Geothermal heat pump system

Abstract

A geothermal heat pump system comprises at least one heat exchange unit and a ground loop in fluid communication with the at least one heat exchange unit. The ground loop has a feed into which heat exchange fluid is delivered by the at least one heat exchange unit and has a discharge via which circulated heat exchange fluid is returned to the at least one heat exchange unit. The ground loop comprises at least one fluid circuit formed of tubing arranged to define a plurality of laterally spaced, vertical coils buried in earth beneath a foundation slab of a building structure.

1 . A geothermal heat pump system comprising:
 at least one heat exchange unit; and   a ground loop in fluid communication with said at least one heat exchange unit, said ground loop having a feed into which heat exchange fluid is delivered by said at least one heat exchange unit and having a discharge via which circulated heat exchange fluid is returned to said at least one heat exchange unit, said ground loop comprising at least one fluid circuit formed of tubing arranged to define a plurality of laterally spaced, vertical coils buried in earth beneath a foundation slab of a building structure.   
     
     
         2 . A heat pump system according to  claim 1  wherein said vertical coils are connected in series. 
     
     
         3 . A heat pump system according to  claim 2  wherein said vertical coils are arranged in at least one row. 
     
     
         4 . A heat pump system according to  claim 3  wherein said vertical coils are generally evenly spaced. 
     
     
         5 . A heat pump system according to  claim 1  wherein said ground loop comprises a plurality of fluid circuits, each fluid circuit comprising a plurality of laterally spaced, vertical coils connected in series. 
     
     
         6 . A heat pump system according to  claim 5  wherein the vertical coils of each fluid circuit are arranged in at least one row. 
     
     
         7 . A heat pump system according to  claim 6  wherein the vertical coils of each fluid circuit are generally evenly spaced. 
     
     
         8 . A heat pump system according to  claim 1  wherein each of said vertical coils generally has the same diameter. 
     
     
         9 . A heat pump system according to  claim 1  wherein each of said vertical coils generally has the same number of windings. 
     
     
         10 . A heat pump system according to  claim 1  wherein the ground loop further comprises helical tubing wound about foundation walls of said building structure. 
     
     
         11 . A heat pump system according to  claim 10  wherein said helical tubing is in series with said vertical coils. 
     
     
         12 . A heat pump system according to  claim 11  wherein said helical tubing is intermediate at least one of said feed and said vertical coils and said vertical coils and discharge. 
     
     
         13 . A heat pump system according to  claim 1  wherein the heat exchange unit comprises a heat pump. 
     
     
         14 . A heat pump system according to  claim 1  wherein the foundation slab is a slab on grade. 
     
     
         15 . A building structure comprising a foundation having foundation walls about a foundation slab and a heat pump system according to  claim 1  to control the climate therein. 
     
     
         16 . A method of installing a ground loop of a geothermal heat pump system comprising:
 excavating earth to create a foundation excavation;   excavating a plurality of laterally spaced, generally vertical boreholes within the foundation excavation;   inserting a coil of tubing into each borehole, the coils being connected in series;   applying backfill over the coils; and   laying a foundation slab over the backfill.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising winding a portion of the ground loop about foundation walls. 
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 17  wherein the winding is performed prior to construction of the foundation walls. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 17  wherein the winding is performed following construction of the foundation walls. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 16  wherein the slab is a slab on grade. 
     
     
         21 . A ground loop for a geothermal heat pump system comprising:
 a feed into which heat exchange fluid is delivered by at least one heat exchange unit;   a discharge to return circulated heat exchange fluid to said at least one heat exchange unit; and   at least one fluid circuit formed of tubing arranged to define a plurality of laterally spaced, vertical coils buried in earth beneath a foundation slab of a building structure.   
     
     
         22 . A ground loop according to  claim 21 , wherein the foundation slab is a slab on grade.