Team GeoMELT

05.08.2010

TEAM GEOMELT

The Team

Jacob Speelman

(ME)

Caleb Rottman (EE)

RICO Ledy (ME)

Eric Geerlings

(CE)

OutlineProject Introduction

Goals Site Assessment Design Norms

Final Design Snowmelt Geothermal Pumphouse Model

Project CostConclusionsAcknowledgementsQuestions

Project Introduction

Lake-effect snow can lead to severe storms, but Calvin never cancels class!

Michigan receives ≈ 72 inches of snow annually

http://www.duluthstreams.org/understanding/lake_effect.html

Intro Snowmelt Geothermal Pump House Model Project

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Project IntroductionProblems with the Burton St. Entrance to

CalvinWhy not use Geothermal energy to melt

snow?

http://www.bing.com/maps

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Introduction - GoalsPrimary Goal: Design a geothermal

snowmelt system at Calvin’s Burton Street Entrance

Secondary Goal: Design a small scale model

Intro Snowmelt Geothermal Pump House Model Project

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Introduction - Design NormsStewardship

Save on energy and reduce fossil fuel useCaring

Increase safety for pedestrians and vehiclesTransparency

Honest recommendation

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Introduction – Site AnalysisAssess the existing site

Where to place the geothermal field?How much pavement should we melt?What obstacles do we have to work around?

Large trees?Pipes?Fiber Optic Lines?

http://www.bing.com/maps

Intro Snowmelt Geothermal Pump House Model Project

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Introduction – Site AnalysisExisting Infrastructure

Pavement/Curb linesWatermainGas mainStorm SewerFiber Optic Line

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How it works

Snowmelt 101Results you get!

Pipes buried in concrete

Slip free surfacesNo need to shovel/plow

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Snowmelt 101Using the software program EES for

Thermodynamics

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Snowmelt 101Temperature drives heat transfer!

55 °F waterIce formation

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Snowmelt Design4,000 ft2 to melt at 150 BTU/hr- ft2 60 tons ≈ 20 times the heat load of a

house2 Manifolds are used to distribute heat

to the snowmelt area

http://www.bing.com/maps

Intro Snowmelt Geothermal Pump House Model Project

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Snowmelt Design – Pipe Layout• 1” PEX pipe

•500’ length loops

•9” on center pipe spacing

•3” from concrete surface

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Geothermal Energy 101Ground temperature over a year at

varying depths

Kavanaugh, Stephen P., and Kevin Rafferty. Ground-Source Heat Pumps. Atlanta: ASHRAE, 1997. 125-26. Print.

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Geothermal Energy 101Pump fluid through buried pipes to extract

energy

http://focusedthinking.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/geothermal_heat_pump.jpg

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Geothermal Energy 101

Heat In Heat Out

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Residual Temperature EffectsBalanced systems

Geothermal DesignHorizontal vs. Vertical

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Geothermal DesignCalculated the total bore length required:

9375 ftWhich is approximately 1.75 miles

Limit each bore depth to 390 ftPipe diameter – 1 ¼”

http://img.directindustry.com/images_di/photo-g/well-drilling-rig-354735.jpg

Intro Snowmelt Geothermal Pump House Model Project

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Geothermal Design24 Well Locations

Adequate well spacing3 rectangular manifoldsDesign avoids tree

removal!Pumphouse hidden from

view

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Heat Pumps 101

Condenser

Evaporator

From Geothermal Loops

To Snowmelt Loops

Q

Q

Compressor

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Valve

Heat PumpsEntering temperature of

105 °FExiting temperature of 90

°F

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Pump House Design Plan View

Isometric View

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Model DesignConcrete with

installed piping and moisture sensor

InsulationSand Sub-baseSoil with installed

vertical geothermal loop

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Model Control System

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Project CostGeothermal Snowmelt System Cost

Breakdown

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Project Cost Comparison

Payback Period: 55 years

Geothermal System

Natural Gas System

Initial Cost $420,000 $180,000Operating Cost

$6,600 $10,900

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Conclusions

Payback Period: 55 yearsOur recommendation: Don’t do it!

Geothermal System

Natural Gas System

Initial Cost $420,000 $180,000Operating Cost

$6,600 $10,900

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ConclusionsWhat else did we learn?

Teamwork on a multidisciplinary projectDefining project goals early on is importantHave Fun!

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AcknowledgementsTrent DeBoer, GMB EngineeringSteve Schultz, GMB EngineeringCharles Huizinga, Calvin College Physical

PlantMarc Huizinga, Calvin College Physical PlantProfessor Nielsen, Team AdvisorRen Tubergen, Gumbo Product

Development, Inc.Bob Bruggink, Moore & Bruggink, Inc.

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QUESTIONS…Please ask !