Closed Loop Geothermal Heat Pump

[thunt]

I recently finished building a house and installed a closed loop geothermal heat pump system.  We have a two party well, only party on the well right now, and our water pressure maxes out at about 45 psi at the house.  The well house with two 80 gallon tanks is 160 ft. away and is only about 4-5 lower in elevation, and 1" water supply to the house.  The well pump is a 5 horse pump, pulling water from a depth of about 380 feet.  My pressure switch is a 40/60.  My issue is that the heat pump requires a water pressure of 50+ psi to run the geothermal heat pump.  How do I get the water pressure up to fully pressurize the system, and enough water pressure to run the house and a future irrigation system?  Is a CSV the way to go, and can it be installed at the well house?

[Cary Austin]

I don't understand.  A closed loop system should have nothing to do with the well pump.  But that 5HP should be able to produce as much pressure as you want.  Probably just need to turn up the pressure switch from 25/45 to about 40/60 or 50/70.  Then a CSV could hold it at a steady 50 or 60 while you are using water.  This would be much better for the pump and would make pressure in the house much stronger, but again should have nothing to do with a closed loop heat pump.

[thunt]

I am using the domestic water supply to pressurize the closed loop geothermal lines.  I need the domestic water supply pressure at the house to be 60 psi or more so I can pressurize the geothermal lines.  I have a 40/60psi pressure switch already on the well tanks, but was hesitant to turn them up beyond the standard setting.  The domestic water supply in the house is low as it goes up to the attic in some places on the second floor to supply some areas. 

Don't worry, I have plenty of back flow preventers between the geo and domestic water supply. 

Thoughts?  My plumber is thinking a CSV is the way to go.

Thanks,

[Cary Austin]

Keeping a closed loop pressurized to 60 PSI is a new one for me.  But if that is what you need to do a 60/80 pressure switch will be needed.  Then you can set a CSV at 70 so the pump doesn't cycle.

[thunt]

How does a CSV keep the well pump from cycling? 

[Cary Austin]

Start with this graphic.  Even though it looks like a cartoon it has a lot of info on how the CSV works.
http://www.cyclestopvalves.com/simple/home.php?anim=1well

Also see the other videos on this web page.
http://www.cyclestopvalves.com/videos.html

[WarnerThurn]

So it looks like this unit has cap tubes. Do those work ok for both heat pump mode and ax mode?

[Cary Austin]

Sorry I do not understand the question?  Please state another way.