Somerton, C. W. (2012, June), A Computer Simulation Project on Underground Heat Pumps  Paper presented at 2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, San Antonio, Texas. 10.18260/1-2--20791

\bibitem{asee_peer_20791}
  Somerton, C. W. (2012, June), \emph{A Computer Simulation Project on Underground Heat Pumps}
  Paper presented at 2012 ASEE Annual Conference \& Exposition, San Antonio, Texas.
  10.18260/1-2--20791

Craig W. Somerton.  "A Computer Simulation Project on Underground Heat Pumps".  2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, San Antonio, Texas, 2012, June.  ASEE Conferences, 2012.  https://peer.asee.org/20791 Internet.  23 Apr, 2024

\bibitem{asee_peer_20791}
  Craig W. Somerton.
  "A Computer Simulation Project on Underground Heat Pumps".
  \emph{2012 ASEE Annual Conference \& Exposition, San Antonio, Texas, 2012, June}.
  ASEE Conferences, 2012.
  https://peer.asee.org/20791 Internet.  23 Apr, 2024

@INPROCEEDINGS{asee_peer_20791
author = "Craig W. Somerton"
title = "A Computer Simulation Project on Underground Heat Pumps"
booktitle = "2012 ASEE Annual Conference \& Exposition"
year = "2012"
month = "June"
address = "San Antonio, Texas"
publisher = "ASEE Conferences"
note = {https://peer.asee.org/20791}
number = {10.18260/1-2--20791}
}

TY  - CPAPER
AB  -             A Computer Simulation Project on Underground Heat Pumps                                         AbstractGeothermal energy may be the most visibly striking of all the alternative energy sources.The idea of capturing the energy from a geyser or even from the flowing lava of anerupting volcano is very exciting to students. However, the truth is that in the UnitedStates there is very limited access to hot geothermal sources. On the other hand, thepossibility exists throughout the United States to use the earth as a heat reservoir for aheating or cooling system. This geothermal energy utilization is often called “coldgeothermal energy”.In this paper a computer based project for a comparative cost analysis betweenconventional heating and cooling systems and cold geothermal systems is presented.This project was assigned to students in a mechanical engineering alternative energyclass. The paper begins with a review of underground heat pump technology. Theproject statement is then presented. The project requires the students to use twocomputer programs, one that calculates the heating and cooling loads and one thatperforms the refrigeration cycle calculations for the heat pump/refrigerator. The studentsare required to document their calculations with a technical memo covering:   •   Determination of Cooling & Heating Load Parameters   •   Basic Geothermal System Design   •   Breakeven Cost vs Heat Exchanger Temperature Difference   •   Breakeven Cost vs Unit Gas Cost   •   Payback Period vs Unit Gas Cost   •   Comparison of Geothermal SystemsThe grading rubric and results are included in the paper. The paper concludes bysummarizing student feedback and providing lessons learned.
AU  - Craig W. Somerton
CY  - San Antonio, Texas
DA  - 2012/06/10
PB  - ASEE Conferences
TI  - A Computer Simulation Project on Underground Heat Pumps
UR  - https://peer.asee.org/20791
DO  - 10.18260/1-2--20791
ER  -