Natural Refrigerant,

Geothermal Heating & Cooling Solutions

Lalit Chordia, PhD, Marc Portnoff

150 Gamma Drive

Pittsburgh, PA 15238
www.thargeo.com

150 Gamma Drive

Pittsburgh, PA 15238
www.thargeo.com

Talk Outline
Introduction to Thar Geothermal

Carbon Dioxide (R744) the

Environmentally Exceptional Refrigerant
Thar Geothermals Direct Exchange System Advantage:
All Natural, Safe & Non-toxic Refrigerant
Highly Efficient Direct Exchange Design
Better Return on Investment
Reduced Environmental Impact

Natures

Conclusions

CO MFORT
2

ADVANTAGE
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150 Gamma Drive

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What differentiates Thar Geothermal

from other commercial geothermal systems?

Carbon Dioxide (co2)

R744 the Safe & Natural Refrigerant
WARM

HOT
CO2

Compressor

R744
Refrigerant
Loop

Commercial Scale,
Direct Exchange Design

Cold Air

Evaporator

COOL

Geothermal
Well Field
Condenser

Successful Demonstrations 2012-2013

Enhanced Energy Efficiency
Reduced Environmental Footprint
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Hot Air

Expansion
Valve

COLD

150 Gamma Drive

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Technological Advantage:
Based on parent companys core competencies

25+ years commercializing Green

supercritical fluid technologies

Designer and developer of

supercritical fluid processes,
systems & major components

Industrial scale 24/7/365 installations,

world wide:
Food
Chemicals
Neutraceutical
Pharmaceutical
Electronics industries

Numerous successful spin-offs

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Good Manufacturing Process,

Super Critical Extraction,
Pharmaceutical production system

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Barriers to selecting a Conventional Geothermal System

Cost and difficulty of evaluating

the suitability of individual
installation sites

High cost of geo-loop installation;

~50-75% of total system

Degree of disruption associated

with geo-loop installation

Thar Geothermal solutions are

focused on lowering these barriers!
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150 Gamma Drive

Pittsburgh, PA 15238
www.thargeo.com

Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

Safe & Natural Refrigerant

Thar Geothermal, LLC 2013 All Rights Reserved

150 Gamma Drive

Pittsburgh, PA 15238
www.thargeo.com

CO: THE NEW OLD REFRIGERANT

Circa 1900

Peak Use
Displaced by CFCs
CO2 proposed
as a refrigerant
Alexander Twining, British Patent

History of Carbon Dioxide (R744) as Refrigerant

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Renewed Interest
- Environmentally
friendly properties
Kilmarnock Scotland
demonstration

150 Gamma Drive

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www.thargeo.com

Environmental Impact of Man Made Refrigerants

DIRECT
Refrigerant Leakage
(GWP)

INDIRECT
Energy Consumption
(COP)

Total Equivalent
Warming Impact

Commercial Food and Retail Application:

Direct Leakage > Energy Consumption
Direct

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Indirect

Brown, Christopher, Exploring CO2: The Natural Choice

for Sustainable, Efficient Refrigeration Systems, Danfoss,
January 2013, www.danfoss.com/co2

150 Gamma Drive

Pittsburgh, PA 15238
www.thargeo.com

Why R744 (Carbon Dioxide)?

Environmentally Exceptional
Safe: Non toxic, Non flammable &
Non corrosive
Significantly less expensive
Orders of magnitude less impact
on global warming vs. man made
refrigerants (e.g. HFCs)
Large carbon footprint reductions
(>30% for refrigeration applications)

No Phase-out Potential
Unaffected by future legislation &
taxation
Thar Geothermal, LLC 2013 All Rights Reserved

Global Warming Potential

Does not affect the ozone layer

GWP
3500
3000
2500

2000
1500

1000
500
0
R22

R134A R404A

R410A

Refrigerant Type

R744
R744
(CO2)

(CO2)

Brown, Christopher, Exploring CO2: The Natural Choice for Sustainable,

Efficient Refrigeration Systems, Danfoss, January 2013,
www.danfoss.com/co2

150 Gamma Drive

Pittsburgh, PA 15238
www.thargeo.com

R744 Beneficial Refrigerant Properties

Lower Liquid & Vapor viscosity
Less energy required for refrigerant flow

Higher Cooling Capacity

Smaller lines and geo-loops
Smaller heat pump components
Higher Energy Density more efficient heat transfer
Increased heat exchanger efficiency
Low Evaporator Temperature Deltas

