Ground circuit in a low-energy system

Abstract

The present invention relates to a ground circuit in a low-energy system, said ground circuit comprising a connection pipeline ( 3 ), collection pipe system ( 2 ) and a return pipeline ( 4 ) for circulating a transfer fluid. The ground circuit is utilized for transferring thermal energy recovered from its surroundings, for instance, to a heat pump ( 5 ) or the like. The present ground circuit collection pipe system ( 2 ) is characterized by consisting of a hollow profile ( 6 ) arranged to be a coil, whereby the hollow profile is connected at its first end to a connection pipeline ( 3 ) for conveying the transfer fluid along the hollow profile from the first coil end to the second, and at the second end of the coil the second end of the hollow profile is connected to the return pipeline ( 4 ) for conveying the transfer fluid from the hollow profile towards the place where used. At the opposite ends of this hollow profile there are advantageously arranged means for controlling the fluid flow provided therein.

1 .- 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A ground circuit in a low-energy system, the ground circuit comprising a connection pipeline ( 3 ), a collection pipe system ( 2 ) and a return pipeline ( 4 ) for circulating a transfer fluid, the ground circuit being arranged to be utilized in transferring energy recovered from its surroundings to a place where it is used,
 wherein the collection pipe system ( 2 ) consists of a hollow profile ( 6 ) arranged as coils having a substantially uniform cross sections, the coils forming a coiled double-walled pipe, the hollow profile ( 6 ) surrounding at least one flow space ( 11 ) formed in the collection pipe system ( 2 ) and the hollow profile ( 6 ) being connected at a first end to the connection pipeline ( 3 ) in order to convey the transfer fluid along the hollow profile from a first end of the coiled double-walled pipe to a second end of the coiled double-walled pipe,   wherein at the second end of the coiled double-walled pipe, a second end of the hollow profile is connected to the return pipeline ( 4 ) and is configured to convey the transfer fluid from the hollow profile towards a place where it is used, opposite ends of the hollow profile comprising mechanisms configured to control flow of the transfer fluid provided therein,   wherein the collection pipe system ( 2 ) further comprises at least one additional coiled pipe of a different cross section than the coiled double walled pipe, the coiled pipes being arranged in a nested and substantially concentric manner such that the coiled pipes form between them separate flow spaces ( 11 ), and the innermost pipe cavity forms a flow space, the flow spaces extending throughout a length of the collection pipe system, whereby both an outer surface and an inner surface provided by the hollow profile ( 6 ) of each coiled pipe is arranged to be in contact with a surrounding, energy-containing source material to be flowed through the flow spaces ( 11 ) of the collection pipe system ( 2 ), and   wherein the collection pipe system ( 2 ) further comprises a substantially vertical head pipe portion ( 22 ) configured to convey a substantially steady flow of the energy-containing source material into at least one flow space ( 11 ) defined inside the ground circuit.   
     
     
         26 . The ground circuit of  claim 25 , wherein the coiled, double-walled pipe comprises at an end opposite to the head pipe portion ( 22 ), a substantially vertical end well ( 23 ) for equalizing the flow pressure in at least one flow space ( 11 ). 
     
     
         27 . The ground circuit of  claim 25 , wherein the ground circuit comprises a pump ( 15 ) for maintaining flow in the flow space ( 11 ). 
     
     
         28 . The ground circuit of  claim 25 , wherein the collection pipe system ( 2 ) of the ground circuit comprises successively arranged pipes, the collection pipe system being connected to the common connection and return pipelines ( 3 ,  4 ). 
     
     
         29 . The ground circuit of  claim 25 , wherein the collection pipe system ( 2 ) of the ground circuit comprises pipes arranged in juxtaposition, and the obtained thermal energy collection field being connected to the common connection and return pipelines ( 3 ,  4 ). 
     
