Lämpökaivo

Lämpökaivo, often translated as geothermal well or ground source heat exchanger, is a system that utilizes the stable temperature of the earth to provide heating and cooling for buildings. It typically consists of a network of pipes buried underground. These pipes circulate a fluid, usually a mixture of water and antifreeze, which absorbs heat from the earth during winter and dissipates heat into the earth during summer.

The principle behind a lämpökaivo is that the ground temperature remains relatively constant at a certain depth, regardless of the ambient air temperature. In winter, the fluid in the pipes cools as it passes through the building's heat pump, absorbing heat from the surrounding earth. This warmed fluid is then used to heat the building. In summer, the process is reversed. The heat pump extracts heat from the building, and the fluid in the pipes carries this heat away, depositing it into the cooler earth.

Lämpökaivot are considered an energy-efficient and environmentally friendly heating and cooling solution. They significantly reduce reliance on fossil fuels and can lower energy bills. The installation involves drilling boreholes or excavating trenches to place the underground pipe loops. The depth and length of the loops depend on factors such as the building's heating and cooling load, soil type, and local climate. A heat pump is an essential component of the system, responsible for transferring heat between the ground loop and the building's heating and cooling distribution system.