Utilizing Geothermal Heat Pumps to Provide Cooling for Cellular Towers - Demonstration Project at Cornell University

摘要

The telecommunication equipment in a cellular tower shelter generates on average about 8 kWth of heat year-round. Wall-mounted air conditioning systems are the industry standard for climate control of the shelter but geothermal heat pumps could be a more energy-efficient and cost-effective option. In a collaborative study between Cornell University and Verizon Wireless, the feasibility of using geothermal heat pumps for climate control of cellular tower shelters is investigated. A core part of this study is the construction and monitoring of a full-scale hybrid geothermal heat pump system serving a newly-built cellular tower site on the Cornell University campus.