Geothermal Heating and Cooling System

Abstract

A closed loop geothermal heat exchange system for providing energy efficient cooling during the warmer seasons and baseline heating during the colder season that in one preferred embodiment is comprised of a heat exchanger unit, a circulating pump and a connection to a community water supply by means of upstream and down stream piping. The up stream supply pipe is connected to the community water supply on the system side of the water metering device. Water would flow from the supply side connection by means of water main system pressure to the input side of a heat exchanger through a turbulence-inducing fixture or fixtures that would increase the thermal transfer between the heat exchanger and the water. The output side of the exchanger is connected to the input side of a small booster pump, which supplies additional pressure to the return pipe which may also be configured into a venturi to assist the return water flow and is connected to community water system downstream from the supply connection.

1 . A energy efficient, cost effective, and safe geothermal heating and cooling system for homes and buildings that uses the public water system in place of a dedicated energy transfer loop, uses the water in the public water system as the thermal transfer fluid, and can be integrated with existing systems to significantly improve their operating efficiencies. 
     
     
         2 . A geothermal apparatus comprising a water source, a water transport means, a directional flow control valve whereby said water source is adaptively coupled to an air to water heat exchanger unit; said heat exchanger unit comprising a water inlet, a water outlet, a return means comprising a pumping means, a transport means, and a directional flow control valve, whereby the water is returned to the source. 
     
     
         3 . A geothermal apparatus as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said heat exchanger unit additionally includes a turbulence inducing insert or inserts. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the water source is a public water system. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the water source is any open water source such as a well, river, stream, or lake. 
     
     
         6 . A method to circulate air throughout a structure including an air intake means, a geothermal heating and cooling means, an air circulating system; whereby said air circulating means is an enclosed fan coupled to the structure's heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system, said fan can be either a single stage or multi stage. 
     
     
         7 . A geothermal apparatus safety device comprising an arrangement of flow control valves which in the event of contamination or mechanical failure will shut off or divert water flow away from the source. 
     
     
         8 . A geothermal apparatus purity confirmation module comprising one or more of a tuned laser beam, an optical conduit, a coated durable glass surface, an output beam, a galvanic sensor means to detect the presence of anionic/cationic chemical contamination, a pH meter to detect any change in acidity or alkalinity, a laser or broad spectrum light source and sensor to detect changes in the turbidity of the water stream, and the means to compare changes in differences between the input signal and the output signal. 
     
     
         9 . A geothermal apparatus as claimed in  claim 8  where changes in the input and output signals that fall outside the pre-determined parameters and indicating an equipment failure or water contamination will activate the valve closure sequence. 
     
     
         10 . A geothermal apparatus purity confirmation module as claimed in  claim 8  comprising a galvanic sensor means to detect the presence of chemical contamination. 
     
     
         11 . A geothermal apparatus purity confirmation module as claimed in  claim 8  comprising an ultraviolet purification treatment of a portion of the water flow with galvanic sensor measurements before and after the ultraviolet treatment 
     
     
         12 . A geothermal apparatus as claimed in  claim 8  comprising a comparator circuit, that reads and compares the output of the two galvanic sensor measurements too a preset standard purity number and activates the valve closure/bypass sequence whenever a reading falls outside the predetermined standards.