Brine defroster - how the system works?


Brine defroster is ground heat exchanger that has been developed to use with heat recovery ventilation units. During cold winter season brine defroster will prevent ventilation unit heat exchanger from freezing and damaging. During hot summer period it will cool the incoming air and generate pleasant indoor environment. A “GHT” Brine defroster uses a geothermal heat collector which transfers geothermal heat from the ground to the air in ventilation system.

Winter period

In the very cold winter brine defroster heats up incoming air to ensure proper operation of the ventilation unit. Brine defroster  uses ground heat, that has in a depth of 1,5 to 2,5 m a temperature of +5 oC to +8 oC.

Maximum heating power up to 8 kW by consuming 0.04kW, (up to 1000 m3/h air flow).

Summer period
Brine defroster uses ground coolness that has a temperature +10oC to +14 oC in a 1,5 to 2.5m depth of the ground, ensuring cooling of the incoming air.

Maximum cooling power up to 8kW by consuming 0.04kW, (up to 1000 m3/h air flow).

Advantages

  • Low power consumption
  • Very high efficiency
  • Maximum comfort due to cooled air in summer period - comfortable indoor climate
  • Pre-heating of outdoor air in winter using geothermal energy
  • Very light - quick and easy installation at the site
  • Low pressure drop
  • Housing made of EPP - exclude thermal bridges

Brine Circuit

The brine defroster uses a geothermal heat collector which transfers geothermal heat from the ground to the air streaming through the brine-defroster. The geothermal heat collector consists of a PE-pipe. The length of the PE pipe depends on local conditions, e.g. type of soil or ground water level. Compact and loamy soil is able to transfer more heat to brine than loose, sandy soil. If the pipe lays below the ground water level, the brine absorbs more energy from the soil. Please be sure to only regard the length of the pipes in the ground when calculating the pipe length. The length of the pipes in the building has no influences on how much energy can be absorbed. The length of the pipe can double in sandy soils.

The geothermal heat collector can either be installed in an open space or a trench system, depending on the size of the property. The pipe has to be laid horizontally in the ground, the perfect depth is 1,5 to 2 m (but not deeper than 5 m). The distance between the pipes should be 0,8 m minimum. The highest point of the brine circle is the vent of the brine-defroster's float vent

Vertical drill can be used as energy source. Required depth of the drills has to be calculated by installer.

In some occasions as energy source ground heat pump brine circuit can be used.