This project investigates Black Duck Industries’ methods of making a horizontal geothermal HVAC system affordable for an average homeowner in Massachusetts. The team conducted research and simulations to evaluate methods of reducing excavation costs and the size of the ground loop heat exchanger for a typical home. The team validated and incorporated Black Duck Industries’ ideas into the design of a geothermal HVAC system, resulting in a 20% reduction in capital costs and a payback time of 13.6 years. This system demonstrated 5 times the energy efficiency of a conventional fossil fuel furnace.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• DeMaio, Sarah
• Wrona, Daniel
• Hershowitz, Zachary
• Borrello, Sydney
• Muzilla, Evan
• Perakis, Speros

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• 62961
• E-project-042022-170421

Advisor

• Sabuncu, Ahmet Can

Year

• 2022

Sponsor

• Black Duck Industries

Date created

• 2022-04-20

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Mechanical Engineering

Source

• E-project-042022-170421

Rights statement

• In Copyright

Last modified

• 2023-02-06