     
         30 . A ground circuit in a low-energy system, the ground circuit comprising a connection pipeline ( 3 ), a collection pipe system ( 2 ) and a return pipeline ( 4 ) for circulating a transfer fluid, the ground circuit being arranged to be utilized in transferring energy recovered from its surroundings to a place where it is used,
 wherein the collection pipe system ( 2 ) of the ground circuit consists of a hollow profile ( 6 ) arranged as coils having substantially uniform cross sections, the coils forming a coiled double-walled pipe, the hollow profile ( 6 ) surrounding at least one flow space ( 11 ) formed in the collection pipe system ( 2 ) and the hollow profile ( 6 ) being connected at a first end to the connection pipeline ( 3 ) in order to convey the transfer fluid along the hollow pipe from a first end of the coiled pipe to a second end of the coiled pipe,   wherein at the second end of the coiled pipe, a second end of the hollow profile is connected to the return pipeline ( 4 ) and is configured to convey the transfer fluid from the hollow profile towards a place where it is used, opposite ends of the hollow profile comprising mechanisms configured to control flow of the transfer fluid provided therein, and   wherein successive rounds of the hollow profile ( 6 ) of the coiled pipe are separated from one another by a flat bar ( 9 ) arranged therebetween, the flat bar ( 9 ) comprising holes ( 12 ) configured to convey a filler into the flow space ( 11 ) of the coiled pipe.   
     
     
         31 . The ground circuit of  claim 30 , wherein the collection pipe system ( 2 ) of the ground circuit comprises successively arranged pipes, the collection pipe system being connected to common connection and return pipelines ( 3 ,  4 ). 
     
     
         32 . The ground circuit of  claim 31 , wherein the collection pipe system ( 2 ) of the ground circuit comprises pipes arranged in juxtaposition, and wherein an obtained thermal energy collection field is connected to the common connection and return pipelines ( 3 ,  4 ). 
     
     
         33 . A method for recovering energy in a ground circuit in a low-energy system, the ground circuit comprising a connection pipe ( 3 ), collection pipe system ( 2 ) and a return pipeline ( 4 ) for circulating a transfer fluid and for recovering energy, a flow of the transfer fluid being provided in the ground circuit for transferring the energy to a place where it used, the method comprising the steps of:
 forming the collection pipe system ( 2 ) from a hollow profile ( 6 ) by coiling the hollow profile into at least one coil, the coil forming a coiled double-walled pipe having a substantially uniform cross section and the hollow profile ( 6 ) surrounding at least one flow space ( 11 ) formed in the collection pipe system;   conveying the transfer fluid along the hollow profile from the connection pipe ( 3 ) from a first end of the coiled pipe to a second end of the coiled pipe, a second end of the hollow profile being connected to the return pipeline ( 4 ) in order to control the flow of the transfer fluid further to a place where it is used;   arranging an outer surface of the collection pipe system ( 2 ) to be in contact with a surrounding source material containing thermal energy such that the thermal energy is transferred to the transfer fluid circulating in the coiled double-walled pipe substantially throughout the outer surface of the collection pipe system;   forming at least one additional coiled pipe of a different cross section than the coiled double-walled pipe;   arranging the coiled pipes in a nested and substantially concentric manner such that the coiled pipes form between them separate flow spaces ( 11 ), the innermost pipe cavity forming a flow space, the flow spaces extending throughout a length of the collection pipe system;   arranging both an outer surface and an inner surface of each hollow profile ( 6 ) of each coiled pipe to be in contact with the surrounding, energy-containing source material by conveying the flow of the transfer fluid through the flow spaces ( 11 ) of the collection pipe system ( 2 ), and   distributing the flow of the transfer fluid into the flow spaces ( 11 ) is by conveying the transfer fluid into a head pipe ( 22 ) interconnecting the flow spaces.   
     
     
         34 . The method for recovering energy in accordance with  claim 33 , wherein loops of the hollow profile ( 6 ) of the coiled pipe are interconnected by arranging flat bars ( 9 ) therebetween. 
     
     
         35 . The method for recovering energy in accordance with  claim 33 , wherein a pressure of the transfer fluid flow in the flow spaces ( 11 ) is stabilized by conveying the transfer fluid after the flow spaces to a common end well ( 23 ) connected thereto. 
     
     
         36 . The method for recovering energy in accordance with  claim 33 , wherein the ground circuit is formed to comprise at least two collection pipe systems ( 2 ) arranged in juxtaposition. 
     
     
         37 . The method for recovering energy in accordance with  claim 33 , wherein the ground circuit is formed to comprise at least two collection pipe systems ( 2 ) arranged successively.