Flushing and Purging Services
Flushing and purging is an essential step to ensuring your geothermal system operates properly. Many geothermal system failures are because the systems have not been properly flushed of debris and purged of air after installation. Pioneer can help you prevent this by properly cleaning your system the first time.
Flushing – The process in which all debris and foreign matter has been removed from the systems water/heat transfer fluid. During installation debris is accumulated through the install process from fusion preparation, valve insertions, pipe storage methods and manufacturing debris. All of this needs to be removed properly before system start up and operation. By removing all foreign matter, system runs efficiently, does not clog console screens or pump screens, therefore eliminating unnecessary flow restrictions. At this time new water is introduced to the system exchanging contaminated water with fresh water, providing the best operational environment for all system components. Once the system is flushed and acceptable fluid characteristics are achieved, Purging can now be achieved.
Purging – This process eliminates the air from the water throughout the entire system, providing a consistent turbulent fluid environment to facility proper system performance, achieve performance results and eliminate corrosion.
Problems commonly associated with systems that have not been properly purged.
- Pump failure due to air lock.
- Pump housing cavitations.
- Impeller cavitations.
- Erratic flow properties, reduction in flow results in turbulent flow loss.
- Dead heading of entire loops and circuits.
- Console unit low-pressure shut off.
- Poor system performance.
The system is reviewed and calculations derived to achieve the minimum flow rate of 2ft.per second, which is the required flow rate need to eliminate all air from the system. Each component is isolated and flushed and purged individually for a prescribed period of time as derived from prior calculations.
Once each individual component has been properly purged the system is then purged one more time a whole to ensure no air is present.
At this point the GSHEX can be isolated from the interior portion of the mechanical system and ready to mate to a properly prepared interior system or be held on pressure until interior work is completed and ready to accept the GSHEX.


