustion engines housed in a sleek metal body.

KOHLER® Automated Gas Generating Units made in the USA with a power of 13 kVA, intended for use in residential buildings.

They have optimal compactness and excellent sound insulation.

Gas generators are designed for outdoor installation and do not require a special room. Both natural main gas and liquefied gas in cylinders or gas holders are suitable for their operation.

The automatic emergency control system makes their use safe and comfortable.

This equipment allows you to most effectively solve the following, unfortunately, not uncommon problems with power supply that owners of country houses face:

• The network is good, there is enough power, but sometimes there are power outages
• The network is weak, overloaded, strong voltage drops, frequent outages
• Insufficient capacity allocated by the electricity supply organization
• There is no network at all

You will never lack energy!

Your home needs energy.

KOHLER® generator sets are made with professional quality but designed for home use so you can continue your activities and enjoy comfort even during a power outage. KOHLER® generator sets are compact, noise-insulated and turn on automatically in the event of a power outage, ensuring normal life in your home can continue and complete peace of mind.

Have confidence in your KOHLER® generator set.

It will start working if there is a power outage, no matter whether you are at home or not, and will provide your home with electricity, for example, in order to:

• Refrigerators and freezers continued to operate.
• Air conditioning, heating and alarm systems were functioning.
• Drainage pumps, frost protection systems, etc. were functioning.
• Provide energy for your computer system.
• Everyday life continued without loss.

KOHLER® generator sets are permanently installed outside the home and turn on automatically to generate energy if the mains power supply is interrupted.

• Reliable power supply.

  Power outages can cause damage to electrical equipment (plasma displays, electronic temperature controlled refrigerators, computers, etc.).

  Hydroelectric power plants in Russia

  KOHLER® generator sets provide backup power that meets European residential standards. The KOHLER® generator set will not damage expensive electronic equipment!

• Better sound insulation. KOHLER® generator sets operate virtually silently, maintaining comfortable conditions for you and your neighbors. The noise level during operation is no higher than 65 decibels at a distance of 7 m, which corresponds to the noise of a conventional household air conditioner.

• Quick start.

  KOHLER® generator sets restore power within seconds. They have an automatic weekly testing system to keep the unit in working order during infrequent use.

• Fuel. KOHLER® generator sets are suitable for operation with liquid propane gas or natural gas, as well as diesel fuel.

  Gas generator sets have low emissions, making them more environmentally friendly, quieter and require less frequent maintenance.

  The choice is yours.

• KOHLER® quality. KOHLER® is a recognized international group of companies with almost 90 years of experience in the production of generator sets for the provision of backup energy. The first installation was assembled in 1920.

Characteristics of the gas generator SDMO RES 13

Power plants and generators

To main

Small hydroelectric power plants are usually divided into two types: “mini” - providing a unit of power up to 5000 kW, and “micro” - in the range from 3 to 100 kW. The use of hydroelectric power plants of such capacity is not new for Russia, but it is a well-forgotten old thing: in the 50s and 60s, thousands of small hydroelectric power plants operated.

Currently, their number almost reaches hundreds of pieces. Meanwhile, the constant rise in prices for fossil fuels leads to a significant increase in the cost of electricity, the share of which in production costs is 20% or more. In this regard, a small hydroelectric power station received a new life.

Modern hydropower, compared to other traditional types of electricity, is the most efficient and environmentally friendly way to produce electricity.

A small hydroelectric power station continues in this direction. Small power plants make it possible to preserve the natural landscape and environment not only during the operation phase, but also during the construction process.

Mini hydroelectric power station 10-15-30-50 kW

It does not have a negative impact on water quality in the future: it completely retains its original natural properties.

In rivers of canned fish, water can be used for aquatic plant species. Unlike other clean renewable energy sources such as solar and wind, small hydroelectric power plants are virtually independent of weather conditions and can provide a stable supply of energy to economical consumers. Another benefit of using little energy is saving money.

At a time when natural sources of energy - oil, coal and gas - are being depleted, constant growth is more expensive, the use of cheap, accessible renewable energy sources, especially small ones, allows for the production of cheap electricity. In addition, the construction of small hydroelectric power plants is cheap and quickly pays for itself. Thus, the construction of a small hydroelectric power station with an installed capacity of about 500 kW, the cost of construction work is about 14.5-15.0 million rubles.

