- Enter the design load. Use the building heating or cooling load at the selected outdoor design condition.
- Choose load coverage. Enter 100% for full-load sizing or a lower value when a hybrid system will handle the remaining peak.
- Add a sizing margin. Apply only a justified allowance for uncertainty or future load; excessive margin can increase cycling.
- Enter design-condition capacity. Use the percentage of nominal capacity the geothermal heat pump is expected to deliver at the relevant design condition.
- Review nominal size. Compare the calculated kilowatts and refrigeration tons with available equipment performance tables.
Geothermal Heat Pump System Sizing Calculator
This calculator estimates the nominal geothermal heat pump capacity required for a specified building design load. It adjusts the target load coverage for a sizing margin and for expected equipment derating under design entering-water conditions.
The estimate is useful during concept design when comparing unit sizes, deciding how much of the peak load should be handled by the geothermal system, or assessing a hybrid system with auxiliary heating or cooling. Results are shown in both kilowatts and refrigeration tons.
A complete geothermal design must also size the ground heat exchanger, circulation pumps, and distribution system. Final selection should rely on a certified load calculation, site data, and manufacturer performance tables.
Design load assumptions
kW
%
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Result
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Estimated nominal heat pump capacity
Covered design load—
Required delivered capacity—
Equivalent refrigeration tons—
Covered load = Design load × Target coverage
Required delivered capacity = Covered load × (1 + Sizing margin)
Nominal capacity = Required delivered capacity ÷ Design-condition capacity fraction
Coverage, margin, and derating are entered as percentages. The model sizes thermal output only and does not calculate electrical service, airflow, water flow, or ground-loop length.
What the result means
The result is the nominal thermal capacity needed after coverage, margin, and design-condition derating are applied.
Select actual equipment using certified performance data at the project design conditions.
Given: Design load = 28 kW; target coverage = 100%; sizing margin = 10%; capacity at design conditions = 85% of nominal.
Calculation: Covered load = 28 × 1.00 = 28 kW. Required delivered capacity = 28 × 1.10 = 30.8 kW. Nominal capacity = 30.8 ÷ 0.85 = 36.24 kW.
Result: The estimated nominal equipment capacity is 36.24 kW, or about 10.30 refrigeration tons.
Why divide by the design-condition capacity percentage?
Equipment may deliver less than its nominal rating under extreme source or outdoor conditions. Dividing by the available fraction increases nominal size enough to meet the intended delivered capacity.
Should I always add a 10% sizing margin?
No. Use a margin supported by load-calculation uncertainty, project requirements, or future plans. Unnecessary oversizing can reduce efficiency and comfort.
When would target coverage be below 100%?
Hybrid systems may size the heat pump for most annual hours while auxiliary equipment serves rare peaks. This can reduce first cost while preserving peak capacity.
Can I size heating and cooling with one calculation?
Run separate calculations for heating and cooling design loads and performance conditions. Equipment selection must satisfy the controlling requirement without causing unacceptable oversizing in the other mode.
Does this calculate the full geothermal heat pump system design?
No. It estimates nominal thermal capacity only. Distribution, controls, electrical requirements, and source-side components require separate design checks.