Coaxial-flow heat transfer structures for use in diverse applications

Abstract

An coaxial-flow heat exchanging structure having a proximal end and a distal end for exchanging heat between a source of fluid at a first temperature and the environment (e.g. air, ground, water, slurry etc.) at a second temperature. The coaxial-flow heat transfer structure comprises: a thermally conductive outer tube section, and an inner tube section having an inner flow channel and being coaxially arranged within the outer tube section. An outer flow channel is formed between the inner and outer tube sections, and helically-extending turbulence generator is provided along the outer flow channel, so as to create turbulence along the flow of heat exchanging fluid flowing between the inner and outer flow channels, and thereby increasing the heat transfer through the walls of the outer tube section to the ambient environment.

1 - 124 . (canceled)  
     
     
         125 . A coaxial-flow heat transfer structure having a proximal end and a distal end installed within an underground ambient environment having a differential in temperature between said proximal and distal ends, said coaxial-flow heat transfer structure further comprising: 
 a thermally-insulated inner tube section supporting an inner flow channel of substantially uniform inner diameter along its length so that a heat energy transferring fluid flows along said inner flow channel;    a thermally-conductive outer tube section coaxially arranged about said inner tube section and having a cap portion at said distal end sealing off said outer tube section from fluid leaks at said distal end;    an outer flow channel formed between said inner and outer tube sections; and    helically-arranged fins provided along said outer flow channel, so as to form at least one helically-extending outer flow channel between said inner and outer tube sections.    
     
     
         126 . The coaxial-flow heat transfer structure of  claim 125 , wherein said underground environment includes a bore hole having an inner surface, and wherein the entire space between the outer tube section and the inner surface of the bore hole is filled up with thermally conductive solid material, thereby creating very high heat transfer properties surrounding the exterior surface of said outer tube, for efficiently transferring heat to or from the heat transfer fluid flowing through said co-axial flow heat transfer structure.  
     
     
         127 . The coaxial-flow heat transfer structure of  claim 126 , wherein said thermal conductive solid material is selected from the group consisting of beads of graphite, synthetic graphic, carbon and graphite mixtures, metallic pellets, and non-metallic heat transfer enhancing pellets.  
     
     
         128 . A coaxial-flow heat transferring structure for installation in an ambient environment and facilitating the transfer of heat energy between an external heat energy producing system and said ambient environment, comprising: 
 a proximal end and a distal end for exchanging heat between a source of fluid at a first temperature and the environment at a second temperature;    an input port, provided at the proximal end, for receiving a heat (energy) exchanging fluid at a first temperature from an external heat energy producing system, and an output port, provided at the proximal end, for outputting said heat transferring fluid at a second temperature to the heat energy producing system;    an inner tube section having an outer wall surface extending between the proximal and distal ends, and supporting an inner flow channel having a substantially uniform inner diameter along its length and along which the heat exchanging fluid can flow in a substantially laminar manner from said distal end towards said proximal end and exit from said output port;    an outer tube section, disposed coaxially around the inner tube section, and having an inner wall surface extending between said proximal and distal ends, and the outer tube section being in thermal communication with the ambient environment;    wherein an outer flow channel is provided between the outer wall surface of the inner tube section and the inner wall surface of the outer tube section, and capable of receiving a heat exchanging fluid from said input port at the proximal end, and conducting said heat exchanging fluid along the outer flow channel towards said distal end, and entering said inner flow channel;    wherein a turbulence generating structure is disposed along a substantial portion of the length of the outer flow channel so as to introduce turbulence into the flow of said heat exchanging fluid flowing along the outer flow channel, from the proximal end towards the distal end, and thereby improving the transfer of heat energy between the heat exchanging fluid and the ambient environment along the length of the outer flow channel.    
     
     
         129 . The coaxial-flow heat exchanging structure of  claim 128 , wherein the turbulence generating structure comprises a helically arranged fin structure disposed along a substantial portion of the outer flow channel.  
     
