Air & Ground Source Heat Pumps - SA

Renewal Energy with:
Air Source Heat Pump &

Ground Source Heat Pump Technologies
By: SARFRAZ ALI,
Process Safety & Loss Prevention Engineer
1
RISK MANAGEMENT
ACROSS LIFECYCLE OF THE

SUSTAINABLE ENERGY SOLUTIONS
Before we discuss the Risk Management for the

Sustainable Energy Solutions, let us have an overall
review of the available solution.
2
Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP)
1.A heat pump contains a liquid (usually R600 Glycol) that absorbs
heat from the outside air
2.The heat pump compresses the liquid to increase its temperature
3.The heat from the liquid is transferred to your heating system
4.The heat also travels to your hot water tank.
5.Also called “Reverse-cycle air conditioners”.
Ground Source Heat Pump (GSHP)
•A ground source heat pump (GSHP) is a
central heating and/or cooling system
that transfers heat to or from the ground,
often through a vapor-compression
refrigeration cycle.
•Working principle is very like the ASHP,
with only one difference that ground
(open/close) is used as Cold/Heat sink
instead of Air in ASHP.
Also called Geothermal Heat Pump (GHP)

uses some electricity and work a bit like
your fridge – but in reverse:
LIFECYCLE OF THE SUSTAINABLE
ENERGY SOLUTIONS
The implementation lifecycle will have following
phase after the solutions have been established and
commercially available;
1.Planning and proposal phase
2.Enabling work and site preparation
3.Construction and installation Phase
4.Normal working/operation and Maintenance
(Scheduled and Emergency)
5.Decommissioning phase (End of life)
Risk Management
Planning and Proposal Phase
The implementation lifecycle will have following
phase after the solutions have been established and
commercially available;
1.Planning and proposal phase
2.Enabling work and site preparation
3.Construction and installation Phase
4.Normal working/operation and Maintenance
(Scheduled and Emergency)
5.Decommissioning phase (End of life)
Ground Source Heat Pump (GSHP)
1.in case of leakage there is virtually no risk of contaminating the ground or the ground water. Contrary to water-
source geothermal systems, direct exchange systems do not contain antifreeze. So, in case of a refrigerant leakage,
the refrigerant currently used in most systems – R-410A – would immediately vaporize and seek the atmosphere.
This is due to the low boiling point of R-410A: −51 °C (−60 °F). R-410A refrigerant replaces larger volumes of
antifreeze mixtures used in water-source geothermal systems and presents no threat to aquifers or to the ground
itself.
A common choice of thermal transfer fluid has been monoethylene glycol, with a
freezing point of around -14°C at 25% dilution. In high concentrations and doses,
monoethylene glycol is toxic to humans, animals and ecosystems.
Direct circulation (DX) closed loop installations
We would not recommend the use of direct circulation or direct expansion (DX) closed loop GSHC
schemes in any setting other than shallow trenches in low environmental risk settings. These schemes
typically circulate currently classified hazardous substances (such as fluorinated hydrocarbon refrigerants)
within pipework in the ground: the environmental risks of a leak at depth into groundwater are significant
-
There is currently world-wide interest in developing substitutes for materials whose
environmental release may contribute to global climate change. R-410A, the primary
refrigerant used in residential AC systems and heat pumps, is a greenhouse gas with a global
warming potential of 2,100. Possible replacements for R-410A in residential applications
include ASHRAE Class 2L refrigerants, which have reduced global warming potential but
are mildly flammable. Although normal operation poses negligible risk, accidental releases
due to equipment faults or fatigue could potentially result in refrigerant ignition if a
sufficient ignition source is also present. To better characterize these risks, Gradient
conducted a risk assessment to evaluate the use of three Class 2L refrigerants (R-32, R-
1234yf, and R-1234ze(E)) in residential split heat pump systems. The work included CFD
modeling, experimental measurements, and a fault tree analysis (FTA) to quantify ignition
risks. The charge amounts used in the assessments were those that would be typical of a 3-
ton heat pump.
The assessment indicated that large accidental releases of R-32, R-1234yf, and R1234ze(E)
(i.e., on the The assessment indicated that large accidental releases of R-32, R-1234yf, and
R-1234ze(E) (i.e., on the order of 170 g/s for R-32, 78 g/s for R-1234yf and ze(E)) could
create flammable concentrations in a very narrow area immediately in front of the leak
location for heat pump units installed in basements, garages, or attics, but that refrigerant
concentrations in the majority of each room would be substantially below the lower
flammable limit (LFL).
8
Customer Confidence
 ASHP & GSHP Technologies work for customers depending on
bulky Oil/Diesel.
 Montreal Protocol CFC etc. No Sox, Nox & COx
All GSHC systems can result in undesirable temperature changes in the

