Geothermal column

Abstract

An improved heat transfer column for geothermal heating and cooling in which refrigerant lines are wound in a spiral fashion about a vertically oriented support. The spiral tubing is surrounded by a flexible, semi-flexible, or rigid liner which is filled with water, the liner being positioned within a cavity in an earth mass. During operation, water within the tube rises and/or by convection and transfers heat evenly to the water within the liner for subsequent transfer to the earth mass. This heat is subsequently extracted from or rejected into the earth mass during a heat transfer cycle, and means is provided for transfer of a portion of the heat in the water to the ambient atmosphere.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A geothermal column, comprising:.
 at least one spirally wound refrigeration coil configured to communicate with a heat pump compressor;   a hollow tube having an outer wall of diameter substantially greater than that of said at least one spirally wound refrigeration coil and positioned so as to surround said at least one spirally wound refrigeration coil, said outer wall having a substantially rigid configuration such that said hollow tube maintains its shape; and   a support member configured to retain a shape of said at least one spirally wound refrigeration coil and maintain a centrally located position of said at least one spirally wound refrigeration coil within said hollow tube.   
     
     
         2 . The geothermal column of  claim 1  wherein the at least one spirally wound refrigeration coil is fabricated from copper tubing. 
     
     
         3 . The geothermal column of  claim 2  wherein the copper tubing has a diameter of from about ⅛ inch to about 1 inch. 
     
     
         4 . The geothermal column of  claim 1  wherein the at least one spirally wound refrigeration coil includes at least one loop oil trap in an upper portion of the refrigeration coil and a U-shaped oil trap in a lower portion of the refrigeration coil. 
     
     
         5 . The geothermal column of  claim 1  further comprising a top cap removably attached to an upper end of the hollow tube, wherein the top cap includes at least one fluid access port for providing fluid communication with the interior of the hollow tube, at least two coil access ports through which respective end portions of the at least one spirally wound refrigeration coil are disposed, and a lift support to provide an attachment for means to lift or lower the geothermal column. 
     
     
         6 . The geothermal column of  claim 1  further including a bottom cap fixedly attached to a bottom end of the hollow tube to provide a water tight seal. 
     
     
         7 . The geothermal column of  claim 1  wherein the support member comprises an axial column and at least one attachment means for securing the spirally wound refrigeration coil to the support member. 
     
     
         8 . The geothermal column of  claim 7  wherein the attachment means comprises a comb having openings through which the at least one spirally wound refrigeration coil is disposed for support. 
     
     
         9 . The geothermal column of  claim 8  further comprising at least one annular support disposed on an inner surface of the hollow tube and having an inner diameter spaced apart from ends of the radially extending fins. 
     
     
         10 . The geothermal column of  claim 1  wherein the at least one spirally wound refrigerant coil comprises two or more refrigerant coils, each having a respective inlet and outlet, each being disposed around an axial column of the support member and each having U-shaped oil trap at the lowest point in the geothermal column. 
     
     
         11 . The geothermal column of  claim 5  wherein the support member is attached to the top cap. 
     
     
         12 . The geothermal column of  claim 1  further comprising a non-antifreeze fluid disposed within the hollow tube. 
     
     
         13 . The geothermal column of  claim 16  wherein the non-antifreeze fluid is water. 
     
     
         14 . The geothermal column of  claim 1  further comprising a refrigerant fluid flowably disposed within the spirally wound refrigerant coil. 
     
     
         15 . The geothermal column of  claim 18  wherein the refrigerant fluid comprises a fluorocarbon, and optionally a lubricant oil. 
     
     
         16 . The geothermal column of  claim 15  wherein the refrigerant fluid further comprises a lubricant oil. 
     
     
         17 . A geothermal column, comprising:
 at least one spirally wound refrigeration coil configured to communicate with a heat pump compressor;   a hollow tube having an outer wall of diameter substantially greater than that of said at least one spirally wound refrigeration coil and positioned so as to surround said at least one spirally wound refrigeration coil, said outer wall being fabricated from a corrugated material; and   a support member configured to retain a shape of said at least one spirally wound refrigeration coil and maintain a centrally located position of said at least one spirally wound refrigeration coil within said hollow tube.   
     
     
         18 . The geothermal column of  claim 17  wherein the outer wall is flexible. 
     
     
         19 . The geothermal column of  claim 17  wherein the outer wall is rigid. 
     
     
         20 . A geothermal column, comprising:
 at least one spirally wound refrigeration coil configured to communicate with a heat pump compressor;   a hollow tube having an outer wall of diameter substantially greater than that of said at least one spirally wound refrigeration coil and positioned so as to surround said at least one spirally wound refrigeration coil, said outer wall being fabricated from a flexible material; and   a support member configured to retain a shape of said at least one spirally wound refrigeration coil and maintain a centrally located position of said at least one spirally wound refrigeration coil within said hollow tube.