Oilon Geopro RE Operation Manual - page 5
RE010070948EN
5/23
2. Ground source heat pump operation principle
1.
Vaporiser
2. Compressor
3. Superheating exhausting
4.
Condenser
5. Subcooler
Image 1. Ground source heat pump operating principle.
Heat pump unit operation is based on vaporisation and circulation of refrigerant in heat pump.
Refrigerant vaporisation requires heat energy. Required heat energy is collected using heat
collector piping located in the ground or waters. Refrigerant boils into gas at vaporiser, binds
heat into itself and moves on to compressor.
Compressor absorbs refrigerant gas created in vaporiser, and compresses it into high pressure
causing steam temperature to rise. Steam is condensated into liquid in condensator, and
energy is saved at required heating level. Then condensated refrigerant pressure is reduced
into compressor suction pressure level at expansion valve, causing part of the refrigerant to
vaporise and cool down the whole flow into a level that can store energy from the ground. Then
the cycle starts over.
Superheating capacity is transferred into heating network water with separate heat exchanger.
In de-superheating heat exchanger, steam is cooled using water flow, causing steam
temperature to lower but keeping refrigerant from condensating into liquid. In condensator
refrigerant is condensated into liquid at nearly standard temperature. Heat energy discharged
from condensing is utilised to warm up heating network water. Superheating pumps operate in
advantageous conditions for ground heat technique because domestic hot water is not
produced at high pressure level.