Dubuque Geothermal Studies
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Dubuque County Courthouse
FINAL REPORT - March 1999
Abstract
Project Data:
The Dubuque County Courthouse
Dubuque, Iowa
The Dubuque County Courthouse is a 100 year old, five story facility that is on the National Register of Historic Buildings. Architects and Engineers were able to maintain the historic details of the structure by using a geoexchange heating and cooling system. Additional floor space in the building was regained since the geoexhange system used approximately 10 percent of the space of the original boiler and cooling tower.
Heating/Cooling System:
Geoexchange open well system. A single extractor well pumps water through a plate heat exchanger and discharges it to the municipal storm water system. The building side of the heat exchanger circulates water through the original single pipe loop system to the individual console type heat pumps.
Building Floor Area:
Five stories totaling 38,000 square feet.
Installed Capacity:
106 tons nominal capacity
Installed Heat Pumps:
100 console type water source heat pumps sized 3/4 ton to 4 tons. Typical ground water source heat pump COPs of 3.88 and EERs ranging from 17.7 to 22.6.
Geothermal Heat Exchanger:
Single extraction well, 94ft. deep. The well produces 400 gallons per minute with a 10 foot draw down. A 25 hp submersible turbine pump circulates at a maximum of 350 gallons per minute to the plate heat exchanger. Pump flow is controlled with a variable speed drive.
Piping:
Utilization of existing piping allowed for minimal disturbance to building occupants during the retrofit project. Each console heat pump includes a small circulating pump to maintain the required flow rate through the heat pump. This arrangement allowed maximum reuse of the existing installed piping system.
Benefits:
Provides the ability to heat some areas of the building while air-conditioning others. This is a common system requirement during the spring and fall months.
A more comfortable indoor environment and improved indoor air quality.
Reduced maintenance and operating costs due to the elimination of the boiler and cooling tower.
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