In the combined table, design documentation, equipment construction, construction and installation of small hydroelectric power plants are put into operation for 15-18 months. High frequency electricity from hydroelectric power stations is no more than 0.45-0.5 rubles per 1 kWh, 1. This is five times lower than the costs of electricity actually sold by the power system.

By the way, in the next year or two years they intend to increase the electric power systems by 2-2.2 times, so construction costs will be repaid in 3.5-5 years. The implementation of such a project will not harm the environment from an environmental point of view.

In addition, it should be noted that reconstruction, previously deducted from the operation of a small hydroelectric power station, will cost 1.5-2 times less.

Many Russian scientific and industrial organizations and companies are engaged in the design and development of equipment for such hydroelectric power plants.

One of the largest is the intersectoral scientific and technical association “INSET” (St. Petersburg). INSET specialists have developed and patented original technical solutions for automated control systems for small and micro hydroelectric power plants. The use of such systems does not require the constant presence of maintenance personnel on site - the hydraulic unit operates reliably in automatic mode. The control system can be implemented on the basis of a programmable controller, which allows you to visually monitor the parameters of the hydraulic unit on a computer screen.

Hydraulic units for small and micro hydroelectric power plants produce MNTO "integrated", designed to operate over a wide range of flows and pressures with high energy properties and manufactured using propeller, radial and axial turbine blades.

The scope of supply generally includes a turbine, generator and automatic control of the hydraulic unit. The flow rates of all turbines are based on a mathematical modeling method.

Low energy is the most effective solution to energy problems for areas belonging to areas of decentralized power supply, which accounts for more than 70% of the territory of Russia. Providing energy to remote regions and energy shortages requires significant costs.

And here it is far from useful to use the capabilities of the existing federal energy system. The economic potential in Russia is significantly higher than the potential of renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar energy and biomass combined. In the national energy program, the INSET company is developing the “Concept of development and facilities for the placement of small hydroelectric power plants in the Republic of Tyva”, according to which this year will put into operation a small hydroelectric power station in the village of Kyzyl-Khaya.

Currently, INSET hydroelectric power plants operate in Russia (Kabardino-Balkaria, Bashkortostan), the Commonwealth of Independent States (Belarus, Georgia), as well as in Latvia and other countries.

Eco-friendly and economical mini-energy has long attracted the attention of foreigners.

Micro INESET operates in Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Guatemala, Sweden, Poland.

Free electricity - do-it-yourself mini hydroelectric power station

If there is a river or even a small stream flowing near your home, then with the help of a homemade mini hydroelectric power station you can get free electricity. Perhaps this will not be a very large addition to the budget, but the realization that you have your own electricity costs much more.

Well, if, for example, at a dacha, there is no central power supply, then even small amounts of electricity will be simply necessary. And so, to create a homemade hydroelectric power station, at least two conditions are required - the availability of a water resource and desire.

If both are present, then the first thing to do is measure the speed of the river flow.

This is very simple to do - throw a twig into the river and measure the time during which it floats 10 meters. Dividing meters by seconds gives you the current speed in m/s. If the speed is less than 1 m/s, then a productive mini hydroelectric power station will not work.

In this case, you can try to increase the flow speed by artificially narrowing the channel or making a small dam if you are dealing with a small stream.

As a guide, you can use the relationship between the flow speed in m/s and the power of electricity removed from the propeller shaft in kW (screw diameter 1 meter).

The data is experimental; in reality, the resulting power depends on many factors, but it is suitable for evaluation. So:

• 0.5 m/s – 0.03 kW,
• 0.7 m/s – 0.07 kW,
• 1 m/s – 0.14 kW,
• 1.5 m/s – 0.31 kW,
• 2 m/s – 0.55 kW,
• 2.5 m/s – 0.86 kW,
• 3 m/s -1.24 kW,
• 4 m/s – 2.2 kW, etc.

The power of a homemade mini hydroelectric power station is proportional to the cube of the flow velocity.

As already indicated, if the flow speed is insufficient, try to artificially increase it, if this is of course possible.

Types of mini-hydroelectric power plants

There are several main options for homemade mini hydroelectric power plants.


This is a wheel with blades mounted perpendicular to the surface of the water.

The wheel is less than half immersed in the flow. Water presses on the blades and rotates the wheel. There are also turbine wheels with special blades optimized for liquid flow. But these are quite complex designs, more factory-made than home-made.