     
         130 . The coaxial-flow heat exchanging structure of  claim 128 , wherein the helically arranged fin structure is mounted to the outer surface of the inner tube section.  
     
     
         131 . The coaxial-flow heat exchanging structure of  claim 128 , wherein the laminar fluid flow along the inner tube section provides an insulating effect between the wall of the inner tube section and the inner flow channel.  
     
     
         132 . The coaxial-flow heat exchanging structure of  claim 128 , for sinking heat into the ground during cooling operations, or sourcing heat from the ground during heating operations.  
     
     
         133 . The coaxial-flow heat exchanging structure of  claim 128 , wherein the coaxial-flow heat exchanging structure functions as a primary system, a system sub-component, or a sub-component kit of the heat pump system.  
     
     
         134 . The coaxial-flow heat exchanging structure of  claim 128 , wherein said thermally-conductive outer tube has an outer heat exchanging surface area which is increased by fluting the surface thereof.  
     
     
         135 . The coaxial-flow heat exchanging structure of  claim 128 , wherein said thermally conductive outer tube section is thermally-cemented into a bore drilled in the Earth.  
     
     
         136 . The coaxial-flow heat exchanging structure of  claim 135 , wherein said bore extends through an aquifer.  
     
     
         137 . A coaxial-flow heat transfer structure for installation in an ambient environment and facilitating the transfer of heat energy between an external heat energy producing system and said ambient environment, comprising: 
 a proximal end and a distal end for exchanging heat between a source of fluid at a first temperature and the environment at a second temperature;    an input port, provided at the proximal end, for receiving a heat (energy) exchanging fluid at a first temperature from an external heat energy producing system, and an output port, provided at the proximal end, for outputting said heat transferring fluid at a second temperature to the heat energy producing system;    an inner tube section having an outer wall surface extending between the proximal and distal ends, and supporting an inner flow channel having a substantially uniform inner diameter along its length and along which the heat exchanging fluid can flow in a substantially laminar manner from said distal end towards said proximal end and exit from said output port;    an outer tube section, disposed coaxially around the inner tube section, and having an inner wall surface extending between said proximal and distal ends, and the outer tube section being in thermal communication with the ambient environment;    wherein an outer flow channel is provided between the outer wall surface of the inner tube section and the inner wall surface of the outer tube section, and capable of receiving a heat exchanging fluid from said input port at the proximal end, and conducting said heat exchanging fluid along the outer flow channel towards said distal end, and entering said inner flow channel;    wherein a turbulence generating structure is disposed along a substantial portion of the length of the outer flow channel so as to introduce turbulence into the flow of said heat exchanging fluid flowing along the outer flow channel, from the proximal end towards the distal end, and thereby improving the transfer of heat energy between the heat exchanging fluid and the ambient environment along the length of the outer flow channel.    
     
     
         138 . The heat transfer system of  claim 137 , wherein the entire space between the outer tube section and the inner surface of the bore hole is filled up with thermally-conductive solid-state materials selected from the group consisting of beads of graphite, synthetic graphic, carbon and graphite mixtures, metallic pellets and non-metallic heat transfer enhancing pellets, so as to create an environment (with very high heat transfer properties) surrounding the exterior surface of said outer tube.  
     
     
         139 . The heat transfer system of  claim 137 , wherein the small spaces (i.e. interstices) between the pellets or beads eventually fill up with silt, earth or rock formations from the surrounding environment, thereby creating an environment (with very high heat transfer properties) surrounding the exterior surface of the outer tube of the coaxial heat transfer structure, for efficiently transferring heat to or from the heat transfer fluid flowing through the co-axial flow heat transfer structure.  
     
     
         140 . A heat transfer system comprising at least one coaxial-flow heat transfer structure, wherein the outer tube section thereof is provided with an end cap structure having one or more reverse hooks that are connected thereto by way of bolts or pins, and which protract and dig into the sides of the bore hole in response to upwardly directed forces generated at the bottom of a bore hole into which the outer tube section has been installed.