[Rhodes22-list] Geothermal Energy

[Robert Skinner]

pdgrand at nospam.wmis.net wrote:
> ...
> I don't see why an existing well couldn't be used to supply an open-loop
> system, provided it could supply an adequate volume of water.
> Paul

Paul, for a single well to work efficiently, the water 
would have to be flowing past the well, as would be the 
case if you tapped into an aquifer.  Otherwise, pumping 
from one well, past a heat exchanger hooked to a heat 
pump, and into another well, would give a constant 
temperature sink to work from.

In either case, you would have a responsibility to 
ensure that no pollutants were injected into the ground 
water, and if they knew about it, the local envirocops 
would probably raise a barrage of objections.

But it is a very workable system, and quite efficient.  
Note that the heat pump could be run by wind, solar, 
or hydro power.

/Robert Skinner