Geothermal
Closed Loop Systems
Closed loop systems are more common than open loop systems because they can be installed
at almost any site. Closed loop systems have a continuous ground loop; the fluid inside never
comes in contact with the environment.
Vertical Loop
A vertical loop system uses wells drilled one to three hundred feet into the ground as the ground loop.
A u-shaped pipe is placed in each trench so that fluid can go down the well, transfer heat, and come
back to the surface without ever contacting the rock or soil. These wells take up significantly less
room than other configurations, but will cost more. The depth of vertical systems can also lead to
consistent performance.