Building source heat pump

Abstract

An energy efficient heating and cooling system is defined by a closed loop coil system of conduit in which the tubing through which fluid flows is located to the interior of the structure, preferably above the winter-heated space and below an insulated roof or in a multi-level building floor, so that heat rising to the ceiling may be recovered in a geothermal heat pump. The structure source loop may be combined with an optional ground source loop. A furnace controls the flow of heated air into the structure and supplies supplemental heat and the system is under the control of a microprocessor.

1 . A heating and cooling system for a structure having a heated interior space and a roof, comprising: 
 a furnace;    a heat exchanger;    a fan for inducing a flow of air from the heat exchanger to the interior space;    a first conduit capable of conducting a flow of a heat exchange medium, said first conduit operatively connected to the heat exchanger for conducting the heat exchange medium through the heat exchanger, and said first conduit including a length of conduit located between the heated interior space and the roof; and    insulation between the conduit and the roof.    
   
   
       2 . The heating and cooling system according to  claim 1  including a thermostat in the heated interior space and a first temperature sensor located between the heated interior space and the roof, a pump for inducing a flow of the heat exchange medium through the first conduit and a controller in communication with the thermostat and the first temperature sensor, said controller configured for operation of the furnace, the fan, the heat exchanger and the pump.  
   
   
       3 . The heating and cooling system according to  claim 2  wherein said controller further includes a microprocessor configured for comparing temperature data from the thermostat and the first temperature sensor, and for operating the furnace, heat exchanger and pump if the difference between the temperature at the thermostat and the temperature at the first temperature sensor exceeds a predetermined minimum.  
   
   
       4 . The heating and cooling system according to  claim 2  including a second conduit for conducting a flow of a heat exchange medium, said second conduit operatively connected to the heat exchanger and a pump for conducting the heat exchange medium through the heat exchanger, and said second conduit including a length of conduit buried in the ground and a second temperature sensor buried in the ground and in communication with the controller.  
   
   
       5 . The heating and cooling system according to  claim 4  wherein said controller includes a flow controller and the first conduit and second conduit are operatively connected to the flow controller, and said flow controller is in operative communication with said microprocessor, whereby said microprocessor is capable of selecting either said first conduit or said second conduit.  
   
   
       6 . The heating and cooling system according to  claim 5  wherein said controller is configured for comparing temperature data from the thermostat and the first and second temperature sensors, and for selecting either the first conduit or second conduit based on predetermined criteria and operating the furnace, the fan, the heat exchanger and pump in response to the selection.  
   
   
       7 . The heating and cooling system according to  claim 6  wherein said controller selects the first conduit if the difference between the temperature at the thermostat and the temperature at the first temperature sensor exceeds a predetermined minimum.  
   
   
       8 . The heating and cooling system according to  claim 6  wherein said controller selects the second conduit if the difference between the temperature at the thermostat and the temperature at the second temperature sensor exceeds a predetermined minimum, and the temperature at the second temperature sensor is greater than the temperature at the first temperature sensor.  
   
   
       9 . A method of recovering heat in a structure having a heated interior space, an insulated roof above the heated interior space, and a furnace, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) installing a first conduit above the heated interior space and below the insulated roof;    (b) operatively connecting said first conduit to a heat exchanger and operatively connecting said heat exchanger to said furnace;    (c) inducing a flow of a heat exchange medium through said first conduit so that the temperature of said heat exchange medium is raised as it flows through said conduit, and circulating said heat exchange medium through said heat exchanger;    (d) extracting heat from said heat exchange medium in said heat exchanger to warm air; and    (e) inducing a flow of said warmed air into said heated interior space.    
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 9  including the steps of: 
 (a) measuring the temperature in the heated interior space;    (b) measuring the temperature above the heated interior space and below the roof;    (c) comparing the temperatures measured in steps (a) and (b) and in response thereto, determining if a flow of the heat exchange medium should be induced through the first conduit.    
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 9  wherein if the difference between the temperature measured at steps (a) and (b) exceeds a predetermined minimum, inducing a flow of the heat exchange medium to increase the temperature of the heat exchange medium, extracting heat from the heat exchange medium in the heat exchanger to warm air, and operating said furnace to induce a flow of said warmed air into said heated interior space.  
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein if the difference between the temperature measured at steps (a) and (b) is below the predetermined minimum, the furnace is operated to heat the heated interior space.  
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 9  including the steps of: 
 (a) installing a second conduit in the ground;    (b) operatively connecting said second conduit to the heat exchanger;    (c) placing the first and second conduits, the furnace and the heat exchanger under the control of a controller;    (d) causing the controller to select either the first or the second conduit in and inducing a flow of a heat exchange medium through the selected first or second conduit so that the temperature of said heat exchange medium in said selected conduit is raised as it flows through said selected conduit, and circulating said heat exchange medium through said heat exchanger;    (e) extracting heat from said heat exchange medium in said heat exchanger to warm air; and    (f) inducing a flow of said warmed air into said heated interior space.    
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 13  including the steps of: 
 (a) measuring the temperature in the heated interior space;    (b) measuring the temperature above the heated interior space and below the roof;    (c) measuring the temperature of the ground, and    (d) comparing the temperatures measured in steps (a), (b) and (c) and in response thereto, determining if a flow of the heat exchange medium should be induced through the first conduit or the second conduit.    
   
   
       15 . A heating and cooling system for a structure having a heated interior space and an insulated roof over the heated interior space, comprising: 
 furnace means for heating the interior space;    fan means for inducing a flow or air into said interior space;    heat exchanger means for extracting heat from a heat exchange medium conducted through the heat exchanger, the heat exchanger means operatively connected to the fan means;    first conduit means for conducting said heat exchange medium through the heat exchanger means and over the heated interior space, said first conduit means at least partially located above the heated interior space and below the insulated roof;    controller means for initiation of a flow of the heat exchange medium through the first conduit means, and for controlling operation of the furnace means, fan means and heat exchanger means.    
   
   
       16 . The heating and cooling system according to  claim 15  further comprising a thermostat in the heated interior space and air temperature sensing means located between said heated interior space and the insulated roof for measuring the air temperature at said temperature sensing means, said thermostat and temperature sensing means configured for communicating with said controller means.  
   
   
       17 . The heating and cooling system according to  claim 15  wherein said first conduit means further comprises a closed loop conduit extending from said heat exchanger means over said heated interior space.  
   
   
       18 . The heating and cooling system according to  claim 17  wherein said first conduit means includes pump means for inducing a flow of heat exchange medium through said closed loop conduit.  
   
   
       19 . The heating and cooling system according to  claim 16  further including second conduit means for conducting heat exchange medium through the heat exchanger means, said second conduit means at least partially located in the ground.  
   
   
       20 . The heating and cooling system according to  claim 19  including ground temperature sensing means for measuring the temperature of the ground and communicating with said controller means, and wherein said controller means is capable of selecting either the first conduit means of the second conduit means based on temperature data received from the thermostat, the air temperature sensing means and the ground temperature sensing means.