WL Plastics PE4710 Pipe for Geothermal Heating and Cooling

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WL Plastics PE4710 Pipe for Geothermal Heating and Cooling

What are Geothermal Heat Pump Systems?

The earth’s crust remains at a constant temperature of 50 to 60°F at a depth of 10 to 20 feet below ground surface and increases in temperature with depth at a rate of 60 to 90°F per mile. Heat from within the earth is produced mainly by the radioactive decay of elements and by friction between shifting continental plates. Heat energy from within the earth or from deep bodies of water (geothermal energy) can be recovered and used for heating and cooling systems.

Geothermal heat pump systems (GHPS) extract heat from the earth or from deep bodies of water and bring the energy to the surface by circulating fluid (water or a combination of water and glycol) through pipe loops installed at varying ground depths. Shallow pipe loop depths are used for cooling and deeper pipe loop depths are used for heating. Geothermal heat pump systems are very efficient, using 25–50 percent less electricity than comparable conventional heating and cooling systems, and they produce less greenhouse gas emissions.

Six commonly used types of geothermal pipe systems are:

  1. Vertical Ground Well Systems: Two parallel pipes connected at the end are installed in a vertically drilled hole.
  2. Pond Loops: Pipe is looped at a specified depth within a water body of water.
  3. Slinkys: Loops of coiled pipe are buried horizontally across the bottom of a trench. Slinkys allow more length of pipe within a compact space. This method is a popular option for residential geothermal systems.
  4. Horizontal Straight Loop: The pipe is laid out in horizontal loops at the bottom of a ditch. This requires a comparably longer trench than slinky systems.
  5. Open-Loop System: Instead of having a closed loop of water or other fluid, open loops pump water back and forth between the source and the receiving structure. This is usually prohibited in most applications but can be used in systems where water is plentiful.
  6. Hybrid Systems: These systems use a combination of geothermal resources and outdoor air cooling towers. They are most effective in applications where cooling needs are greater than heating needs.

GHPS are becoming increasingly popular for heating and cooling buildings during seasonal temperature variations. These systems rely on high-quality pipe like PE4710 that is durable and capable of lasting for years at various depths and temperatures without replacement or repairs. Choosing the right pipe makes all the difference in the long-term viability and maintenance costs of the system.

Geothermal Pipes

Geothermal pipes must be durable, flexible, long-lasting, and capable of handling high temperatures and demanding operating conditions. The three most commonly used materials for geothermal pipes are all made from polyethylene. They differ in the peak temperature for pressure flow and in peak operating pressure. The three most commonly used materials for geothermal pipes are:

  • High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE): HDPE made from high quality PE4710 resin is the go-to material for heavy-duty water applications, with a service life of over 100 years. The material is flexible yet durable and resists chemicals and cracking. It can handle geothermal heat transfers without degrading and has good hydrostatic strength. PE4710 pipe is pressure rated to a temperature of 140°F.
  • Polyethylene of Raised Temperature (PE-RT): PERT is also HDPE pipe made from PE4710 resin except this resin has a pressure rating also established at 180°F. The pressure ratings of normal PE4710 pipe and PE-RT pipe are the same at a temperature of 140°F and below.
  • Crosslinked Polyethylene (PEX): PEX is cross-linked polyethylene and is pressure rated to 200 °F. PEX has slightly lower pressure ratings than PE4710 and PE-RT at temperatures below 180°F.

Of the three different materials, PE4710 offers the most advantageous characteristics for day-to-day operations and long-term business needs.

Advantages of Using PE4710 Pipe

PE4710 pipe is the preferred option for residential and commercial geothermal systems because it is more readily available than PE-RT and PEX pipe and generally costs less. Some of the key attributes of PE4710 HDPE that make it so popular include:

  • Available in wide range of sizes and wall thicknesses
  • Flexible
  • Heat Fusible
  • Ductile
  • Impact resistance
  • Abrasion resistant
  • Corrosion resistance
  • Chemically resistant

Geothermal Pipes From WL Plastics

WL Plastics’ HDPE PE4710 pipe offers long-term peace of mind. WL Plastics has nine ISO 9001:2015 certified facilities strategically located across the US manufacturing pipe in compliance with industry standards such as API (15LE), AWWA (C901 & C906), and ASTM (D3035, F714, D2513, F2619) under strict quality control. Geothermal pipe is typically made to ASTM D3035 or F714 specifications. Contact us today to learn how our HDPE piping can aid in your next geothermal project.

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