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Open Bore Hole

There are a number of options for residential open bore hole systems which utilise water where present within the chalk, sandstone, limestone, coal measures, or other water yielding strata. First an abstraction and recharge well where water is abstracted via a submersible pump located within the abstraction well and into a plate heat exchanger. There is then a transfer of heat into the secondary side of the system otherwise known as the load side which is discharged back into the strata via a discharge well. The abstraction and discharge wells are placed approximately 80m apart.

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Secondly abstraction to waste which is used when there is insufficient space to place the wells far enough apart in order to avoid recirculation of warm water back to the abstraction and thus affecting the operational temperatures of the system. The same process of using a plate heat exchanger is used to separate the well system from the load side system.

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The final option is an irrigation bore hole to abstract 20cu/m per day. This can be filtered and used as a stand-alone system for showers, baths, and toilet flushing. The first two options require an Environmental Agency approval process and there is also a cost associated with abstracting and recharging water annually. Whereas the irrigation bore hole does not require Environment Agency approval so long as the 20cu/m per day is not exceeded, and the water abstracted is free. Irrigation systems can also be coupled up to rainwater harvesting systems to ensure sufficient water volumes during times when there is low rain water.

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Key Benefits

  • Suitable for abstraction and recharge to waste.

  • Designed to work with ground source heat pump systems to produce high COP’s

  • Free cooling options for free under floor heating

  • Large capacity systems obtained from a small diameter single drilled bore hole

  • Irrigation bore hole – free water supply ( not subject to water bans)

System Options

  • Reverse cycle heating and cooling heat pumps

  • Water to direct expansion (VRF) heat pumps

  • Heat recovery heat pumps

  • Passive and active free cooling options

  • 60 degree C domestic hot water supply

  • Irrigation bore holes – no License required for abstraction rates below 20m³ per day

  • Irrigation holes can provide a source of free water inside the house and externally in the garden

RHI Energies can offer a complete turnkey package for the supply and installation of Bore Holes.

  • Starting with a feasibility study to establish if the site is capable of abstracting water to meet the building load requirements

  • Completing and applying to the Environment Agency dealing with licensing application documentation

  • Preparation of the drilling specification

  • Drilling of the bore hole, airlifting and acidisation

  • Pump testing to Environment Agency requirements

  • Water analysis to establish water quality

  • Submitting all risk assessment and EA paper work for the licences

  • Selection, supply and installation of the submersible bore hole pump

  • Pipe work and heat pump installation.

  • Water treatment for irrigation bore holes

  • Testing and commissioning of system

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