Tag: Geothermal

Location: Garfield County, CO

Project Description:

Rader Engineering provided mechanical engineering services for this high-end custom home in High Aspen Ranch. The project consisted of two phases (two buildings) that were connected by a connector bridge. The home is heated and cooled by a ground source heat pump (GSHP) system connected to 40 vertical boreholes, each 250’ deep. In total, there are four 10 ton water-to-water GSHPs in the project, totaling 40 tons. Special attention was paid to properly attenuating sound generated by the mechanical systems, as this was a high priority for the Owners. Sound mitigating strategies include vibration isolators for fans, piping and ductwork as well as Variable Frequency Drives

(VFDs) for optimal fan coil control. The home is equipped with a sophisticated DDC control system. Multiple air-to-air heat exchangers are utilized to provide efficient and balanced fresh air exchange in the home. Both phases include a whole house exhaust fan used for general ventilation and for free nighttime cooling. Special exhaust and ventilation systems were designed for the woodworking shop, fabrication and finishing rooms. All of the garages are provided with exhaust ventilation for improved indoor air quality and health. Domestic hot water is generated by GSHP preheat ing as well as by high efficiency gas-fired condensing boilers.

Location: Snowmass Village, CO

Description

Rader Engineering provided mechanical and geoexchange engineering services for this energy efficient ranch home in Wildcat Ranch. The project implements many sustainable and energy efficient technologies including Solar PV and GeoExchange. The geoexchange system consists of 4 stainless steel heat exchanger plates, set on 24” high elevated platform stands, set on the bottom of the onsite pond. The pond heat exchangers serve two ground source heat pumps (GSHP). Each GSHP is a 10-ton water-to-water unit that provides heating water to the radiant floors during the winter and chilled water to the fan coils during the summer. The heat pumps also serve limited exterior snowmelt, controlled on an automatic snowmelt sensor.

Due to the long horizontal piping length from the home to the pond, premium efficiency pumps and motors were used to circulate the closed loop geoexchange system. A methanol/ water solution was utilized for its superior heat transfer capabilities and low viscosity. Other energy efficient systems worth noting are the desuperheaters incorporated into the GSHPs which capture waste heat at the compressors and utilize this heat for domestic hot water preheating. Also, there is an energy recovery ventilator (ERV) for efficient and balanced delivery of fresh outdoor air to the home.

Location: Wolcott, CO

Project Description:

Rader Engineering provided mechanical engineering services for this high-end custom home in Red Sky Ranch. The project is pursuing a LEED Silver Certification. The highlight of the mechanical system is the GeoExchange system which consists of twelve 400 feet deep vertical boreholes which serve two ground source heat pumps (GSHP) and a wine room condensing unit. Each GSHP is a 10-ton water-to-water unit that provides heating water to the radiant floors and fan coils during the winter and chilled water to the fan coils during the summer. The year round heat rejection from the wine room condensing unitis dumped into the ground heat exchanger where it is indirectly re-used by the heating system. Due to the GSHP system, no exterior air conditioning units are required for this project. Other energy efficient systems worth noting are the desuperheaters incorporated into the GSHPs which capture waste heat at the compressors and utilize this heat for domestic hot water preheating. Also, there are numerous energy recovery ventilators (ERVs) for efficient and balanced delivery of fresh outdoor air to the home. All of the fan coils in the home are equipped with MERV 13 filters to obtain additional LEED points and to increase air filtration effectiveness. The temperature control system is an Uponor CCN Direct Digital Control system with remote access capabilities.

Location: Beaver Creek, CO

Project Description:

Rader Engineering provided mechanical engineering services for this high-end custom home in Bachelor Gulch. The highlight of the mechanical system is the GeoExchange system which consists of a large horizontal slinky pit which serves two ground source heat pumps (GSHP). Each GSHP is a 12-ton water-to-water unit that provides heating water to the radiant floors and fan coils during the winter and chilled water to the fan coils during the summer. The year round heat rejection from the AV equipment room is dumped into the ground heat exchanger where it is indirectly re-used by the heating system. Due to the GSHP system, there are no exterior air conditioning units at all for this project. Other energy efficient systems worth noting are the desuperheaters incorporated into the GSHPs which capture waste heat at the compressors and utilize this heat for domestic hot water preheating. Also, there are numerous energy recovery ventilators (ERVs) for efficient and balanced delivery of fresh outdoor air to the home.