ECO2 Efficient
for Geothermal Applications
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Relative sizing of
pipes (Dry Suction
Line) to give the
same capacity

CO2
R134a

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CO: THE NEW OLD REFRIGERANT

Demand increasing due to
concerns about global
warming and interest in
natural products
Major corporations around
the globe have deployed or
are developing commercial
CO refrigeration
technologies

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www.thargeo.com

CO: THE NEW OLD REFRIGERANT

Used Worldwide
Variety of commercial
applications primarily in
Europe & Japan

Air Side Heat Pumps

Vending Machines
Grocery Store Coolers
Industrial Refrigeration
Automotive AC
Dry Cleaning

Thar Geothermal, LLC 2013 All Rights Reserved

Water Heaters
Over 3.5 million

Soda Pop
Machines
Over 2.5 million
Supermarket
Refrigeration
Installations
Over 5,000
Masson, N., Mainstreaming Natural Refrigerants, The
Business Case for North America, Shecco,
ATMOsphere America: June 2013, Washington DC

150 Gamma Drive

Pittsburgh, PA 15238
www.thargeo.com

U.S.A. Supermarkets using R744 (CO2) Refrigerants

Thar Geothermal, LLC 2013 All Rights Reserved

Masson, N., Mainstreaming Natural Refrigerants, The Business Case for

North America, Shecco, ATMOsphere America: June 2013, Washington DC

150 Gamma Drive

Pittsburgh, PA 15238
www.thargeo.com

Conventional Ground Source Geothermal

COOLING MODE
HOT

Warmer Water

WARM

High Pres Vapor

Compressor

R410a
Refrigerant
Loop

Water
Loop
Water
Pump

Condenser
Cooler
Water

High Pres Liquid

COOL

Geothermal
Well Field

Heat Flow
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R410a to
Water HX

Low
Pres
Vapor

Hot Air

Cold Air

Evaporator
Low Pres Liquid

Expansion
Valve

COLD

150 Gamma Drive

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www.thargeo.com

Thar All Natural DIRECT EXCHANGE

Ground Source Geothermal - COOLING MODE
Compressor
HOT

WARM

CO2

High Pres Vapor

R744
Refrigerant
Loop

Low Pres
Vapor

Hot Air

Cold Air

Evaporator
High Pres Liquid

COOL

Geothermal
Well Field

Condenser

Heat Flow
Thar Geothermal, LLC 2013 All Rights Reserved

Low Pres Liquid

Expansion
Valve

COLD

Simpler & More

Efficient Design

150 Gamma Drive

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www.thargeo.com

Thar All Natural DIRECT EXCHANGE

Ground Source Geothermal HEATING MODE
Compressor
WARM

CO2

Low Pres
Vapor

R744
Refrigerant
Loop

HOT
High Pres Vapor

Cold Air

Hot Air

Condenser
Low Pres Liquid

COLD

Geothermal
Well Field

Evaporator
Heat Flow

Thar Geothermal, LLC 2013 All Rights Reserved

High Pres Liquid

Expansion
Valve

COOL

Simpler & More

Efficient Design

150 Gamma Drive

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Thar All Natural DIRECT EXCHANGE

Ground Source Geothermal
New PUMP COOLING MODE
WARM
Low Pres Vapor

R744 PUMP
Refrigerant
Loop

Hot Air

Cool Air

Evaporator
Low Pres Liquid

COOL

Pump
Geothermal
Well Field

Condenser

Heat Flow
Thar Geothermal, LLC 2013 All Rights Reserved

Sensible Load
EERs > 60

150 Gamma Drive

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Ground Source Geothermal Heat Pump Systems

Most Common Installation Options
Geo-loop well field installation based on
site geology, location, & available land

Vertical systems are more sub-surface

space efficient

Vertical
Closed-loop
System

tcsgroup.eu.com

Horizontal systems are less expensive to

install but more land is required
Geology determines:

Soil thermal conductivity affects the length

of geo-loop to handle the HVAC load (ft/ton)
Degree of drilling difficulty and cost
Drilling technique selection
Hole diameter and depth

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Horizontal
Closed-loop
System

hydroheat.com

150 Gamma Drive

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Smaller Geo-loops can Reduce

Environmental Footprint & Cost
Smaller Holes

Less earth removed

Less waste lower disposal $
Less grout
Smaller equipment
Lower mobilization cost
300 ft Well vol (ft3)
Volume of 300 ft Borehole

60

50
40
30
20
10
0

6.0

3.0

1.5
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Conventional
1.25 Pipe (1.66 O.D.)

