GeoEnergy Enterprises

GeoColumn

The GeoColumn™
In response to the disadvantages and shortcomings of both of the water source geothermal systems as well as conventional direct exchange geothermal systems GeoEnergy Enterprises, LLC (GEE) has developed the advanced hybrid GeoColumn geothermal direct exchange heat exchanger system. The GeoColumn system is a self-contained “off-the-shelf” ground source heat exchanger that eliminates the required engineering of the heat exchanger apparatus and field thus dramatically reducing the cost and complexity of “going geothermal”. As a result of the GeoColumn’s unique design and operation the GeoColumn heat exchanger has been awarded a US Patent.

The GeoColum - Graphic representation/not to scale

The GeoColumn also does not utilize any ground water, water pumping or the need for anti-freezing agents, plumbers, mechanical contractors, fusion welders or third-party water well drillers for installation. The GeoColumn HVAC system can dramatically increase efficiency and return on investment and thus reduce total installation, operating and lifetime costs for its owner. The GeoColumn heat exchanger systems are installed with the only drilling required done by a medium duty, truck mounted, caisson-type earth-auger or digger-derrick drilling rig and the only personnel required to finalize the installation being your local, friendly community-based HVAC dealer/installer. GEE anticipates that systems utilizing the GeoColumn heat exchanger will be more cost efficient than any other geothermal system on the market and thus become the dominant design for not only geothermal but for all residential and light commercial heating and cooling systems.

The GeoColumn patent is a concept patent and covers a subterranean heat exchanger containment vessel containing a copper tube refrigerant-to-water heat exchanger that is submerged in a fluid medium. The field model of the GeoColumn is a factory sealed and tested, rigid HDPE containment vessel that is 24 inches in inside diameter, 28 inches in outside diameter and 20 feet in overall length. This vessel contains a copper tube refrigerant gas heat exchanger submerged in pure, unconditioned water; thus it is a hybrid direct exchange system but with unique properties.

Compared to the 100 to over 300 foot (per ton) wells normally required for closed loop geothermal systems the GeoColumn only requires a 23-foot deep borehole. Compared to conventional direct exchange’s long copper tube loops often buried directly and deeply within the soil mass the GeoColumn’s copper tube heat exchanger is surround by a large fluid mass which, unlike closed loop water source systems, does not require any antifreezing agents. Nor like open loop water source systems, does the GeoColumn thermally interact with the aquifer that is often the same source for local drinking water.

As the Plastic Pipe Institute rates the in service life of HDPE used in the GeoColumn containment as well over 600 years, a long in-service life can be expected from the containment vessel. The GeoColumn’s refrigerant-to-water heat exchanger unit is constructed of copper tubing which when exposed to unconditioned pure water has an indefinite but long life. Thus the entire GeoColumn unit’s in-service life is expected to exceed existing technologies whether they are air-to-air, water source or fossil fuel based.

Compared to other geothermal systems the compact size and shallow borehole of the GeoColumn typically reduces the excavation and drilling costs by over 75% per ton of capacity. As the GeoColumn can be installed with standard caisson or utility pole type drilling equipment (see illustration below), the work is quicker, less expensive and easier than conventional water source or direct exchange geothermal heat exchangers. Digger-Derricks have the ability to reach into front and side yards thus enabling urban and suburban homes to be retrofitted with the GeoColumn geothermal HVAC system where other geothermal systems would be impractical. Thus the GeoColumn’s small footprint feature is ideal for all types of installations, new and existing, but is especially well suited in areas of limited ground availability such as in the suburbs, strip malls, stand alone restaurants as well as retrofits of existing homes and businesses.

The GeoColumn design normally requires one (for normal or saturated soils) to two GeoColumns (for dry, sandy or coastal type soils) per ton of capacity. These GeoColumns can even be placed below sidewalks, driveways, lawn and garden areas or underneath the foundation (in new construction). The Company believes that it will (in conjunction with regional power distributors) develop regional designs for its products in order to address local needs and strategies.

