Convective earrh coil

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of heat rejection and extraction between a fluid and the earth, providing for a high efficiency convective heat exchanger located in ground water, a means for inducing flow of said ground water at its initial temperature from ground water pool through said heat exchanger, a means of inducing heat transfer from said ground water to said heat transfer fluid or gas, a means of discharging said ground water at a new temperature back into said ground water pool, and a piping system suitable to transport said heat transfer fluid from a thermal load at some remote location at a first temperature, though the said convective heat exchanger and transporting the heat transfer fluid at a new temperature to the location(s) where the thermal energy is utilized.

1 . A system for heat rejection and extraction between a heat transfer fluid or gas and the earth, providing for a high efficiency convective heat exchanger located in ground water, a means for inducing flow of said ground water at its initial temperature from said ground water through said heat exchanger, a means of inducing heat transfer from said ground water to said heat transfer fluid or gas, a means of discharging said ground water at a new temperature back into said ground water, and a piping system suitable to transport said heat transfer fluid from a thermal load at some remote location at a first temperature, though the said convective heat exchanger and transporting the heat transfer fluid at a new temperature to the location(s) where the thermal energy is utilized. 
   
   
       2 . The heat rejection and extraction system in  claim 1  wherein said ground water can be below ground surface water in a well or cave, or above ground surface water in a pond, lake, stream or ocean. 
   
   
       3 . The heat rejection and extraction system in  claim 1  wherein said heat transfer fluid is a substance that would not harm or deteriorate the quality of the said ground water if it were to leak into the ground water, including water, water with non-toxic additives, or other environmentally friendly fluid or gases. 
   
   
       4 . The heat rejection and extraction system in  claim 1  wherein said convective heat exchanger utilizes the efficiencies of convective heat transfer to thermally link the said ground water to the said heat transfer fluid. 
   
   
       5 . The heat rejection and extraction system in  claim 1  wherein said convective heat exchanger utilizes efficient heat exchanger design, including tube-in-tube, spiral tubing, finned tubing, or a rectangular or circular plate design. 
   
   
       6 . The heat rejection and extraction system in  claim 1  wherein said convective heat exchanger utilizes thermally conductive materials that are suitable for contact with the said ground water and said heat transfer fluid, such as copper, cupronickel, stainless steel, or plastic. 
   
   
       7 . The heat rejection and extraction system in  claim 1  wherein said means for inducing flow of said ground water at its initial temperature from said ground water pool through said heat exchanger is an enclosed vertical chamber of sufficient length to generate natural fluid flow forces due to the difference in temperature and density of said ground water entering the said heat exchanger at its initial temperature with the said ground water leaving the said heat exchanger at its said new temperature. 
   
   
       8 . The heat rejection and extraction system in  claim 1  wherein said means for inducing flow of said ground water through said heat exchanger could be a mechanical pump. 
   
   
       9 . The mechanical pump in  claim 8  could be electrically driven or could be driven by the flow of the heat transfer fluid acting upon an impeller, which drives said pump, the said impeller could be mechanically coupled via a sealed shaft, or could be magnetically coupled. 
   
   
       10 . The mechanical pump in  claim 8  use centrifugal, displacement or other known pumping strategies. 
   
   
       11 . The heat rejection and extraction system in  claim 1  wherein said heat transfer fluid piping system utilizes materials that are suitable for contact with the said ground water and said heat transfer fluid, such as copper, cupronickel, stainless steel, or plastic. 
   
   
       12 . The heat rejection and extraction system in  claim 1  wherein the said means for inducing flow of said ground water may also promote the natural stratification of the ground water into thermal layers, allowing for storage of thermal energy. 
   
   
       13 . The heat rejection and extraction system in  claim 1  wherein said system for heat rejection and extraction between a heat transfer fluid or gas and the earth water cooling means is connected to other heat sinks or heat sources, such as space heating or cooling system, a potable water heating system, a hydronic snowmelt system (a series of tubes buried in or beneath sidewalks and driveways near the said building) or solar energy panels, or waste heat collection system and controls are provided to allow for the optimum storage and removal of thermal energy on a daily and seasonal basis.