Ground and water source heat pump systems have
very attractive performance characteristics when
properly designed and installed. These systems
typically consist of a water-to-air or
water-to-water heat pump linked to a closed loop
vertical or horizontal ground-coupling, an open
groundwater loop, or a surface water loop. This
paper discusses system performance characteristics,
component selection procedures presently being used,
improvements currently being considered and future
possibilities for improved efficiency and
reliability.
Optimum designs require proper matching of
the heat pump unit to the water circulation
system, the building space heating/cooling load
and water heating requirements. General trends
resulting from system and component choices will
be discussed. Water heating methods with these
heat pumps will be considered
