International Ground Source Heat Pump Association,
Oklahoma State University

General Course Description 
*Training is non manufacturer specific.

8:00 AM, First Day  (Registration 7:30-8:00 AM)

1 Introduction of course materials, manuals and instructors

-GeoExchange concept, energy source, basic GeoExchange system and configuration

-Heat pump operation

-Domestic hot water options, hydronic applications

-System materials and components

2 Marketing

-Who is involved with GSHP technology?

-Benefits to home and business owners & utilities, demand reduction

-Benefits to the HVAC contractors

-Forced air systems, supplemental hot water generation

-Radiant floor systems, process hot water applications

-Water-to-water units, demand hot water from forced air systems

3 Soils and rock identification

-Properties of soils, classification

-Field identification of fine-grained soils

-Rock classification as related to thermal conductivity

-Identification of rock types (petrology) for GeoExchange design purposes

-Thermal conductivity values of specific rock types

4 Selecting, sizing and designing the ground source heat pump system

-Design procedure

-Determination of heat loads, importance of

-Importance of load calculation procedures

-Energy calculations

-Performance of air source heat pumps

-Performance of ground source heat pumps

5:00 pm Break class

8:00 AM, Second Day

-Ground load calculations

-Equipment selection

-Air filtering

-Forced air considerations

-Radiant and snowmelt considerations

-Domestic hot water considerations

5 Designing the Ground Heat Exchanger

-Steps in Ground Heat Exchanger Design (GHX)

-GHX configuration

-Standardized parallel system header design

-Selection of the GHX circulating fluid

-Pipe selection

-GHX sizing and design procedure

-Selecting the GHX circulation pump

6 Polyethylene Pipe Fusion

-PE pipe and why it is suitable for GeoExchange systems

-Composition and manufacturing process

-What is not acceptable for GeoExchange systems

-Fusion methods

-Sidewall fusion

-Socket fusion

-Butt fusion

 *In addition we include hands on training for the newly approved PEX piping       for geothermal

-Demonstration and hands-on practice, butt/socket fusion lab

5:00 pm Break class

8:00 AM, Third Day

7 Installation of the ground heat exchanger (GHX)

-How to properly evaluate a site and draw a site plan

-Types and uses for installation equipment

-Evaluation of drilling, trenching and backhoe costs

-Pipe installation considerations

-Header manifold tie-in to GHX

8 Grouting Procedures

-Importance grouting: environmental, economical, and thermal competency aspects

-Grouting materials

-Dry boreholes

-Grout placement methods

-Pumps, mixing

9 Flushing and purging the system

-Flushing debris, air purging, system flushing

-Verification of loop pressure and flow

-Error detection techniques

-Installation notes

-Antifreeze charging, pressurizing the closed loop system

10 Heat pump system start-up

-Performance checks: heating, cooling & desuperheater modes

-Performance check, water-to-water configuration (hydronic floor heat system)

11 Marketing of Geothermal Systems

12 Final Review & Test-Open book, two hours 

The final day will wrap up approx 3:00PM, please make a note of this when making travel plans.

 All books and manuals are included.

Want to be a training partner and promote Geothermal together?
Training available Nationwide on a partnership basis.

Contact Rich Susens @  rich.susens@gmail.com   or 920-246-5159