HDPE

Thar Geothermal

Stainless
Steel

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Thar R744 Geothermal Facility, Pittsburgh, PA

Well Field Development

Well Field #3

Mud Rotary

Sonic

Vertical
Well Field
#1

Down Hole Hammer

Horizontal
Well Field
#1

Horizontal Directional

Vertical
Well
Field #2
Radiant Patio
Wells
Horizontal Directional

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150 Gamma Drive

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Thar Geothermal systems are versatile and can

integrate with all types of standard HVAC systems
Central or Distributed

Air or Water Heat Exchangers

Active Radiant (Chilled Beam)
Passive Radiant
Cassette
Wall Mount
Mini Air Handling Unit

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Thar R744 Geothermal Facility, Pittsburgh, PA

System Integration & Development

Shipping & Receiving

Cooling & Heating
Air Handling Units

Toll Process Space

Cooling & Heating
Air Handling Units

Manufacturing &
Warehouse Space

Geothermal
Lab & Workshop

Cooling & Heating

Air Handling Units

Patio

Front Offices
Radiant Floor

Radiant
Pumps

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Compressor

150 Gamma Drive

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Radiant Floor
Caf

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Office

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Radiant Patio

Caf
Patio

March 6, 2013

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Thermal Image

150 Gamma Drive

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Thar Geothermal Development Facility

AHU_2_TE1

AHU_2_TE2

80

Validate R744 DX heat pump cycle

Temp (deg F)

75
70
65
60
55

50
100

200

300

Component Testing and Evaluation

Microchannel Heat Exchanger Designs

Auto Expansion Control Valves

Oil Management System
Control Software/Hardware

Demonstration at commercial scale geothermal system (15-20 ton)

Air Side Heat Exchanger (heating and cooling)
Radiant Floor (heating and cooling)

Air Handling
Units
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400

150 Gamma Drive

Pittsburgh, PA 15238
www.thargeo.com

Load model Outputs

Wall
Change air
Ain 93,778
CFM
203,020
Rin

79 F
52 %RH

25

HH

St

Ss

509

474 114

HM

1,122
kW Internal Load

55.1 F
97.0 %RH

63.0 F

Change air

3.5
Kg/m
internal
moisture
TCout

76 F
55.0 %RH

Aout

93,778
Rout

203,020

Pumped cooling

78.0 %RH

DC
Water
TDout

55.1 F
97.0 %RH

Reheat
0.0 MM Btu/h

DH

DD
Water
Water
N/A

0.00 Kg/min

Dehumidification
5.30 Kg/min

N/A

THout

0.0 MM Btu/h

Heat/Humidify

N/A

Four types of HVAC:

Conventional Gas/AC
Air-to-air heat pump
No water heating

Freon-Indirect Geothermal HP
Thar CO2-DX Geothermal HP

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150 Gamma Drive

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ECO2 Efficient
1.60

Enhanced Energy Efficiency

Lower Energy Costs

0.80
0.60
0.40

0.20
0.00

Thar Geothermal
Direct Exchange

1.00

Conventional Ground
Source Heat Pump

1.20
Gas Heat
& A/C

Energy Cost ($/ft2)

1.40

210,000 ft2 Facility

Gas&AC
Conv-GSHP
Pittsburgh,
PA

Thar DX-GSHP
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150 Gamma Drive

Pittsburgh, PA 15238
www.thargeo.com

Conclusions
Thar Geothermal Solutions are the next evolution in
Ground Source Heat Pump Systems providing
Enhanced Economic & Environmental Value
All Natural, Safe & Non-toxic R744 (CO2) Refrigerant
Less expensive, Promotes ease of maintenance

Direct Exchange Design More Efficient

Improved Return on Investment

Reduced Operating Costs
Reduced Maintenance Costs
Same or Lower Capital Costs

Reduced Environmental Impact

Natures
CO MFORT
2

ADVANTAGE
Thar Geothermal, LLC 2013 All Rights Reserved

150 Gamma Drive

Pittsburgh, PA 15238
www.thargeo.com

Contact: info@thargeo.com
or
Marc Portnoff
Manager, New Technology
Thar Geothermal
150 Gamma Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15238
412-963-6500 ext. 246
marc.portnoff@thargeo.com
www.thargeo.com

Thar Geothermal, LLC 2013 All Rights Reserved