Geothermal Alliance of Illinois

Richard HilesClimateMaster Mid Central District Region Manager

Residential Geothermal History

Dailey Funnies!!

What is Geothermal Energy

What is Geothermal Energy

“Geo-thermal" simply means "earth-heat"

High Grade- 300°F to 700°F

Medium Grade- 80°F to 250°F

Low Grade- 40°F to 80°F (available everywhere in the world)

What is Geothermal EnergyHigh/Med Grade• Heat of the earth’s pressure that turns water into steam –

Hot Springs, Geysers – Generate Electricty

Low Grade• Solar energy stored in the earths crust

– Geothermal Heat Pumps (GHP)

– Ground Source Heat Pumps (GSHP)

– Geo-Exchange System– Earth-Coupled Heat Pump

History of Geothermal Technology• Early 1800’s ground temperatures

peak interest• Early 1900’s installs

begin in Europe

• First US installation in 1945 Indianapolis, IN• US Commercial manufacturing late 1950’s

Geothermal History???

It’s Not New!!100 Year Old Technology!!

First Recorded Patent is a 1912 Swiss Lake Loop with Copper Tubing

In the late 1940s, Robert C. Webber, a cellar inventor, was experimenting with his deep freezer. Mr. Webber decided to build a full size heat pump to generate heat for the entire home. Mr. Webber also came up with the idea to pump heat from underground, where the temperature doesn't vary much throughout the year. Copper tubing was placed in the ground and Freon gas ran through the tubing to gather the ground heat.

GEOTHERMAL HISTORY

In 1948 geothermal technology moves east whenProfessor Carl Nielsen of Ohio State Universitydevelops the first ground-source heat pump, for useat his residence. J.D. Krocker, an engineer inPortland, Oregon, pioneers the first commercialbuilding use of a groundwater heat pump.

GEOTHERMAL HISTORY

LIFE Magazine October 1948“Fireless Furnace”

Mr. Bill Loosley, designed and installed a direct exchange geothermal system in his home in Burlington, ONTARIO in 1950

History

Belt drive compressor

Air coil in old oil furnace

Desuperheater added to hot water tank

History

Compressor was initially powered by hand crank

diesel motor… changed to electric motor (still being used!!) in 1953 when his

wife couldn’t start it.

History

In the late 70’s Dr. James Bose, professor at Oklahoma State University came across the heat pump concept in an old engineering text. Dr. Bose used the idea to help a homeowner whose heat pump was dumping scalding water into his pool. Dr. Bose fashioned the heat pump to circulate the water through the pipes instead of dumping the water into the pool. This was the beginning of the new era in geothermal systems. Dr. Bose returned to Oklahoma State University and began to develop his idea

GEOTHERMAL HISTORY

• ClimateMaster – Started 1957• FHP / Bosch – Started 1970• WaterFurnace – Started 1980• Enertech – Started in 1996 –

Manufacturing Started in 2006• Plus various other brand names along the

way – Tetco, Econar, Command Aire etc

MANUFACTUERS HISTORY

PRODUCT HISTORY

2010’s: Exceed 40+ EER with VFD compressors, variable water flow and digital communicating controls

1970’s: Efficiency reaches 10 EER

1980’s: Offered variable air volume

1990’s: First 2 – Speed units integrated with ECM fans

2000’s: Exceed 25 EER / 2-Stage Scroll and “Combination” units

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzDNNa3JVHA&feature=youtu.behttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzDNNa3JVHA&feature=youtu.be

• 1970s – Single Pipe of PVC or Polybutylene 1 ¼” Pipe Serpentine Design

LOOP HISTORY

• 1980s – Blue Polybutylene Connected with Barb type fittings and hose clamps switches to Heat Fusion Parallel circuits with ¾” pipe (J B & Dennis Westin)

• 1990s – Industry converts to Polyethylene “Black” Pipe / Horizontal Bore gains traction as an option

LOOP HISTORY

• 2000’s – PEX added as an “option”

GEOTHERMAL ARI HISTORY

• What will the Future Hold???

• Growth – As Energy Costs and Construction Increase so will Geothermal Sales!!!

• Be Ready to Capture YOUR Share!

• Questions

GEOTHERMAL HISTORY