Managing your GHX - or maximizing your return on investment
Most buildings with a traditional HVAC system are connected to an energy grid (electric or gas) and can, as long as the utility bill is paid, extract as much energy as they need.
A GCHP system is different. It operates like a rechargeable battery that can be completely discharged or overcharged rather than a connection to a power grid. In other words, it's possible to discharge or overcharge a GHX to the point where heat pumps connected to it won't work, or work very inefficiently.
For many projects it is cost-effective to integrate auxiliary systems with a GHX. Closed circuit cooling towers, auxiliary heat, different GHX configurations, waste heat recovery from generators or refrigeration systems, thermal energy storage, solar thermal, waste heat from biomass...etc.
The benefits of this approach is found in projects that are fairly heating or cooling dominant...in other words, projects that reject a lot more heat to the GHX than they extract, or take a lot more energy from the GHX than they return. This allows the GHX to be sized to the smaller of the heating or cooling load.
To maximize the cost savings and energy cost savings, the control system must know what the temperature of the GHX was predicted to be, know how much energy has been rejected to or extracted from the GHX, and know what alternative heat sources or heat sinks are available...and how much energy they can absorb or reject.
GEOptimize works with modeling and control software developed by Greensleeves Energy Solutions to help design cost-effective solutions for your GCHP system and GHX.
A GCHP system is different. It operates like a rechargeable battery that can be completely discharged or overcharged rather than a connection to a power grid. In other words, it's possible to discharge or overcharge a GHX to the point where heat pumps connected to it won't work, or work very inefficiently.
For many projects it is cost-effective to integrate auxiliary systems with a GHX. Closed circuit cooling towers, auxiliary heat, different GHX configurations, waste heat recovery from generators or refrigeration systems, thermal energy storage, solar thermal, waste heat from biomass...etc.
The benefits of this approach is found in projects that are fairly heating or cooling dominant...in other words, projects that reject a lot more heat to the GHX than they extract, or take a lot more energy from the GHX than they return. This allows the GHX to be sized to the smaller of the heating or cooling load.
To maximize the cost savings and energy cost savings, the control system must know what the temperature of the GHX was predicted to be, know how much energy has been rejected to or extracted from the GHX, and know what alternative heat sources or heat sinks are available...and how much energy they can absorb or reject.
GEOptimize works with modeling and control software developed by Greensleeves Energy Solutions to help design cost-effective solutions for your GCHP system and GHX.
