Methods and apparatus for transferring thermal energy

Abstract

Municipal waste water systems can be a significant renewable alternative energy source for heating and cooling of buildings. Waste water flow rate and temperature data is collected over a period of time and locations within the waste water system that can act as a thermal energy source or sink are identified. Candidate buildings proximate the locations are identified. Thermal energy transfer apparatus can be used to transfer energy between an identified location and building.

1 . A method comprising:
 identifying a thermal energy target location within a wastewater system using measured waste water flow rate and waste water temperature data collected over a period of time;   locating a thermal energy transfer apparatus at the identified thermal energy target location; and   transferring thermal energy between the thermal energy target location and a building in proximity with the target location using the thermal energy transfer apparatus.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the thermal energy at the thermal energy target includes thermal energy resulting from biological activity. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the thermal energy target location is associated with a waste water lift station within a waste water drainage system. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the waste water flow rate data is collected by a data logging flow sensor at the lift station. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the waste water flow rate data is recorded by a system control and data acquisition (SCADA) system. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the waste water temperature data is collected by a data logging flow sensor at the lift station. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the energy transfer apparatus includes a heat exchanger. 
     
     
         8 . A method of indentifying buildings for use of an alternative energy source, the method comprising:
 sensing flow rate of waste water at a plurality of locations within a municipal waste water system over a period of time to produce flow rate data associated with each location;   sensing temperature of waste water at the plurality of locations over the period of time to produce waste water temperature data associated with each location;   generating a thermal energy map of the waste water system based upon mass flow rate and temperature data;   identifying locations with energy available for heating and cooling applications based on the thermal energy map;   identifying a candidate building based on its proximity to one of the locations; and   determining potential cost savings based upon available energy from the waste water system, energy usage by the candidate building, and costs of installing and operating a system for extracting and delivering the energy from the location to the candidate building.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  and further comprising:
 connecting a thermal energy transfer apparatus to the waste water system at the location; and 
 connecting the thermal energy transfer system to an environmental control system of the candidate building so that thermal energy can be transferred between the waste water at the location and the candidate building. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the thermal energy transfer apparatus includes a heat exchanger. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the thermal energy target location is associated with a waste water lift station within a waste water drainage system. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the waste water flow rate data is collected by a data logging flow sensor at the lift station. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the waste water flow rate data is recorded by a system control and data acquisition (SCADA) system. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the waste water temperature data is collected by a data logging flow sensor at the lift station.