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Closed loop systems are more common than open loop
systems because they can be installed at almost any site. Closed loop
systems have a continuous ground loop; the fluid inside never comes in
contact with the environment.
Vertical Loop
A vertical loop system uses wells drilled one to three hundred feet
into the ground as the ground loop. A u-shaped pipe is placed in each
trench so that fluid can go down the well, transfer heat, and come back
to the surface without ever contacting the rock or soil. These wells
take up significantly less room than other configurations, but will
cost more. The depth of vertical systems can also lead to consistent
performance.
Horizontal Loop
It is also possible to
place the ground loop in a horizontal configuration, in which the
piping is simply laid in one or many trenches in the ground. This is an
inexpensive method of installation, and is often used in residential or
light commercial applications. There are many different layouts for
horizontal systems. In some cases 2-6 pipes are distributed in each
trench; in some cases a ‘slinky’ formation is used. If a large amount
of earth can be moved to create one very wide trench, rows of pipe can
all be laid in this trench in a 'racetrack' formation. All have been
successful heat transfer devices.
Pond Loop
If a pond (or lake) is available on the building site, it is often
convenient to simply sink the loop into the pond and transfer heat to
and from the water of the pond. This can be just as efficient as a
ground loop if care is taken in choosing a large enough body of water.
Proceed to Open Loop Systems
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What is Geothermal 
