International Research Journal of Education and Technology

Geothermal heat pumps are effective, environmentally friendly systems for heating and cooling buildings using consistent underground temperatures to extract and distribute heat. This paper reports the development of a ground heat pump (GHP) enhanced with Phase change material (PCM) for heating applications. Introduction of PCM into GHP provides enhanced heat retention and better temperature control by storing and releasing thermal energy. The system combines refrigerant with PCM to improve efficiency as well as performance. Field trials also highlight that GHP with PCM integrates contributes towards less heating energy usage compared to that of air-source heat pumps, with added benefits from the energy savings of the PCM during peak demand. The integration of GHP with PCM can have a high potential for significant change in the heating market through the introduction of efficiency in thermal performance and reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, hence promoting sustainable energy sources and further reducing environmental deterioration.

KEYWORDS: Geothermal Heat Pump, Phase Change Material, Heating, Energy Efficiency, Greenhouse Gas Emissions