Geothermal heat pumps were developed in 1855 by Peter Ritter von Rittinger. Robert C. Webber constructed the very first exchange ground-source based on an experiment with the freezer in the 1940s. In 1946, the first commercial project of the heat pump was placed in the Commonwealth Building of Portland, Oregon.
Who invented the geothermal heat pump?
The very first conception of the heat pump was by Lord Kevin in 1853. Rittinger developed it further in 1855. The technology progressed and became more popular in the 1970s in Sweden. After Sweden, more people around the world started to use heat pumps. The heat pump became more economically applicable with the 1979 polybutylene pipe.
Modern applications for geothermal heat pumps
Nowadays, geothermal heat pumps are usually used to heat a space. Large buildings use piped hot water networks to provide heat in their area. Iceland innovately uses an underground pipe district heating system to melt snow on pavements and sidewalks. Geothermal heat is also applied to air conditioning systems and solar energy collection. Ground source heat pumps need to have a heat exchange in order extract or dispel the heat. The heat exchange allows for the loss of the total system cost.
Geothermal heat pumps have many practical applications. They have contributed significantly to human civilization. Research continues to develop the progress of geothermal heat pumps. Hopefully it is utilized and developed to become more environmentally friendly, especially with its modern applications. As geothermal energy continues to rise, let us hope scientists and business men gear it towards the benefit of the earth and the people.
