The geothermal heat pump industry uses technical language and jargon specific to our industry. The following is a list of terms and acronyms you may encounter when discussing this technology.
| Terms | Descriptions |
|---|---|
| Closed-loop system: | A system in which the heat transfer fluid (water and antifreeze, when required) is circulated in pipes buried in the ground or placed in lake or pond. The fluid in the system circulates through the geothermal or water-source heat pump, through the ground loop where it exchanges thermal energy, and back through the heat pump. The fluid stays inside the closed loop system and is not discharged. The system is closed to the atmosphere. |
| Open loop system: | A system in which a large well pump that may supply domestic potable water also supplies water to the geothermal heat pump. In these systems a zone valve opens when there is a call for heating or cooling, and closes when the thermostat is satisfied and the call drops. The fluid flows through the heat pump and is discharged into another well (re-injection), or into a reservoir (nearly stream, lake, etc.). |
| Pump and Dump System: | See "Open loop system" |
| GHEX: | Geothermal Heat Exchanger |
| Geothermal Heat Exchanger: | The portion of a geothermal heating and cooling system that exchanges heat with the earth. This can be a series of pipes buried in the ground or placed in a lake, pond, or other body of water. This could also be a plate heat exchanger placed in a lake, pond, or other body of water. |