W. Va. Code R. § 64-46-10 - Heat Pump Construction
10.1.
Design Methods and Compliance.
10.1.a. The
manufacturer's design procedure shall follow a recognized methodology as
presented in the most recent editions of IGSHPA and ASHRAE.
10.1.b. The ground heat exchanger design
shall be clearly documented in order to determine compliance with the heat pump
manufacturer's or utility's specifications or both.
10.2. Location of Heat Pump Wells Criteria.
10.2.a. Heat pump closed-loop wells shall be
located at least twenty-five (25) feet from sewage absorption systems and known
sources of contamination.
10.2.b. A
closed-loop shall be located twenty-five (25) feet from all water wells. An
open-loop shall be one hundred (100) feet from all water wells.
10.3. Casing Material.
10.3.a. If permanent casing is needed in a
heat pump well, it shall be new steel casing.
10.4. Heat Pump Loop Material.
10.4.a. All pipe and heat-fused materials
shall be manufactured from a virgin polyethylene extrusion compound material in
accordance with ASTM Standard D-2513, and located in accordance with
subsections 4.1 and 4.2 of this rule. The pipe shall be manufactured to outside
diameters and wall thickness as specified in ASTM Standard D-3035 or D-2447.
Fittings shall be manufactured to diameters, wall thicknesses, and respective
tolerances as specified in ASTM Standard D-2683 for socket fittings and ASTM
Standard F-1055 for electrofusion fittings.
10.4.a.1. The material shall maintain a 1600
psi (110.316 bar) Hydrostatic Design Basis at 73.4oF
(23.5oC) per ASTM Standard D-2837, and be listed in
PPI TR4 as a PE3408 piping formulation. The material shall be a high density
extrusion compound having a cell classification of PE345434, PE355434, or
PE3455534 with a UV stabilizer of C, D, or E as specified in ASTM Standard
D-3350 with the following exception: this material shall exhibit zero failures
(F0) when tested for a minimum of 192 hours under ASTM Standard D-1693,
condition C, as required in ASTM Standard D-3350.
10.4.a.2. Dimensions.
10.4.a.2.A. Pipe with a diameter of less than
11/4" (3.175cm) (nominal) shall be manufactured in accordance with ASTM D-3035
with a minimum (based on pressure rating) dimension ratio of 11.
10.4.a.2.B. Pipe manufactured with a diameter
from 11/4"(3.175cm) (nominal) up to three (3) inches in diameter, shall be
manufactured in accordance with ASTM D-3035 with a minimum (based on pressure
rating) dimension ratio of 11.
10.4.a.2.C. Pipe 3" (7.62cm) (nominal) and
larger shall be manufactured in accordance with ASTM D-3035, (with a minimum
[based on pressure rating] dimension ratio of 17) or D-2447 (Schedule 40).
Table 64-46 C of this rule indicates the Water Pressure Ratings at
73.4oF (23.5oC) for DR-PR
PE 3408 Plastic Pipe.
10.4.a.3. Markings, defined by the
appropriate ASTM pipe standard shall be permanently marked on the length of the
pipe as required information.
10.4.a.4. The manufacturer shall supply a
notarized document confirming compliance with these standards, called a
Certification of Materials.
10.4.b. All pipe joints and fittings
installed and buried shall be socket or butt thermally fused according to the
pipe manufacturer's specifications. Glued or clamped joints shall not be used
below ground. Joints shall not leak after assembly. Pressure testing of the
closed-loop heat pump system network shall be conducted prior to putting the
system into operation.
10.4.b.1. Acceptable
methods for joining buried pipe systems are:
10.4.b.1.A. a heat fusion process;
10.4.b.1.B. stab-type fittings, quality
controlled to provide a leak-free union between pipe ends that are stronger
than the pipe itself or;
10.4.b.1.C. polyethylene pipe heat fused by
butt, socket, sidewall, or electrofusion in accordance with the pipe
manufacturer's procedures. The individual performing fusion shall possess a
fusion technician certification from IGSHPA or the pipe manufacturer. The
instructor shall be IGSHPA approved to conduct pipe fusion classes.
10.4.b.1.D. Fusion transition fittings shall
have threads used to adapt to copper, or fusion transition fittings shall have
threads or barbs used to adapt to high strength hose. Barbed fittings shall not
be permitted to be connected directly to polyethylene pipe, with the exception
of stab-type fittings as described in subparagraph 10.4.b.1.B of this section.