Important GeoColumn advantages include:

The GeoColumn heat exchanger is a 28-inch outside diameter by 20-foot long rigid HDPE containment housing one of two available engineered-to-the-application copper tube coil heat exchangers. Each heat exchanger unit (column) is buried underground, filled with tap water and sealed. This opens the market to multiple sites whose conditions previously precluded the use of geothermal installations such as low-land-area, high-bedrock, high-water-table, high/low-pH, high-salinity, or high-installation-density sites.
One column is required per ton of conditioning in most soil conditions therefore an average home requiring 3 tons of heating and cooling capacity would require only 3 GeoColumns to be installed to allow access to geothermal efficiency and advantages.
GeoColumns are an in stock, off-the-shelf, componentized, and pre-engineered units designed for the regional, local and size specific application thus eliminating the need for a separate engineered site-specific design and field assembly of the heat exchanger.
The surface area of the land required to do this typical 3 GeoColumn 3-ton installation would be 2 feet 6 inches wide by 30 feet in total length long or around 75 square feet.
GeoColumns can be arrayed in numerous configurations such as straight line, “L”, “W”, “X”, or hexagonal arrangements to match the available land area.
The GeoColumn technology also significantly reduces the drilling time and complexity (a typical installation can be completed in one day) so that geothermal field installation costs, which can account for nearly or over half of the total cost of “going geothermal”, are now more in line with conventional high efficiency HVAC.
GEE will deliver all components of the GEE GeoColumn HVAC system to the site, and GEE will also drill, install and connect the required number of GeoColumn heat exchanger units thus eliminating the need for a third party driller. An existing local, independent, GEE-trained dealer/installer will complete the installation of the aboveground portion of the GEE components required and will also start-up and maintain the unit thereafter.
As GEE systems do not rely on the continuous pumping and disposal of an adequate flowing source of water for a heat exchange medium, GEE’s systems require no upfront water resources engineering or permitting expense (nor the associated expertise from the installer) and are less complicated to install and maintain.
These GeoColumn advantages open the field of geothermal HVAC sales and installations to many more dealer/installers who do not have access to the engineering programs or know-how required to configure other types of geothermal heat exchanger fields such as water source or DX.
Unlike traditional DX and closed loop geothermal installations, a field failure (leak) can be isolated, repaired and/or replaced with minimal excavation and time lost.
Compared to air-to-air and water-source-geothermal installations, the GeoColumn exhibits fewer moving parts (pumps, fans, etc.) as well as fewer parts exposed to the elements.
GEE’s systems will now allow access of small land area urban settings to geothermal HVAC.
Because the GeoColumn is a sealed unit, not only are areas with high water tables and both high and low salinity and pH that are now precluded from conventional geothermal applications opened to the market, but furthermore areas considered to be highly susceptible to environmental impact are opened as there is no cross contamination with groundwater and no hazardous chemicals such as ethylene glycol to permeate the soil.
GEE products compete directly with open and closed loop water source as well as DX but at a price comparable to conventional HVAC heat pumps and warm air furnace units that are gas, or electrically fired.
New GEE hybrid concepts anticipate further decreases in energy consumption through utilization of other energy sources such as solar or waste heat.
The Company’s founders have been active in development of direct exchange geothermal HVAC technology as well as its manufacture and distribution since 1993.
Considering the advantages of the GeoColumn over its competition it can be envisioned that the GeoColumn may obsolete other geothermal systems in many applications.
GEE’s products are renewable, sustainable and earth friendly.
The GeoColumn represents a new paradigm in ground source heat exchangers.

GeoColumn Equipment Sizes
GEE’s GeoColumn geothermal HVAC systems are available in all popular residential and light commercial sizes:

1.5 ton

2.0 ton

2.5 ton

3.0 ton

3.5 ton

4.0 ton

5.0 ton

All systems include GeoColumn’s, field controls and manifolds, compressor section, air handler and thermostat. Systems will be available soon for hydronic heat distribution as well.

GeoColumn Cost Savings*
As the chart below shows even in times of low fossil fuel energy costs GeoEnergy’s GeoColumn geothermal HVAC systems can still payback handsomely due to it’s economical advantages.

The chart below was prepared with the US Government data from November 2008 forecast for projected fuel prices for the winter heating season. It used the following fuel costs:

Fuel Oil – $2.74/gallon

Natural Gas – $15.45/mcf

Propane – $2.46/gallon

Electric - $0.16/Kwh.

As you can see even with the low fossil fuel costs of today’s market the cost for operating a GEE GeoColumn geothermal HVAC system to heat and cool your home is significantly less. Obviously the lower the total installed cost of the geothermal system you choose will increase the payback on your investment. And just as importantly by going geothermal you will be off of the fossil fuel train and not subject to wide market swings due to the erratic and dwindling nature of fossil fuel supply and availability.

For the GeoColumn HVAC system only-per ton of capacity in the North East region

*Actual savings may vary based upon system size, soil type, final installed cost and current fuel prices.