Shallow Geothermal Energy Application’s Feasibility in Colombia. Case Study: SWSHP in Preservation Stage of Flowers’ Production

Summary Very low enthalpy geothermal energy is one of the least known NCRES in Colombia, but it has been widely used around the world in particular for space conditioning (heating and/or cooling) for domestic and industrial purposes, due to its great adaptability since all it needs is a GHP to directly exchange heat with subsoil and/or groundwater. This investigation evaluates the possibility of implementing a SWSHP system to cool at 3°C a preservation room for exportation flowers in La Virginia S.A.S located in La Ceja, at 41 km to the southeast of Medellin (Antioquia, Colombia). The temperature of two reservoirs belonging to the flower farm was monitored to analyze their potential as heat sinks for a SWSHP. The traditional and geothermal refrigeration systems were compared using empirical formulas based on the theoretical performance proposed by Carnot. It was found that the water temperature had a very little variation with respect to the ambient air temperature. The feasibility of using a surface water body as a heat sink of a SWSHP was evaluated. The coupling with other geothermal arrangements such as vertical and/or horizontal Ground Source Heat Pumps (GSHP) and even combining aerothermal is suggested.