It is a vertical axis rotor used to generate electrical energy.

A vertical rotor that rotates due to the pressure difference on its blades. The pressure difference is created due to the flow of liquid around complex surfaces. The effect is similar to the lift of a hydrofoil or the lift of an airplane wing. This design was patented by Georges Jean-Marie Darrieux, a French aeronautical engineer in 1931. Also often used in wind turbine designs.

Garland a hydroelectric power station consists of light turbines - hydraulic propellers, strung and rigidly fixed in the form of a garland on a cable thrown across the river.

One end of the cable is fixed in the support bearing, the other rotates the generator rotor.

Mini-hydroelectric power station - Leneva hydropower unit

In this case, the cable plays the role of a kind of shaft, the rotational motion of which is transmitted to the generator. The flow of water rotates the rotors, the rotors rotate the cable.

Also borrowed from the designs of wind power plants, a kind of “underwater wind turbine” with a vertical rotor. Unlike an air propeller, an underwater propeller has blades of minimal width. For water, a blade width of only 2 cm is sufficient. With such a width, there will be minimal resistance and maximum rotation speed.

This width of the blades was chosen for a flow speed of 0.8-2 meters per second. At higher speeds, other sizes may be optimal. The propeller moves not due to water pressure, but due to the generation of lifting force. Just like an airplane wing. The propeller blades move across the flow rather than being dragged in the direction of the flow.

Advantages and disadvantages of various homemade mini hydroelectric power station systems

The disadvantages of a garland hydroelectric power station are obvious: high material consumption, danger to others (long underwater cable, rotors hidden in the water, blocking the river), low efficiency.

The Garland hydroelectric power station is a kind of small dam. It is advisable to use in uninhabited, remote areas with appropriate warning signs.

Permission from authorities and environmentalists may be required. The second option is a small stream in your garden.

The Daria rotor is difficult to calculate and manufacture.

At the beginning of work you need to unwind it. But it is attractive because the rotor axis is located vertically and power can be taken off over water, without additional gears. Such a rotor will rotate with any change in flow direction - this is a plus.

The most widespread designs for the construction of home-made hydroelectric power plants are the propeller and water wheel.

Since these options are relatively simple to manufacture, require minimal calculations and are implemented at minimal cost, have high efficiency, and are easy to configure and operate.

An example of a simple mini-hydroelectric power station

The simplest hydroelectric power station can be quickly built from an ordinary bicycle with a dynamic headlight.

Several blades (2-3) must be prepared from galvanized iron or thin sheet aluminum. The blades should be the length from the wheel rim to the hub and 2-4 cm wide.

These blades are installed between the spokes using any available method or using pre-prepared fasteners.

If you are using two blades, place them opposite each other.

If you want to add more blades, then divide the circumference of the wheel by the number of blades and install them at equal intervals. You can experiment with the depth of immersion of the wheel with blades in the water. It is usually one-third to one-half immersed.

The option of a traveling wind power plant was considered earlier.

Such a micro hydroelectric power station does not take up much space and will serve cyclists perfectly - the main thing is the presence of a stream or rivulet - which is usually the place where the camp is set up.

A mini hydroelectric power station from a bicycle can illuminate a tent and charge cell phones or other gadgets.

Source

homemadefree flow

Heating in a small house is quite simple. If you understand the topic a little, it becomes clear that there are no difficulties in creating it. You can make a simple system with your own hands, if, as they say, “you know how to tighten nuts.”

But even after inviting specialists, you need to know how the heating system is made in a small house in order to speak the same language with them and control the work. Below are brief instructions for arranging a private one-story house.

Insulate first

Heat the street? Not worth it. You need to invest in insulation, so that in 5-10 years you can “recoup” this money on heating, and then get net savings.

How to insulate a house - you can find as much information as you like, but you need to use trusted sources, otherwise you can do something wrong... As a result, enclosing structures must at least comply with heat loss standards.

Heating power

After this, decide on the power of the heating system - no more than 1 kW per 10 square meters. area of ​​the house. Total, for an ordinary house of 150 sq. m. A 15 kW boiler is suitable. Therefore, the total power of the radiators should be about 18 kW.

If there were no insulation, a cold house with an area of ​​150 square meters would require significantly more equipment power. It’s difficult to say exactly what it is - it all depends on the specific heat loss.

