Methods and equipment for geothermally exchanging energy

Abstract

As discussed herein, a first aspect of the present invention provides a round energy transfer component. The ground energy transfer component can include an outer tube having an upper end and a lower end. The outer tube can be constructed out of generally thermally conductive material. The ground energy transfer component can include an inner tube. The inner tube can be constructed out of generally thermally insulative material. The inner tube can be coupled to the outer tube and positioned generally coaxially with the outer tube to define a generally thermally insulated interior of the inner tube and a channel between the inner tube and the outer tube. The inner tube can have an upper end and a lower end, with the inner tube's lower end defining one or more openings to permit fluid communication between the channel and the interior of the inner tube. The ground energy transfer component can include a base connected to the lower end of the outer tube to substantially seal the lower end of the outer tube. The ground energy transfer component can include first and second connectors coupled to the inner and outer tubes. The first and second connectors can be configured to connect the ground energy transfer component to HVAC pipes of an HVAC system so that HVAC fluid from the HVAC system can flow through the ground energy transfer component. The channel can be configured to create more turbulence in the flowing HVAC fluid than is the interior of the inner tube.

1 . A ground energy transfer component comprising:
 (a) an outer tube having an upper end and a lower end, the outer tube being constructed out of generally thermally conductive material;   (b) an inner tube:
 (i) that is constructed out of generally thermally insulative material, 
 (ii) that is coupled to the outer tube and positioned generally coaxially with the outer tube to define a generally thermally insulated interior of the inner tube and a channel between the inner tube and the outer tube, and 
 (iii) having an upper end and a lower end, with the inner tube's lower end defining one or more openings to permit fluid communication between the channel and the interior of the inner tube; 
   (c) a base connected to the lower end of the outer tube to substantially seal the lower end of the outer tube; and   (d) first and second connectors coupled to the inner and outer tubes, the first and second connectors being configured to connect the ground energy transfer component to HVAC pipes of an HVAC system so that HVAC fluid from the HVAC system can flow through the ground energy transfer component,   wherein the channel is configured to create more turbulence in the flowing HVAC fluid than is the interior of the inner tube.   
     
     
         2 . The ground energy transfer component of  claim 1 , wherein the outer tube is constructed out of stainless steel and the inner tube is constructed out of HDPE plastic piping. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The ground energy transfer component of  claim 1 , further comprising (e) a spiraling barrier positioned within the channel, the spiraling barrier being configured to guide HVAC fluid flowing through the channel around and around the inner tube in a coil-like configuration, thereby enhancing turbulence in the HVAC fluid flowing through the channel. 
     
     
         5 . The ground energy transfer component of  claim 4 , wherein the HVAC fluid flowing through the channel follows a heat transfer path, and the HVAC fluid flowing through the interior of the inner tube follows a return insulated path. 
     
     
         6 . The ground energy transfer component of  claim 5 , wherein (i) the heat transfer path has more contact surface than the return insulated path, (ii) the heat transfer path is configured to provide tangential momentum to the HVAC fluid following the heat transfer path, and (iii) the heat transfer path has a cross-sectional area, the return insulated path has a cross-sectional area, and the heat transfer path cross-sectional area is smaller than the return insulated path cross-sectional area. 
     
     
         7 . The ground energy transfer component of  claim 5 , wherein (i) the spiraling barrier has a pitch and (ii) the heat transfer path has a length, the return insulated path has a length, and the heat transfer path length is longer than the return insulated path length in proportion to the pitch of the spiraling barrier. 
     
     
         8 . The ground energy transfer component of  claim 4 , wherein the spiraling barrier forms a plurality of connected helical coils spaced non-uniformly with respect to one another. 
     
     
         9 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The ground energy transfer component of  claim 1 , wherein the inner tube is substantially rigidly connected to the base, and the one or more openings defined in the inner tube's lower end include a plurality of holes positioned approximately symmetrically about the inner tube. 
     
     
         12 . The ground energy transfer component of  claim 1 , wherein the outer tube has an outer diameter that is less than six inches. 
     
     
         13 . The ground energy transfer component of  claim 1 , wherein the outer tube has a total length that is less than 50 feet. 
     
