Boreholes and coolants
It is not just the heat pump that requires regular maintenance to ensure safe, efficient and sustainable operation. The boreholes also need to be monitored to ensure that they continue to provide sufficient energy over time.
When designing a borehole for a ground-source heat pump, the calculation is usually based on an energy extraction rate of around 40–50 watts per metre of active borehole. The amount of energy that can be extracted depends, amongst other things, on the bedrock and the depth of the borehole.
- To assess the condition of a borehole, the temperature of the coolant is checked. The difference between the inlet and outlet coolant temperatures is normally around 3–5 °C during optimal operation.
- The temperature of the coolant entering the heat pump should ideally be above 0 °C. If the temperature drops over time, this may indicate that the borehole is under too much strain.
- If the energy extraction is too high over a prolonged period, there is an increased risk that the borehole will gradually cool down. This can lead to reduced efficiency of the heat pump.
Please get in touch if you have any other questions about the heat pumps at your business!