ground and the water environment with impacts on water quality or aquatic
ecology.
• Both open loop systems and closed systems installed at depth can result in
the interconnection of different aquifers units during drilling - affecting water
quality or flow.
• Closed loop systems may contain thermal transfer fluids which are toxic and
can pollute groundwater if they leak.
Open loop systems present the following additional environmental risks:
• Localised increase in groundwater levels which could affect adjacent
structures.
• The potential impact of groundwater abstraction on the environment or other
users of groundwater or surface water.
9
A competent person (for example a trained geological or hydrogeological professional)
should carry out an assessment of the environmental impact of your scheme.
Site Check:
Within a defined groundwater source protection zone 1 or
within 50m from a well, spring or borehole used for potable
supply?
On land affected by contamination? If the site is contaminated, there is a risk that

drilling or excavation could lead to pollution of groundwater or migration of
contaminants
Close to a designated wetland site? There is a small risk that GSHC schemes will
adversely affect the ecology of rivers or wetlands by changing the temperature of
groundwater which feeds them.
Within 10m of a watercourse?
Close to other GSHC schemes? Not recommended
Adjacent to a septic tank or cesspit? avoid installing GSHC systems adjacent to a
cesspit or a septic tank.
10
Before you start drilling a borehole (for both closed and open loop schemes) you
should seek the advice of a qualified hydrogeologist to understand the geology and
hydrogeology you will be drilling into in order to anticipate and mitigate any
problems.
geological checklist.
Is the proposed scheme in a principal aquifer?
Is the proposed scheme likely to penetrate multiple aquifer
horizons?
Is the proposed scheme likely to go through contaminated soil,

rock or water?
Is the proposed scheme in an area with likely artesian

conditions?
Is the proposed scheme in a coal mining or unworked coal

area?
Is the proposed scheme in an area of significant evaporites or

karstic conditions?
11
To decommission boreholes constructed as open wells:
Decommissioning
• if the borehole is no longer needed, remove all pumps, pipework and cables
and heat exchange loops and backfill according to the principles set out in
Decommissioning Redundant Boreholes and Wells (EA, 1999.
To decommission closed loop borehole heat exchangers installed in grouted (or
otherwise backfilled) boreholes:
• remove any thermal transfer fluid from any subsurface heat exchange
element and dispose of it appropriately (see section 3.6);
• backfill the ground loop itself by injection under pressure of a non-shrinking,
low-viscosity grout mix, which results in a hydraulic conductivity of <10-9 m/s.
if the drilling, installation or operation of a GSHC scheme leads to the

discharge of a polluting substance to controlled waters (including
groundwater), the drilling contractor, the installer, the owner or the operator
of the scheme may be liable to prosecution: leakages of thermal transfer fluid
from closed loop systems will fall under this category;
• if the discharge or removal of heat by a GSHC scheme interferes with a
neighbouring GSHC installation, water supply (or other installation) or
environmental feature, an action under Common Law Nuisance could be
brought against the operator or owner of the scheme.
14 Environment Agency: Environmental good practice guide for ground source heating and cooling
Vsn 3
• if the scheme impacts on a third party, for example thought flooding of
12
4.4 Discharge of water from your scheme
The water that emerges from a GSHC scheme’s heat pump or heat exchanger will
usually be warmer (in a cooling scheme) or colder (in a heating scheme) than the
ambient groundwater temperature. This thermally changed water may be:
• discharged back into the aquifer from which it was abstracted;
• discharged into surface water body (lake, river, sea);
• discharged to a sewer or drain, provided such a feature exists and that it has
the capacity to receive the required quantity of flow. The permission of the
relevant sewerage undertaker (water / utilities company) will be required and
a charge will normally be levied.
• used as grey water (or, with suitable treatment,
13
Thank you
Sarfraz Ali
Process Safety & Loss Prevention Engineer
Tel: 07913034731
Email: [email protected]
14

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Renewal Energy with:

Air Source Heat Pump &

ACROSS LIFECYCLE OF THE

Before we discuss the Risk Management for the

Also called Geothermal Heat Pump (GHP)

All GSHC systems can result in undesirable temperature changes in the

On land affected by contamination? If the site is contaminated, there is a risk that

Is the proposed scheme likely to go through contaminated soil,

Is the proposed scheme in an area with likely artesian

Is the proposed scheme in a coal mining or unworked coal

Is the proposed scheme in an area of significant evaporites or

if the drilling, installation or operation of a GSHC scheme leads to the

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