But for a typical “cold house” 150 sq. m. with an under-insulated attic and walls of 1.5 bricks, etc., you will probably need a boiler of 30 kilowatts, no less, and radiators of 35 kW, so that it is possible to exist in it at least somewhat, but not comfortably. Notice what a difference there is in terms of money and in the difficulties of creation if you are dealing with an under-insulated building.

Select radiator power

Now you need to distribute the power of the radiators across the rooms. It is not worth taking into account the area of ​​the rooms; only an indirect assessment of heat loss is important - the length of the external walls, the presence of windows and doors and their sizes.

On the building plan, we place radiators under each window, near the external doors, and determine how many of them will be needed. Then we calculate the required power of each radiator in proportion to their total number and total power.

The main criterion for “manual” assessment of heat loss is the glazing area. The larger it is, the larger the radiator is needed.

No hassle with gas

If main gas runs along the street, then the choice of boiler is obvious - a gas wall-mounted boiler for a small private house is the best choice. Even if it is possible to deliver cheap firewood, ensuring comfort still wins - nothing compares to the ease of operating an automated gas boiler.

If people live in the house permanently, then a backup boiler must be installed - usually a solid fuel one.

If there is no gas

If there is no gas, then such a tandem is possible - the main solid fuel is on wood and coal, and the backup and auxiliary is electric, the power of which will be allowed by energy supervision (it is advisable for a private house to immediately arrange a three-phase power supply, then there will be no problems with the electric boiler).

Electricity is expensive, but it is a thousand times more convenient than coal. Firing a boiler or stove is a job that takes up an hour of time every day. And when the solid fuel goes out, you can warm up with the electric one. And when we are not in the house, and there is no one to heat? It is better not to freeze the building, even if it is not frozen, but to warm it up a little with an electric automated boiler.

But if there is no permission for greater electrical power, then you have to live “on firewood”.

Liquid fuel boilers are expensive to operate, and they require additional capacity for fuel and boiler supply equipment. They are used when there is no other option - no gas, no electricity, no coal, just firewood, and even that is expensive and raw....

Gravity heating - is it right?

If the power supply is not at all reliable, then gravity heating can be done for a small private house, but it will cost 2 times more than forced heating with a pump, due to the large diameter of the pipes.

When the power supply is “moderately unreliable,” which is generally the case, then in a private house they use a modern circuit with a pump, and they also necessarily back up the power supply with a diesel generator.

The electric generator must be equipped with automatic switching on in the absence of power supply. It is unacceptable to maintain an electric generator without complete readiness, i.e. if there is no electricity, you need to go to the barn and try to dig it out and start it up....

Pipe layout diagram

The piping layout for a small house is usually a dead-end one, with radiators separated into 2 arms - up to 5 radiators per arm. Then there is a minimum of hydraulic losses and it is possible to balance the radiators at dead ends (the liquid tends to escape through the first one).

If there are 4 radiators per arm or less, then there are generally no problems with the dead end. But if in one arm it turns out to be 4 and in the other there are already 6, then with six radiators at a dead end there is no need to suffer and it is better to choose a more expensive (due to the increased diameter of the pipes) but stable associated scheme.

A similar scheme for connecting radiators is not bad for a private house, but it is more expensive - a larger pipeline diameter will be needed, it is better implemented over large areas, when balancing problems arise with a dead-end circuit.

Single-pipe schemes are not at all cheaper, but they have a lot of problems and cannot be recommended. It is better to also abandon the beam circuit - complex adjustment and installation.

Water heated floor in the house - is it a problem?

Making a water floor is not a problem if you know how. There are many nuances in creating a heated floor; it is better to invite a specialist with experience in creating a heated floor. A solid foundation is needed - the heated floor screed should not crack from vibration. Then we study the instructions for creating heated floors on water; this scheme, by the way, is easily integrated with a radiator heating system.

It is important to make the base absolutely horizontal to avoid large air pockets; it is also necessary to divide the entire floor area so that the heating pipes are approximately the same length.

The density of installation - as well as the selection of radiators according to power - is largely based on heat loss in the rooms. And many other subtleties that will have to be implemented in practice.

A water heated floor can only be an addition to radiators, creating special comfort. The building cannot heat the warm floor on its own due to the large thermal inertia of this system and the lack of power - the temperature is limited to +35 degrees, due to comfort and thermal expansion of materials.

