Turbulence Inducing Heat Exchanger

Abstract

A heat exchanger includes an elastically flexible liner formed as an elongated hose having an open end and a closed end. The elongated hose defines an inner surface. The heat exchanger also includes a plurality of longitudinal sleeves substantially disposed within the elongated hose. Each of the plurality of longitudinal sleeves has a proximate end defining an inlet opening and a distal end defining an outlet opening. When a fluid is pumped from the inlet openings of the plurality of longitudinal sleeves to the outlet openings of the plurality of longitudinal sleeves, the fluid passes from the outlet openings into the closed end of the elongated hose, along the inner surface of the elongated hose, and out through the open end of the elongated hose.

1 . A heat exchanger for a geothermal heat pump system comprising:
 an elastically flexible liner formed as an elongated hose having an open end and a closed end, the elongated hose defining an inner surface; and   a plurality of longitudinal sleeves substantially disposed within the elongated hose, each of the plurality of longitudinal sleeves having a proximate end defining an inlet opening and a distal end defining an outlet opening;   wherein, when a fluid is pumped from the inlet openings of the plurality of longitudinal sleeves to the outlet openings of the plurality of longitudinal sleeves, the fluid passes from the outlet openings into the closed end of the elongated hose, along the inner surface of the elongated hose, and out through the open end of the elongated hose.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 :
 wherein the heat exchanger is constructed and arranged to insert into a borehole having a borehole surface;   wherein the elongated hose is constructed and arranged to expand and contour to the borehole surface upon receiving pressure from the pumped fluid.   
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger of  claim 2 , wherein, upon expanding and contouring to the borehole surface, the elongated hose is constructed and arranged to generate turbulent flow in the pumped fluid along the inner surface by mimicking a coarse texture of the borehole surface. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger of  claim 2 :
 wherein the elongated hose defines an outer surface;   wherein further comprising an adhesive covering at least a portion of the elastically flexible liner on the outer surface of the elongated hose, the adhesive constructed and arranged to adhere to the borehole surface.   
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality longitudinal sleeves are each affixed to the elastically flexible liner at the inner surface of the elongated hose. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of longitudinal sleeves are polyethylene bags. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the closed end of the elongated hose forms a mixing area that induces a turbulent flow in the pumped fluid that passes from the outlet openings of the plurality of longitudinal sleeves. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the inner surface of the elongated hose is coarsely textured to generate turbulent flow of the fluid pumped through the elongated hose. 
     
     
         9 . A method for exchanging heat in a heat exchanger of a geothermal heat pump system, the heat exchanger having a plurality of longitudinal sleeves and an elastically flexible liner, the elastically flexible liner forming an elongated hose having an open end and a closed end, the method comprising:
 pumping a fluid into the plurality of flexible sleeves, each of the plurality of flexible sleeves having a proximate end defining an inlet opening and a distal end defining an outlet opening, wherein the fluid moves from the inlet opening to the outlet opening;   pumping the fluid from the outlet opening into a mixing area of the heat exchanger, the mixing area formed by the closed end of the elongated hose and inducing turbulent flow in the fluid; and   pumping the fluid from the mixing area to the open end of the elongated hose.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 :
 wherein the heat exchanger inserts into a borehole having a borehole surface;   wherein further comprising pressurizing the elongated hose with the pumped fluid to expand and contour the elongated hose to the borehole surface.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising, upon pressurizing the elongated hose with the pumped fluid, inducing a turbulent flow by pumping the fluid along the inner surface that is mimicking a coarse texture of the borehole surface. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 :
 wherein the elongated hose defines an outer surface;   wherein further comprising adhering the outer surface of the elongated hose to the borehole surface with an adhesive applied to at least a portion of the elastically flexible liner on the outer surface of the elongated hose.   
     
     
         13 . A geothermal heat pump system comprising:
 a wellhead;   a fluid-line-in connected to the wellhead;   a fluid-line-out connected to the wellhead; and   a heat exchanger connected to the wellhead, the heat exchanger having:
 an elastically flexible liner formed as an elongated hose having an open end and a closed end, the elongated hose defining an inner surface, the open end of the elongated hose constructed and arranged to deliver a fluid to the fluid-line-out via the wellhead; and 
 a plurality of longitudinal sleeves substantially disposed within the elongated hose, each of the plurality of longitudinal sleeves having a proximate end defining an inlet opening and a distal end defining an outlet opening, each inlet opening constructed and arranged to receive the fluid from the fluid-line-in via the wellhead; 
 wherein, when the fluid is pumped from the inlet openings of the plurality of longitudinal sleeves to the outlet openings of the plurality of longitudinal sleeves, the fluid passes from the outlet openings into the closed end of the elongated hose, along the inner surface of the elongated hose, and out through the open end of the elongated hose. 
   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 :
 wherein the heat exchanger is constructed and arranged to insert into a borehole having a borehole surface;   wherein the elongated hose is constructed and arranged to expand and contour to the borehole surface upon receiving pressure from the pumped fluid.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein, upon expanding and contouring to the borehole surface, the elongated hose is constructed and arranged to generate turbulent flow in the pumped fluid along the inner surface by mimicking a coarse texture of the borehole surface. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 :
 wherein the elongated hose defines an outer surface;   wherein the heat exchanger further includes an adhesive covering at least a portion of the elastically flexible liner on the outer surface of the elongated hose, the adhesive constructed and arranged to adhere to the borehole surface.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality longitudinal sleeves are each affixed to the elastically flexible liner at the inner surface of the elongated hose. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of longitudinal sleeves are polyethylene bags. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the closed end of the elongated hose forms a mixing area that induces a turbulent flow in the pumped fluid that passes from the outlet openings of the plurality of longitudinal sleeves. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the inner surface of the elongated hose is coarsely textured to generate turbulent flow of the fluid pumped through the elongated hose.