Installation and User Manual. Version V03.B03_EN (23/09/2015)
ecoGEO
10
ECOFOREST Geotermia
the refrigerant circuit. The refrigerant in the evaporator is at low pressure and temperature, and it
vaporizes as a result of the heat absorbed by the antifreeze mixture.
The refrigerant vapour coming from the evaporator is suctioned by the variable-speed inverter
compressor, where its pressure and temperature increase (hot gas) in order to meet the actual heating
demand.
The hot gas coming from the compressor is led to the condenser, where it transfers heat to the water in
the heating system. As a result of this heat transfer, the refrigerant gas cools down and condenses into
liquid form.
The refrigerant in liquid state is led back to the evaporator through the electronic expansion valve, which
accurately controls the re-circulated refrigerant flow rate based on the heating system requirements. At
the same time, while passing through the electronic expansion valve, the pressure and the temperature
of the coolant decrease in order to attend again the condition to absorb heat from the antifreeze mixture
in the evaporator.
FREE COOLING MODE (ECOGEO B2 AND C2 MODELS ONLY)
The heat pump is supplied with an extra heat exchanger which allows direct heat exchange between the
brine in the ground source system and the water in the cooling system, so the refrigerant circuit is not
used. By using this operating mode, the compressor remains off and the cooling and brine circuits are
derived to the free cooling heat exchanger through two 3-way valves. Thus, the equipment supplies fresh
water to the cooling system, obtained from the energy exchange with the brine system, all with the sole
use of circulation pumps.
This technology allows to air-condition dwelling (or commercial premises) all-year round in temperate
regions, where temperatures during warmer months do not reach excessively high values. It is worth
mentioning that, in the FREE COOLING mode, energy consumption is very low due to the high efficiency
of circulation pumps.
ACTIVE COOLING MODE (ECOGEO B3 AND C3 MODELS ONLY)
Active cooling consists of reversing the operating cycle of the heat pump's refrigerant circuit through a 4-
way valve. This means that the normal cycle condenser becomes the reversed cycle evaporator, and
vice versa. In this operating mode, the fluid in the cooling system (water) draws heat from the dwelling
and transfers it to the refrigerant in the evaporator; whereas the antifreeze mixture absorbs heat from the
refrigerant in the condenser and transfers it to the ground. This operating mode is called active cooling
by cycle reversing.
This technology provides year-round air-condition for housing (or commercial premises) even in regions
where temperatures reach high values during warmer months.
DHW MODE
The production of domestic hot water (DHW) is performed by two different technologies, depending on
the model. For ecoGEO B1, B2, C1 and C2 models, the production of DHW is done by deviating the hot
water from the condenser into the coil of the DHW tank via a 3-way valve. EcoGEO B3 and C3 models
are equipped with CHW patented technology (Closed Hot Water production system). This new
technology consists of incorporating an additional heat exchanger (desuperheater) intended for DHW
production only. This heat exchanger is placed in series with the main condenser and feeds hot water
into the coil of the DHW tank through a closed circuit. Also, given the fact that cycle reversal is done after
the desuperheater, it allows simultaneous DHW and heating/active cooling production. Therefore, the
CHW system can produce DHW up to 45ºC and also heat it up slowly when the machine is working to
produce heating, cooling or
servicing the pool
up to 70ºC.