     
         14 . A method of transferring energy between HVAC fluid flowing in an HVAC system and the ground, water, or other thermal mass, the method comprising:
 (a) providing a ground energy transfer component that includes:
 (i) an outer tube having an upper end and a lower end, the outer tube being constructed out of generally thermally conductive material, 
 (ii) an inner tube:
 (A) that is constructed out of generally thermally insulative material, 
 (B) that is coupled to the outer tube and positioned generally coaxially with the outer tube to define a generally thermally insulated interior of the inner tube and a channel between the inner tube and the outer tube, and 
 (C) having an upper end and a lower end, with the inner tube's lower end defining one or more openings to permit fluid communication between the channel and the interior of the inner tube, and 
 
 (iii) a base sealably connected to the lower end of the outer tube to substantially seal the lower end of the outer tube; 
   (b) positioning the ground energy transfer component in the ground, water, or other thermal mass;   (c) connecting the ground energy transfer component to HVAC pipes of the HVAC system; and   (d) activating the HVAC system to cause HVAC fluid from the HVAC system to flow through the ground energy transfer component, with HVAC fluid flowing in the channel experiencing more turbulence than HVAC fluid flowing in the interior of the inner tube.   
     
     
         15 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the ground energy transfer component further includes (iv) a spiraling barrier positioned within the ground energy transfer component's channel, wherein HVAC fluid flowing through the channel is guided by the spiraling barrier around and around the inner tube in a coil-like configuration, thereby enhancing turbulence in the HVAC fluid flowing through the channel. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the HVAC fluid flowing through the ground energy transfer component's channel follows a heat transfer path, and the HVAC fluid flowing through the interior of the ground energy transfer component's inner tube follows a return insulated path. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein (i) the heat transfer path has more contact surface than the return insulated path, (ii) the heat transfer path is configured to provide tangential momentum to the HVAC fluid following the heat transfer path, and (iii) the heat transfer path has a cross-sectional area, the return insulated path has a cross-sectional area, and the heat transfer path cross-sectional area is smaller than the return insulated path cross-sectional area. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein (i) the spiraling barrier has a pitch and (ii) the heat transfer path has a length, the return insulated path has a length, and the heat transfer path length is longer than the return insulated path length in proportion to the pitch of the spiraling barrier. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein HVAC fluid entering the heat transfer path has an increased flow velocity as compared with HVAC fluid flowing in the HVAC pipes to which the ground energy transfer component is connected, thereby providing for further enhanced turbulence experienced by HVAC fluid flowing along the heat transfer path. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the ground energy transfer component's spiraling barrier forms a plurality of coils spaced non-uniformly with respect to one another. 
     
     
         23 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A method of transferring energy between HVAC fluid flowing in an HVAC system and the ground, water, or other thermal mass, the method comprising:
 (a) providing first and second ground energy transfer components, each including:
 (i) an outer tube having an upper end and a lower end, the outer tube being constructed out of generally thermally conductive material, 
 (ii) an inner tube:
 (A) that is constructed out of generally thermally insulative material, 
 (B) that is coupled to the outer tube and positioned generally coaxially with the outer tube to define a generally thermally insulated interior of the inner tube and a channel between the inner tube and the outer tube, and 
 (C) having an upper end and a lower end, with the inner tube's lower end defining one or more openings to permit fluid communication between the channel and the interior of the inner tube, and 
 
 (iii) a base sealably connected to the lower end of the outer tube to substantially seal the lower end of the outer tube; 
   (b) positioning the first and second ground energy transfer components in the ground, water, or other thermal mass;   (c) connecting the first and second ground energy transfer components to HVAC pipes of the HVAC system in parallel; and   (d) activating the HVAC system to cause HVAC fluid from the HVAC system to flow through the first and second ground energy transfer components, with HVAC fluid flowing in the respective channels experiencing more turbulence than HVAC fluid flowing in the respective tube interiors.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein each of the first and second ground energy transfer components' outer tubes have an outer diameter of less than six inches. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein each of the first and second ground energy transfer components' outer tubes have a total length of less than 50 feet.