What radiators are suitable for a small house

If someone once said that a certain type of radiator has the best energy efficiency or something else, for example, “increased resistance to corrosion,” then this is just an advertising ploy that has little influence on the choice of radiators.
Any type of radiator is suitable for a private home. Therefore, we boldly choose those that are the most beautiful and cheap. Perhaps, you can take into account that all-panel steel ones do not have intersectional joints, so they are with anti-freeze “just in case”, i.e. do not flow over time.


Next, please note that the radiators must be connected correctly. It is best to use the “diagonal” scheme - feed at the top, return at the bottom on the opposite side. But for short radiators (up to 1 m), the reverse scheme is also suitable - supply at the top, return at the bottom on the same side. Other connection schemes cannot be used.

Select pipes

The choice of pipes is more difficult, since the cheapest “penny” polypropylene pipes pose a serious threat of poor-quality soldering with partial overlap of the cross-section with the deposited material. But it is impossible to detect this from the outside.

But the risk of allowing this to happen is still not taken into account against the background of the price of these pipes, and especially their fittings. In addition, welding polypropylene is easy to learn. And if so, then you can practice, ruin a couple of fittings and see what it means to overheat or exceed the insertion depth, or to twist the parts being welded. And gradually learn how to solder pipes yourself.

When soldering the polypropylene pipeline itself, you need to be very careful, very slow, and be ready to even redo it, if anything happens.

It is also possible to use metal-plastic pipes for a small private house, but their fittings are expensive, and their sealing would be better done by a specialist. In addition, for a radiator system, laying such pipes open is undesirable - they are too vulnerable. If a child stands on the pipe and bends it, there will be an accident and the system will stop.

It remains to find out the diameter of the pipes, but it must be calculated based on the required amount of hot liquid, and the speed should not exceed 0.7 m/s. Without going into complexity, let's say that to drain from the boiler and supply power up to 15 kW, you need a 32 mm (outer diameter!) polypropylene pipeline. For one wing with a power of 7.5 kW - 25 mm. And for connecting one radiator or a group of radiators up to 4 kW - 20 mm (internal diameter 13.2 mm).

Strapping diagrams and fittings used

It is important that now everything is installed correctly, for example, first an American pipe, then a piece of pipe, then a filter, again an American pipe, then a tap. In general, installation requires the experience of a plumber.

But even if you do it yourself for the first time, you can avoid making mistakes, and if a mistake creeps in, you can redo everything. It will still be cheaper than hiring this same locksmith.

It is only important to follow the wiring diagrams for the boiler and radiators, taken from a reliable source, and strictly follow the entire sequence of installed fittings. You need to print these diagrams and then check them.

Apparent simplicity is deceptive. For example, the dirt filter should be only where it is supposed to be, and must be turned with the garbage collector down, and not up, and the expansion tank should be in accordance with the trim, and the air bleed should be right here, and in front of it is the tap...

How to mount

It is better to draw the location of pipes and fittings on the walls, distribute the fasteners - do everything slowly.

If a hired specialist installs heating in a house, then it is advisable to look at what he is doing and talk with him about how to prevent defects when soldering polypropylene or joining other types of pipes.

We chose a suitable boiler and its location (according to the gas supply project, for example), and installed its piping correctly. We correctly selected the power of each radiator and placed them strictly under the windows (thermal curtain).

We also chose the right connection diagram - a two-pipe hitch (or dead-end) with a pump and did it all with the right pipes. All. You can fill in the coolant and turn on the system.

We know that geothermy is the heat of the Earth, and the concept “geothermal” is often associated with volcanoes and geysers. In Russia, geothermal energy is used primarily on an industrial scale; for example, there are Far Eastern power plants that operate using the heat of our planet.

Many people are sure that making geothermal heating at home with their own hands is something out of science fiction. Is not it? But this is absolutely not true! With the development of modern technologies, the domestic use of “green energy” has become quite possible.

We will talk about the operating principles of alternative heating, its advantages and disadvantages, and compare it with traditional heating systems. You will also learn about how to position the heat exchanger and how to install geothermal heating with your own hands.

When the oil crisis broke out in the 70s of the last century, a burning need arose in the West. It was at this time that the first geothermal heating systems began to be created.

