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Ground Water
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System Testing

After equipment sizing, the most important step in assuring system reliability is proper installation. This includes the water source or the ground heat exchanger, water pump, and heat pump. With a ground-coupled system, several procedures are involved.

After testing the ground heat exchanger for tightness, take the following steps:

1. Flush debris from the ground heat exchanger,
   
2. Purge air from the ground heat exchanger,
   
3. Verify pressure drop and flow rate,
   
4. If pressure or flow do not check properly, look for possible flow restrictions,
   
5. Fill the system and add antifreeze if required,and
   
6. Pressurize the ground loop piping system (40 psi minimum). In summer, the pipe expands faster than the fluid, creating a loss of pressure or even a vacuum. The minimum pressure is 15 psi - upon start-up, loops should be pressurized to no less than 40 psi to allow for temperature changes.

The ground loop system must be purged of any trapped air, which can corrode metallic components and cause failures. Excessive air can also block water flow in some branches.

A water flow of 2 feet per second in a properly designed piping system will completely remove any trapped air. The flow rate to achieve that velocity will depend on the sizes of pipe used.

These tables indicate the required flow rate for several typical pipe sizes and types.

In parallel systems, the header flow rate decreases as the flow is branched down each loop. Each section of the header system should be checked to ensure that it satisfies the required velocity condition. The circulating pump used in residential systems will not provide enough power to reach the required flow rate for purging. A temporary external high volume, high head pump unit should be used for this.

Some water pumps are supplied as modules, designed to facilitate flushing and purging. The purging unit is connected to the loop using flexible rubber hoses and clamps.

The purging unit is connected so the loop can be flushed independently of the heat pump. This reduces the chance of debris from the loop getting into the smaller tubing in the heat pump. The pressure gauge and flow meter is used to verify the pressure and flow rate. The system is purged until air bubbles no longer appear in the reservoir.

If antifreeze is used, it is added at this point. Use only the amount recommended. More is not better. It increases the pumping cost and decreases system efficiency.

When flushing and purge is complete and the loop is filled with antifreeze is added, the system is pressurized. Valve 1 that discharges into the reservoir is closed and the hose removed. This causes pressure in the system to increase as the flush pump continues to operate. Valve 2 is closed and the flush pump stopped when the system pressure reaches the desired level. Initial system pressure must be no less than 40 pounds per square inch.