Japanese Companies Developing Air-Conditioning Using Geothermal Heat

Gunma Electronics Co., a Japanese electronics manufacturer, is developing a geothermal heat pump system that harnesses renewable energy, in collaboration with Aqua-Reinetu Co., a Japanese company specializing in producing and installing heat pump systems.

The underground temperature is stable at around 16 degrees Celsius year-round. With this system, heat generated by the use of air conditioners is discharged into the earth and trapped there in the summer, while the geothermal heat is absorbed from underground to use as an energy source for heating water and a floor heating system in the winter.

A conventional heat pump needs to be installed individually for water and floor heating systems as well as air conditioning systems. Meanwhile, the geothermal heat pump can be used for all of these systems, which can reduce the initial investment as well as maintenance costs. Moreover, this system will eliminate the need for heavy-oil boilers and oil storage tanks in large facilities, consequently simplifying the management of these facilities.

Compared with conventional heat pumps, geothermal heat pumps can offer five times higher energy efficiency for air conditioners and water heaters, which will result in reducing energy expenses by 25 percent and carbon dioxide emissions by 50 percent.

Geothermal Air-Conditioning in Classrooms (Related JFS article)
http://www.japanfs.org/en/pages/025121.html

Posted: 2012/02/17 06:00:15 AM