All mechanical connections shall be accessible.
10.5. Heat transfer liquids shall
be IGSHPA approved fluids.
10.6.
The diameter of a heat pump well shall be sufficient to allow placement of
grout. The minimum diameter shall be four (4) inches.
10.7. Heat Pump Vertical Closed-Loop Wells.
10.7.a. Approved Grout Materials.
10.7.a.1. Approved sealing and filling
materials shall include high solids bentonite grout-20-30% solids by weight,
bentonite pellets or chips, or approved high efficiency, thermally enhanced
grouts designed for heat transfer in geothermal applications. All shall meet
manufacturer's specifications.
10.7.a.2. All materials placed in the
borehole shall be uncontaminated. All sand and gravel placed in the borehole
shall be silica based and inert, unless a material other than silica is used in
an IGSHPA approved, commercially available product that meets all other
requirements.
10.7.a.3. Drill
cuttings shall not be placed in the borehole as fill material.
10.7.b. Grouting.
10.7.b.1. Grout the entire length of the
borehole from bottom to top with bentonite or thermally enhanced grout
specifically designed to facilitate heat transfer and provide low
permeability.
10.7.b.2. Boreholes
with temporary casing may be grouted during or before removal of casing
depending on borehole stability.
10.7.b.3. Grouting shall be completed
immediately after installing the geothermal loop when reasonable to do
so.
10.7.b.4. Boreholes with
permanent casing shall be grouted before the top of the casing is terminated
below ground level.
10.7.b.5.
Boreholes with no casing shall be looped and grouted immediately after
drilling.
10.7.b.6. Boreholes
drilled with a mud system in unconsolidated formations shall be looped and
grouted immediately after drilling.
10.7.b.7. Slurry mixtures shall be installed
by pumping through a tremie pipe using a positive placement
technique.
10.7.b.8. When voids are
encountered (i.e. mined coal seams or caves), the borehole shall be cased from
below the void to the surface.
10.7.c. Flushing, Purging, Pressure, and Flow
Testing.
10.7.c.1. Loops shall be pressure
tested before installation.
10.7.c.2. Loops shall be pressure tested
after installation and grouting.
10.7.c.3. All horizontal components of the
ground heat exchanger shall be flushed, pressure tested, and flow tested prior
to backfilling.
10.7.c.4. Heat
exchangers shall be tested hydrostatically at 150% of the pipe design rating or
300% of the system operating pressure if this value is the smaller of the
two.
10.7.c.5. No visible leaks
shall occur within a thirty (30) minute period.
10.7.c.6. Soil thermal conductivity testing
overseen by an IGSHPA certified designer or comparable certification, shall be
required for all systems with 50 or more tons capacity. The thermal
conductivity test shall be conducted for a minimum of 48 hours.
10.8. Heat Pump
Open-Loop Requirements.
10.8.a. Open loop
wells shall be constructed in the same manner and conform to the water well
construction standards set forth in this rule. This applies to return wells,
standing column wells and supply wells. DEP generally requires permits for
injecting or returning water to the subsurface and for surface discharges. It
is the homeowner's responsibility to obtain any required permits.
10.8.b. Pump tests shall be required for all
open loop wells. The pump test shall demonstrate the well's ability to produce
150 percent of the anticipated demand by sustaining this level of volume for
twenty-four (24) continuous hours of stabilized flow; recovering to pre-pump
test levels within twelve hours.
10.9. Direct Exchange Wells.
10.9.a. Direct exchange wells shall be
constructed in the same manner and conform to the construction standards set
out in this rule.
10.9.b. The
direct exchange loop shall be constructed of copper tubing or other material
approved by the Commissioner. All joints in the direct exchange loop shall be
soldered and not brazed. The solder used shall withstand stresses associated
with the direct exchange process.
10.9.c. The thermal fluid or refrigerant used
in the direct exchange well tubing shall be biodegradable and
non-toxic.
10.9.d. All loops shall
be at least ten (10) feet from underground utilities due to the potential for
freezing as heat is removed from the ground for heating.
Notes
State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. Below is a comparison between our most recent version and the prior quarterly release. More comparison features will be added as we have more versions to compare.
No prior version found.