Today they are widespread in the United States, Canada and Western European countries.

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For example, in Sweden they actively use water from the Baltic Sea, whose temperature is +4°C. In Germany, the introduction of geothermal heating systems is even sponsored at the state level.

When we mention geothermal energy sources, we always imagine a valley of geysers or volcanoes, but the sources we need are much closer. And they will help us stay warm in winter and cool in summer.

In Russia there are Pauzhetskaya, Verkhne-Mutnovskaya, Okeanskaya and other geothermal power plants. But there is very little evidence of the use of Earth's energy in our private sector.

Real advantages and disadvantages

If geothermal heating in the private sector has received relatively little distribution in Russia, does this mean that the idea is not worth the cost of its implementation? Maybe it’s not worth pursuing this issue? It turned out that this was not the case.

Using a geothermal heating system for your home is a profitable solution. And there are several reasons for this. These include the quick installation of equipment that can operate for a long time without any interruptions.

If you use high-quality antifreeze, rather than water, in the heating system, it will not freeze and its wear will be minimal.

We list other advantages of this type of heating.

• The fuel combustion procedure is excluded. We create an absolutely fireproof system, which, during its operation, cannot cause any damage to housing. In addition, a number of other issues related to the presence of fuel are eliminated: now there is no need to look for a place to store it, deal with its preparation or delivery.
• Significant economic benefit. During the operation of the system, no additional investments will be required. Annual heating is provided by the forces of nature, which we do not buy. Of course, when operating a heat pump, electrical energy is consumed, but the amount of energy produced significantly exceeds the amount of energy consumed.
• Environmental factor. Geothermal heating of a private country house is an environmentally friendly solution. The absence of a combustion process eliminates the release of combustion products into the atmosphere. If many people realize this, and such a heat supply system becomes widespread, the negative impact of people on nature will decrease many times over.
• Compactness of the system. You do not have to organize a separate boiler room in your home. All that is needed is a heat pump, which can be placed, for example, in the basement. The most voluminous contour of the system will be located underground or underwater; you will not see it on the surface of your site.
• Multifunctionality. The system can work both for heating in the cold season and for cooling during the summer heat. That is, in fact, it will replace not only your heater, but also your air conditioner.
• Acoustic comfort. The heat pump operates almost silently.

Choosing a geothermal heating system is cost-effective, despite the fact that you will have to spend money on the purchase and installation of equipment.

By the way, as a disadvantage of the system, they mention precisely the costs that will have to be incurred to install the system and prepare it for operation. You will need to buy the pump itself and some materials, and carry out the installation of the external manifold and internal circuit.

It is no secret that resources become more expensive year by year, so an autonomous heating system that can pay for itself within several years will always be economically beneficial for its owner

However, these costs pay off in just the first few years of operation. The subsequent use of a buried or submerged collector can save significant money.

In addition, the installation process itself is not so complicated that it requires inviting third-party specialists to perform it. If you don’t do drilling, then you can do everything else yourself.

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It should be noted that some craftsmen, in an effort to save money, have learned to collect geothermal.

About geothermal heating sources

The following sources of terrestrial thermal energy can be used for geothermal heating:

• high temperature;
• low temperature.

High-temperature ones include, for example, thermal springs. They can be used, but their scope is limited by the actual location of such sources.

While in Iceland this type of energy is actively used, in Russia thermal waters are located far from populated areas. They are concentrated as much as possible in Kamchatka, where underground water is used as a coolant and supplied to hot water systems.

To effectively use the earth's thermal energy, you do not need a volcano. It is enough to use those resources that are located just 200 meters from the earth’s surface

But we have all the necessary prerequisites for the use of low-temperature sources. The surrounding air masses, earth or water are suitable for this purpose.

A heat pump is used to extract the required energy. With its help, the procedure is carried out to convert the ambient temperature into thermal energy not only for heating, but also for hot water supply to a private household.

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The principle of operation of such heating

If you are familiar with how or works, then the similarity of these processes with the operating principle of geothermal heating is obvious. The basis of the system is a heat pump, which is connected to two circuits - external and internal.

To organize a traditional heating system in any house, it is necessary to install pipes for transporting coolant and radiators, when heated, heat will flow into the premises. In our case, pipes and radiators are also needed. They form the internal contour of the system. Can be added to the diagram.

