Geothermal Technical Articles
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ASHRAE transactions authored/coauthored by Carl D. Orio and other Water Energy Engineers
R&D Studies Applied to Standing Column Well Design
A Survey of Standing Column Well Installations in North America
A Study of Geothermal Heat Pump and Standing Column Well Performance
Geothermal Standing Column Wells: Ten Years in a New England School
Federal Agency papers regarding the benefits of Geothermal Heating and Cooling
EPA: Space Conditioning: The Next Frontier
DOE: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
ORNL: Geothermal (Ground-Source) Heat Pumps: Market Status, Barriers to Adoption, and Actions to Overcome Barriers
EPA: ENERGY STAR Performance Ratings Methodology for Incorporating Source Energy Use
EPA: Manual on Environmental Issues Related to Geothermal Heat Pump Systems
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Standing Column Well Related Papers
by Water Energy Distributors Staff
Summary Index
Listed below are several defining papers and reports relating to the STANDING COLUMN WELL geo-earth coupling method. This method has been employed extensively in the Northeast with geo-thermal heat pumps since the late 1970's. This method has also been used in the Southeastern states since the early 1980's. The results and the performance, against a model based upon the Kelvin Line Theorem and empirical field information, has been developed. The standing well is ideal for a residential application as it employs the same well as a home's domestic water supply. It results in a lower first cost and higher efficiency than a closed loop GT system.
Standing column wells are preferentially employed for commercial installation for the lower first cost and higher efficiencies, and for the substantial reduction in real estate. With a typical 30-40 ton per deep borehole, the SCW can provide the geo design engineer with higher efficiencies with 14 to 19 fewer Closed Loop boreholes per 30-40 ton increment.
Paper # XII ~ Energy System for the Next Millenium, by Dr. John Logan
Summary document prepared for the Audubon Society's Visitor Center in Falmouth, ME, November 1999
The document summarizes the basics of geothermal technology, its benefits to the economy and environment, and the system's design and installation considerations.
I ~ Geothermal Heat Pumps and Standing Column Wells, by Carl Orio
Transactions VOL.18 of the Geothermal Resources Council ~ Meeting, Salt Lake City, UT, October 1994
The paper reviews the use of the standing column well for commercial installations. A modeling is discussed with over 15 years of experience in the use of this geo-coupling method. A practical method of enhancing earth transmissivity is outlined and measured results are presented.
II ~ Multifamily Heat Pump Installations, by Carl Orio and Brian Sandiford, New England Electric Co
Joint Conference, International Ground Source Heat Pump Association, Edison Electric Institute, Geothermal Consortium, "Meeting Customer Need with Heat Pumps", St. Louis MO, December 6-8, 1995
A summary of the tribulations and rewards of over twenty years experience with the multi-family condo market with examples and observations of the good news and bad news of these projects, both as retrofits and as new installations for geothermal heat pumps on Standing Column Wells.
III ~ Design Use & Examples of Standing Column Wells, by Carl Orio
International Ground Source Heat Pump Association. Technical Meeting, Stillwater, OK, May 15-17, 1995
This paper reviews the history, theory and practices for the design of recirculating (standing column) wells for geothermal heat pump applications. In particular the paper traces the history of this earth coupling method, reviewing its advantages and disadvantages.
IV ~ Two Successful Commercial Retrofit Projects, by Carl Orio
International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSPHA) Geothermal Heat Pump Systems Annual Conference, San Antonio TX, September 17, 1996
The first years data on a Museum (60) tons and Public Library (60) tons are presented with data on the temperature performance of the dual 1,500 foot standing column wells installed at each site.
V ~ New England Quilt Museum, Lowell, MA, by Carl Orio
Summary Report - Report to New England Electric Power Services 12/05/96
This report summarizes the before and after installation of a 60 ton geothermal water-to-water heat pump retrofit in a 1910's commercial building. Two standing column wells replaced an electric chiller and gas boiler.
VI ~ Public Library, Haverhill, MA, by Carl Orio
Summary Report - Report to New England Electric Power Services 12/05/96
This report summarizes the before and after installation of a 60 ton geothermal water-to-water heat pump retrofit in a 25 year old public library building. Two standing column wells replaced a chiller and boiler. The building has subsequently been expanded and another 55 tons of geothermal added in September 1997.
VII ~ Geothermal Heat Pump Applications Industrial / Commercial, by Carl Orio
Association of Energy Engineers Power Conference, Somerset, NJ, August 7, 1997
This paper is designed to provide an engineer unfamiliar with geothermal heat pumps with an overview of the various earth coupling and design approaches for commercial and industrial installation. Examples of standing column well installations are discussed.
VIII ~ Technical Report on Variable Speed Drivers, by Carl Orio and Dr. C. Johnson
This report was prepared for the Geothermal Heat Pump Consortium (GHPC) and outlines the design concept, costs, and operation of a small residential variable speed drive on a geothermal and domestic multi use water well. Resultant energy savings are discussed.
IX ~ Reducing GHP Well Water Pumping Costs, by Carl Orio and Dr. C. Johnson
International Ground Source Heat Pump Technical Meeting, May 1999
This paper is a summary of several proven design approaches to save well pumping and other parasitic electric energy uses, e.g., controls & water heating.
X ~ New England Schools and Geothermal, by Carl Orio
This paper is a companion to a one-hour Microsoft PowerPoint presentation designed to provide an introduction to GeoExchange and discussion of Geo's benefits to architects, engineers, and school board members.
