How to extract energy from water
The heat pump unit is the same as for ground source systems. The difference is that the external pipework is submerged in water rather than buried in the ground. The collector pipework can be arranged as “pond mats” which is a coil of pipes fixed to a metal frame, or a bespoke arrangement of pipework to match site-specific requirements.
Efficiency of water source systems
The efficiency is typically like ground source, except the water is moving. With moving water, the efficiency can be better than ground source.
Frequently Asked Questions about Water Source Heat Pumps
- What is the difference between a water source and a ground source heat pump?
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The equipment that goes into the property is exactly the same for the ground source and water source. The difference is the collection of heat from outside. A water source system collects energy with pipework in a lake, river, brook, moat, or pond.
- Is water source more efficient than ground source?
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If the system collects energy from a moving source of water- e.g. a river, a brook, or a pond with an inlet and outlet of water- the efficiency will be higher. If the system collects energy from a pond or a moat without water flowing through, the efficiency depends on the volume of water the pipes are immersed in. If you put too many collector pipes in a small volume of water, it can deep freeze and the efficiency would be lower. This always comes down to design.