The external contour looks much larger than the internal one, although its dimensions can only be assessed during planning and installation. During operation, it is invisible because it is underground or underwater. Plain water or ethylene glycol-based antifreeze circulates inside this circuit, which is much preferable.

The geothermal heating system includes two circuits - internal and external, as well as the heart of the heating system - a heat pump, which, by compressing the coolant, increases its temperature (+)

In the external circuit it is heated to the state of the environment in which it is immersed, and sent in a “heated” form to the heat pump. Through it, concentrated heat is transferred to the internal circuit, as a result of which the water in pipes, radiators and heated floors is heated.

Thus, the key element that animates the entire system is the heat pump. If your home has an ordinary washing machine, then know: this pump will take up approximately the same area.

To operate, it needs electricity, but, consuming only 1 kW, it produces 4-5 kW of heat. And this is not a miracle, since the source of “additional” energy is known - this is the environment.

Two types of heat exchanger locations

There are two options for heating a private home using low-temperature energy from environmental elements. The basis of the system in all three cases is a geothermal pump.

The internal circuit remains unchanged for any heating method, and the main difference is the location of the external circuit.

Geothermal heating comes with a heat exchanger located:

• vertically– located in wells that tap or do not tap an aquifer;
• horizontally– heat exchangers of the systems are placed in a pit or open reservoir in the form of a kind of coil.

Each of the types of heating listed here is characterized by its own characteristics, disadvantages and advantages.

If you intend to create such a heating system with your own hands, you will be interested in learning more about each type.

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Option 1. Vertical placement of the external collector

This type of heating is based on an interesting natural phenomenon: at a depth of 50-100 m or more from its surface, the earth has the same and constant temperature of 10-12°C all year round.

To be able to use this earth energy, it is necessary. The technology is almost similar to the preparation of a water intake source.

In order to preserve the landscape as much as possible, several pipes can be drilled from the same starting point, but at different angles.

The external circuit of the system will be installed directly in these wells. This will allow you to effectively take away its heat from the earth. Of course, this method can hardly be called simple and low-budget.

To create a vertical geothermal heating system, you need to use equipment for drilling wells; without using a drilling rig, solving the problems of constructing the system will be quite labor-intensive (+)

It is relevant in the case when the territory adjacent to the house has already been developed, and disturbing its landscape is impractical. The depth of drilling a well can reach from 50 to 200 meters.

The specific parameters of the well depend on the geological situation at the site and the parameters of the future structure. The service life of this design is approximately 100 years.

To install a vertical version of the system with a heat exchanger that extracts the energy of underground water, you will need to drill two water-bearing wells.

From one of them, called the debit one, water is drawn using a pump, which, after heat transfer, is drained into the second, receiving outlet.

The disadvantage of a geothermal system with two wells is that it is not efficient enough to heat a country house. The circulation pump wastes too much energy. But to supply the coolant to the heated floor circuit, the resulting thermal energy is quite sufficient

Option #2. Horizontal arrangement of the soil collector

To lay the external circuit for horizontal heating, you need to know to what depth the ground freezes in your area.

The pipes are laid below the freezing level in pre-prepared trenches, covering a fairly large space: to heat a house whose area is 200-250 square meters. m, you need to use approximately 600 sq. m heat exchanger. That is six hundred square meters.

The disadvantage of this design is the large area it occupies. If you need a lawn covered with grass and flowers on your property, this is your option. It is better to keep collector pipes away from fruit-bearing trees (+)

It is clear that under such conditions, the volume of excavation work will be significant. In addition, you need to take into account the location of trees and other vegetation on the site in your plan so as not to freeze them. For example, collector pipes should not be located closer than one and a half meters from trees.

This installation method is used, as a rule, in cases where the site is just being developed for construction. All calculations and plans for building a cottage, organizing its heating and planning the land plot are best carried out simultaneously.

Image gallery

Immersion of a horizontal heat exchanger in a body of water

This method requires a special location of the household - at a distance of about 100 m from a reservoir of sufficient depth. In addition, the specified reservoir should not freeze to the very bottom, where the external contour of the system will be located. And for this, the area of ​​the reservoir cannot be less than 200 square meters. m.

The obvious advantage of this method is the absence of mandatory labor-intensive excavation work, although you still have to tinker with the underwater location of the collector. And special permission to carry out such work will also be required.

However, a geothermal installation using water energy is still the most economical.

