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GCHP system helps polar bears keep their cool

9/24/2013

 
The Assiniboine Park Zoo in Winnipeg, MB is building an International Polar Bear Conservation Centre and the Journey to Churchill Polar Bear exhibit that will be opened to the public in 2014. The four buildings under construction for the exhibit (the Conservation Centre, Tundra Cafe, the Gateway to the Arctic Exhibit Building, and Aurora Borealis Theatre) are connected to a common GHX. The GHX design is unique in that it...
is actually comprised of two different GHX modules. To create the outdoor exhibit space for the bear enclosure a mound of earth up to 12' (4 m) in height was built. High density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe was laid in a 3' (1 m) excavation prior to building the earth mound to take advantage of the cover. This provided approximately 20% of the capacity of the GCHP system at very low cost to take advantage of the earth work. To provide the remainder of the heating and cooling capacity for the buildings, a horizontal directionally drilled GHX was built under the existing parking lot adjacent to the zoo.

Other unique features of the GCHP system for this project include:
  • The connection of 4 separate buildings to a common GHX to create a district geothermal system. This takes advantage of the diversity of buildings and provides more opportunities to transfer energy directly from one building to another.
  • Conditioning of two pools for polar bears and seals. In winter, the pools are heated enough to maintain some open water in the pools, and chilled in summer to provide a cool respite for the northern animals.

Designing a GHX around proposed earth work can significantly reduce the cost of building a GHX for a project. This can eliminate a significant portion of the cost of building a GHX since the earth will be moved regardless. Modeling and planning the logistics of placing the pipe must be well coordinated with the entire design and construction team to facilitate the placement of the pipe without disrupting other work. 

Comments are closed.


    Ed Lohrenz

    In my blog I'll be expressing my opinions about what I've the learned about ground coupled heat pump (GCHP) systems over the last 30 years. I've been very fortunate to work with many interesting people who are passionate about this technology...engineers, geologists, mechanical contractors, drillers, excavation contractors...in different parts of the world. I've learned a lot from them and will be using this forum to pass on some of the things I've learned and feel are important. Please feel free to use this information if you feel it's worthwhile...hopefully you can avoid some of the same mistakes I've learned from.

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  • HOME
  • About
  • Training
    • CGD Courses Online
    • CGD Courses in your Office
    • CGD at IGSHPA
  • Services
    • Feasibility
    • Geo Forensics
    • Peer Review
    • Design Assistance
    • GCHP & GHX design
    • Manage your GHX
  • Products
    • Ground Loop Design >
      • GLD quote
    • GeoCube
  • Projects
    • Agriculture
    • Commercial >
      • Steinbach Credit Union
      • Walkerton CWC
      • 2211 West 4th
    • District Systems >
      • Gibsons, BC
      • Seasons of Tuxedo
      • Miami, MB
    • Healthcare
    • Industrial >
      • Newfoundland Aqua
    • Institutional >
      • Prairie Dale School
      • St. Pierre Church
      • College Universitaire St. Boniface
    • Multi-family Residential >
      • Bethany Manor
      • YWCA Elm Centre
    • Recreational >
      • Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre
    • Retail >
      • Neechi Commons
      • IKEA, Centennial, CO
  • Blog