Heat source or heat sink unit with thermal ground coupling

Abstract

The invention relates to a heat source or a heat sink unit with thermal ground coupling, comprising at least one ground probe arranged in the earth, whereby each earth probe is a probe tube made from several pile tube segments. An open dip tube or a U-shaped tube loop is arranged in the probe tube at the open lower end thereof. Said unit is characterized in that each pile tub segment is made from ductile cast iron, the pile tube segments re embodied such as to plug into each other at the ends thereof and each pile tube segment comprises, at the one end thereof, a conical outer circumference and, at the other end thereof, a sleeve embodied with a shoulder stop having a matching conical internal circumference, whereby the diameter thereof and the cone angle are such that on driving in the pile tube segments a positive and sealed connection between the pile tube segments is generated.

1 - 18 . CANCELLED.  
   
   
       19 . A heat source or heat sink system with thermal ground coupling for near-surface recovery of thermal energy from the ground or for near-surface discharge of thermal energy into the ground, wherein the system comprises: 
 at least one ground probe arranged in the ground, wherein thermal energy can either be withdrawn from or discharged into the ground by means of a heat transfer fluid supplied through the ground probe,    wherein each ground probe comprises a metallic probe shaft that is fight against the surrounding ground and comprises several drive-pipe segments driven into the ground, and    wherein either an immersion pipe that is open at its lower end or a U-shaped pipe loop is arranged in the probe shaft for supplying or removing the heat transfer fluid,    wherein each drive-pipe segment is formed of ductile cast iron; and    wherein the drive-pipe segments are formed such that they can be fitted into each other at their ends,    wherein each drive-pipe segment comprises a tapered outer perimeter at one of its ends and, at its other end, a sleeve provided with a stop shoulder and having a mating tapered inner perimeter, wherein their diameters and taper angles are dimensioned such that the drive-pipe segments, on being driven in, can be connected to each other in a force-closed and tight manner, and    wherein a first advancing drive-pipe segment of the probe shaft is, at its forward end, has a probe tip.    
   
   
       20 . A system according to claim  1 , wherein each tapered outer perimeter of each drive-pipe segment is provided at a forward end of said drive-pipe segment and wherein the sleeve of each drive-pipe segment that is designed with the stop shoulder is provided at a backward end of said drive-pipe segment.  
   
   
       21 . A system according to  claim 19 , wherein an outer diameter of the immersion pipe is smaller than an inner diameter of the probe shaft and that a length of the immersion pipe is slightly smaller than a length of the probe shaft.  
   
   
       22 . A system according to  claim 19 , wherein a length of the U-shaped pipe loop extending up to the latter's U-bend is slightly smaller than a length of the probe shaft wherein a part of an interior region of the probe shaft that is not occupied by the pipe loop is filled with a thermally conductive filling material.  
   
   
       23 . A system according to  claim 19 , wherein a last drive-pipe segment of the probe shaft is, at its backward end, tightly connected to a connection cover attached after completion of the drive-in procedure, with an inflow line connection and a return flow line connection for the heat transfer fluid being arranged on said connection cover.  
   
   
       24 . A system according to  claim 23 , wherein the immersion pipe or the pipe loop is solely mounted to or in the connection cover.  
   
   
       25 . A system according to  claim 19 , wherein the immersion pipe or the pipe loop comprises an air vent or a vent valve at its upper end.  
   
   
       26 . A system according to  claim 19 , wherein the immersion pipe or the pipe loop is formed of a plastic material.  
   
   
       27 . A system according to  claim 19 , wherein the probe shaft is driven into the ground either in vertical direction or in an inclined direction not exceeding 75° in relation to the vertical direction.  
   
   
       28 . A system according to  claim 19 , wherein the probe shaft is driven into a borehole that has been predrilled into the ground, with a maximum depth of the borehole being as great as a length of the probe shaft and with a diameter of the borehole being smaller than an outer diameter of the probe shaft.  
   
   
       29 . A system according to  claim 19 , wherein a wall thickness of each drive-pipe segment, with the exception of a region at either of its ends, ranges from 10 to 20 percent of an outer diameter of the drive-pipe segment.  
   
   
       30 . A system according to  claim 19 , wherein each drive-pipe segment, with the exception of a region at either of its ends, comprises an outer diameter approximately ranging from 80 to 200 mm and a wall thickness approximately ranging from 7 to 12 mm.  
   
   
       31 . A system according to  claim 19 , wherein a length of each drive-pipe segment approximately ranges from 4 to 6 m and wherein a total length of the probe shaft approximately ranges from 10 to 50 m.  
   
   
       32 . A system according to  claim 19 , wherein the heat transfer fluid is pure water under a pressure of an order approximately ranging up to 10 bar.  
   
   
       33 . A system according to  claim 19 , wherein the heat transfer fluid is carbon dioxide under a pressure of an order of at least approximately 100 bar.  
   
   
       34 . A system according to  claim 19 , wherein each drive-pipe segment is provided with an anticorrosive layer on at least one of its external and internal surfaces.  
   
   
       35 . A system according to  claim 34 , wherein the anticorrosive layer is formed by one of galvanizing and plastic coating.