Do it yourself: what and how

If you are going to install geothermal heating yourself, then it is better to buy the external circuit ready-made. Of course, we are only considering ways to horizontally position the external heat exchanger: under the surface of the soil or under water.

It is much more difficult to install a vertical well collector yourself if you do not have the equipment and drilling skills.

A heat pump is not a very large piece of equipment. It will not take up much space in your home. After all, in size it is comparable, for example, to a conventional solid fuel boiler. Connecting the internal circuit of your home to it is not a difficult task.

In fact, everything is done in exactly the same way as when organizing and using traditional heat sources. The main difficulty is the design of the external circuit.

This arrangement of the house relative to the pond is more common. The main thing is that the reservoir is no further than 100 meters from the cottage

The best option would be to use a reservoir if one is found at a distance of no more than 100 m. It is necessary that its area exceed 200 sq. m. m, and the depth is 3 m (average freezing parameter). If this body of water does not belong to you, then obtaining permission to use it may become a problem.

If the reservoir is a pond that is on your property, then the matter becomes simpler. The water from the pond can be temporarily pumped out. Then work on its bottom can be done easily: you will need to lay the pipes in a spiral, securing them in this position.

Excavation work will only be needed to dig a trench, which will be needed to connect the external circuit to the heat pump.

After all work has been completed, the pond can be filled with water again. In the next hundred years, the external heat exchanger should work properly and not cause trouble to its owner.

If you have at your disposal a plot of land on which you just have to build housing and grow a garden, it makes sense to plan a horizontal ground-type heat exchanger.

To do this, you should make a preliminary calculation of the area of ​​the future collector, based on the parameters already indicated above: 250-300 sq. m of collector per 100 sq. m of heated area of ​​the house.

If you have a plot without buildings or vegetation that you would like to preserve, the soil can simply be removed when constructing an external horizontal soil contour: this is easier than digging trenches

The trenches in which the circuit pipes are to be laid must be dug below the soil freezing level.

Better yet, simply remove the soil to the depth of its freezing, lay the pipes, and then return the soil to its place. The work is labor-intensive and complex, but with great desire and determination, you can complete it.

Costs and payback prospects

The costs of equipment and its installation during the construction of geothermal heating depend on the power of the unit and the manufacturer.

Everyone chooses a manufacturer based on their own considerations and information about the reputation and reliability of a particular brand. But the power depends on the area of ​​the room to be served.

This figure summarizes the benefits of using a geothermal heating system. It is precisely this ratio of incoming and outgoing energy that allows the system to first quickly pay for itself and then save its owner’s money (+)

If we take power into account, the cost of heat pumps varies in the following ranges:

• at 4-5 kW– 3000-7000 conventional units;
• at 5-10 kW– 4000-8000 conventional units;
• at 10-15 kW– 5000-10000 conventional units.

If we add to this amount the costs that are needed to carry out installation work (20-40%), then we will get an amount that for many will seem absolutely unrealistic.

But all these costs will be recouped in a very reasonable time frame. In the future, you will only have to pay minor expenses for the electricity needed to operate the pump. And it's all!

Due to the insufficient efficiency of geothermal systems for heating residential buildings, they are used as an addition to the main heating networks or built in complex with two or more heat exchangers

As practice shows, geothermal heating is especially beneficial for houses with a total heated area of ​​150 square meters. m. Within five to eight years, all costs for installing heating systems in these houses are fully recouped.

If geothermal heating is not particularly in demand among owners of private houses, then the effectiveness of solar systems has already been appreciated by residents of the southern regions. The technology is quite simple, and its cost-effectiveness and practicality are confirmed by many years of experience in use by Western countries and our compatriots.

For more information on alternative energy sources, see.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

If you find it easier to perceive visual information, then this video will allow you to see with your own eyes exactly how a geothermal system functions, as well as learn more about who benefits from this type of heating and why.

We invite you to watch a short video in which the owner of a horizontal subsoil collector will talk about his impressions of its operation. Additionally, by watching this video, you will learn about the ongoing costs associated with operating a geothermal heating system.

Each owner of a private home chooses for himself whether to buy the services of resource supply organizations or rely only on himself. In doing so, he is guided by a whole list of considerations.

Do you have anything to add or have questions about geothermal heating of a private home? You can leave comments on the publication. The contact form is located in the lower block.