Maalämpökeräimiä

Maalämpökeräimiä, or ground source heat collectors, are a key component of geothermal heating and cooling systems. These systems utilize the relatively stable temperature of the earth to provide heating in winter and cooling in summer. The collectors themselves are typically made of durable plastic pipes, such as polyethylene, and are installed either horizontally in trenches or vertically in boreholes. The depth and layout of the collectors depend on factors like soil type, climate, and the heating/cooling demand of the building.

The principle of operation involves a closed loop of antifreeze solution circulating through the buried collectors. In winter, the earth, which remains at a consistent temperature below the frost line, warms the fluid in the pipes. This warmed fluid is then pumped to a heat pump inside the building. The heat pump extracts the heat from the fluid and transfers it to the building's heating system, usually via radiant floor heating or forced air. In summer, the process is reversed; the heat pump transfers excess heat from the building into the fluid circulating in the ground collectors, effectively cooling the building and pre-heating the earth for the next winter.

The efficiency of a geothermal system, and therefore the performance of the ground source heat collectors, is influenced by the length and depth of the installed collectors, as well as the thermal conductivity of the soil or rock. Proper installation is crucial to ensure optimal heat transfer and long-term system reliability.