System for storage and transfer of heat energy

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system of transfer and storage of thermal energy to and from the surrounding environment. In particular, this invention relates to a thermo-well ( 1 ) comprising at least a case ( 2 ) underground, at least one inlet pipe ( 10 ) of a heat carrier fluid and at least one outlet line ( 9 ) of said heat carrier fluid, wherein said case ( 2 ) is sealed, characterized in that said at least one case ( 2 ) contains within it an inert material (G) in granular form with which that heat carrier fluid is placed in contact to get an heat transfer between said heat carrier fluid and said inert material (G). Further objects of the invention are an heat transfer system and a storage of thermal or freezing energy and a cogeneration energy system comprising at least one thermo-well as defined above.

1 - 37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . A thermo-well comprising at least one buried case, an inlet duct of heat carrier fluid and an outlet duct of said heat carrier fluid, in which said case is sealed, wherein said at least one case comprises within it an inert material in granular form with which said heat carrier fluid is placed in contact to provide a heat transfer between said heat carrier fluid and said inert material. 
     
     
         39 . The thermo-well of  claim 38 , wherein said inert material has a grain size between 5 mm and 50 mm 
     
     
         40 . The thermo-well of  claim 38 , wherein said inert material has a specific heat of at least 0.2 kcal/kg.° C., a density in bulk of at least 1400 kg/m 3  and a thermal conductivity, measured at room temperature, at least 0.6 Kcal/m° C. 
     
     
         41 . The thermo-well of  claim 38  in which said inert material is selected from the group consisting of: stones, gravel, marble, synthetic resins and combinations thereof, and where said inert material is capable of staying in contact with water. 
     
     
         42 . The thermo-well of  claim 38 , wherein the filling of said at least one case with said inert material comprises, in the lower and/or upper portion of the case, a portion with material having greater size to set areas of homogenization of fluid at the entry and/or at the exit of the thermo-well. 
     
     
         43 . The thermo-well of  claim 38 , wherein at least one area of homogenization is carried out by arranging homogenization bells, placed above the feed zone of said heat carrier fluid in said at least one case. 
     
     
         44 . The thermo-well of  claim 38 , wherein the level of heat carrier fluid in said at least on 
     
     
         45 . Thee case is equal to or higher than the level of supply of that heat carrier fluid in another case. 
     
     
         46 . The thermo-well of  claim 38 , wherein said heat carrier fluid comprises water and substances selected from the group consisting of: glycol, diathermic oils and combinations thereof, in order to avoid freezing or boiling, respectively, in a temperature range between −50° C. and 250° C. 
     
     
         47 . The thermo-well of  claim 38 , wherein said case is insulated and wherein the ratio of external surface/volume is minimized. 
     
     
         48 . The thermo-well of  claim 38 , wherein said case is not insulated and has a shape in which the ratio of external surface/volume is maximized. 
     
     
         49 . The thermo-well of  claim 47 , wherein said case is externally covered by a plate to maximize the area of heat transfer per unit of surface. 
     
     
         50 . The thermo-well of  claim 38 , wherein said at least one case comprises a bottom, side walls and a lid and comprises a vertical duct which houses said inlet and outlet pipes. wherein said duct starts from the bottom of said at least one case and protrudes above the thermo-well to the surface of ground, said duct near the base comprising one or more openings that communicate the interior of the duct with the respective case. 
     
     
         51 . The thermo-well of  claim 38 , wherein said outlet pipe is connected to pumping means as a circulating submersible pump. 
     
     
         52 . The thermo-well of  claim 38 , wherein inside the case is arranged a chamber which comprises side walls which extend in height to a lesser extent to that of the side walls of the case providing a gap between said chamber and said lid of the thermo-well, and in which said inlet pipe dispenses said heat carrier fluid at the base of said chamber. 
     
     
         53 . The thermo-well of  claim 38 , wherein two thermo-wells are placed side-by-side in a third thermo-well which is not insulated. 
     
     
         54 . A system for heat transfer and/or storage of thermal or freezing energy, comprising the thermo-well of  claim 38 , arranged in series or in parallel. 
     
     
         55 . The system of  claim 53 , wherein a closed-circuit for the heat carrier fluid of said thermo-well is coupled through a heat transfer with a closed-loop circuit of a heat pump on a condenser and/or on an evaporator. 
     
     
         56 . An energy cogeneration system comprising a generator of electricity, devices of partition of said electricity generated capable of sending said electricity, as needed, to a user or to an electric heat pump, said heat pump being interfaced via heat transfer a) on a capacitor, with a closed circuit of a first thermo-well, and/or b) on an evaporator side, with a closed circuit of a second thermo-well. 
     
     
         57 . The system of  claim 55 , comprising, in addition to or instead of said first and second thermo-well, a non-insulated thermo-well, wherein the closed circuit of said thermo-well is connected with a serpentine coil arranged on the wall of a building, said connection being implemented through a three-way valve that allows alternative selection of the link flow between a serpentine coil and the closed-circuit and/or the flow connection between the serpentine coil and a circuit service.