System Fluid Filtration

If corrosion is present in the geothermal loop fluid stream, in the form of suspended solids, it should be removed immediately. Ignoring this type of particulate matter has the potential to produce long term catastrophic results in any type of heating or cooling system, including geothermal heat pumps.
                   
The simplest way to remove any type of particulate matter from a geothermal loop system is to flush and filter the fluid until it is clean and clear of any foreign material. This can be accomplished in one of two ways. The first option involves shutting down the entire system to completely flush and filter both the exterior geothermal loop field as well as the interior mechanical pipe loop inside the building. This option is typically used in an emergency situation if a system is experiencing problems or it is completed during a regularly scheduled maintenance shut down for a facility. Since this option can be both costly and impractical in certain situations, an alternative approach is to install a permanent “side stream” filter that has the ability to continuously filter the entire system.

This approach provides additional benefits for monitoring the system. A side stream filter can be inspected at regular intervals to evaluate filter conditions and to change disposable filters as needed. In addition, water samples can be obtained water quality testing at recommended intervals without interrupting normal system operations.