AT-96-1 S-3 Groundwater Heat Pump Systems : Experience at Two High Schools

Groundwater integrated Heating, Ventilation, . and Air-conditioning (HVAC) systems have been operating in the Northwest for nearly 50 years, and experiences with the early central plant installations have been well documented in the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) literature. This paper focuses on two of the more recent systems. Both of unitary design, one serves a high school in northern California and the other a high school in western Oregon. The California site, a 144-ton (506 kW), 5rF (l4°C) groundwater system in operation for two years, demonstrates the importance of verifying the groundwater resource prior to final mechanical design. The Oregon site, a lIB-ton (415 kW) system, employs a 54°F (J2 0 C) production well and an injection well. It has been in operation for approximately eight years. The energy peiformance and maintenance requirements are detailed. Experience with these two systems indicates that properly designed groundwater systems are efficient, low maintenance, and cost-effective.