Collector

Abstract

The present invention relates to a single pipe collector for a heat pump installation. The collector comprises a pipe ( 12 ) intended for installation in a heat pump plant, in which pipe a heat transfer liquid circulates in a closed cycle for conveyance of heat that is absorbed from a heat source to a heat pump and return of the heat transfer liquid back to the heat source. The inward surface ( 14 ) of the pipe has an uneven surface structure that comprises indentations and/or elevations ( 16 ). The present invention also relates to heat pump plant comprising the collector.

1 .- 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . A single pipe collector for a geothermal heating system, the single pipe collector comprising:
 a polymer pipe configured to circulate a heat transfer liquid between a geothermal heat source and a heat pump, the polymer pipe having a center axis that is exclusive to the polymer pipe relative to a center axis of another section of the polymer pipe, and wherein the polymer pipe includes,
 an inner surface that includes a plurality of separate polymer indentations or elevations extending continuously in a longitudinal direction of the polymer pipe, wherein,
 the polymer indentations or elevations are configured to induce turbulent flow in a heat transfer liquid flowing through the polymer pipe, 
 each polymer indentation or elevation is spaced apart from adjacent indentations or elevations, 
 the polymer indentations or elevations extend helically in continuously alternating rotational directions in the longitudinal direction of the polymer pipe, such that the polymer indentations or elevations continuously alternate between extending helically in a common first rotational direction and extending helically in a common second rotational direction, 
 the second rotational direction is opposite to the first rotational direction, and 
 the polymer indentations or elevations continuously alternate between the common first rotational direction and the common second rotational direction at a common interval in the longitudinal direction. 
 
   
     
     
         9 . The single pipe collector according to  claim 8 , wherein the indentations or elevations are spaced apart substantially uniformly in the inner surface of the polymer pipe. 
     
     
         10 . The single pipe collector according to  claim 8 , wherein the polymer pipe has a substantially uniform cross-sectional area. 
     
     
         11 . The single pipe collector according to  claim 8 , wherein,
 the polymer indentations or elevations continuously alternate between extending helically according to a first angle and extending helically according to a second angle.   
     
     
         12 . The single pipe collector according to  claim 11 , wherein the first angle and the second angle are substantially equal relative to an axis that crosses the inner surface of the polymer pipe. 
     
     
         13 . The single pipe collector of  claim 8 , wherein the common interval is greater than 0 meters and less than 2 meters. 
     
     
         14 . The single pipe collector of  claim 13 , wherein the common interval is greater than 1 meter and less than 2 meters. 
     
     
         15 . A method for installing a geothermal heating system, the method comprising:
 drilling a bore hole from a ground level into an environment that includes a geothermal heat source;   extending a polymer pipe into the bore hole from the ground level to establish an energy well of the geothermal heating system, the energy well configured to circulate a heat transfer fluid through the polymer pipe in a closed cycle to convey geothermal heat from the geothermal heat source to a heat pump, the polymer pipe having a center axis that is exclusive to the polymer pipe relative to a center axis of another section of the polymer pipe, and wherein the polymer pipe includes,
 an inner surface that includes a plurality of separate polymer indentations or elevations extending continuously in a longitudinal direction of the polymer pipe, wherein,
 the polymer indentations or elevations are configured to induce turbulent flow in a heat transfer liquid flowing through the polymer pipe, 
 each polymer indentation or elevation is spaced apart from adjacent indentations or elevations, 
 the polymer indentations or elevations extend helically in continuously alternating rotational directions in the longitudinal direction of the polymer pipe, such that the polymer indentations or elevations continuously alternate between extending helically in a common first rotational direction and extending helically in a common second rotational direction, 
 the second rotational direction is opposite to the first rotational direction, and 
 the polymer indentations or elevations continuously alternate between the common first rotational direction and the common second rotational direction at a common interval in the longitudinal direction. 
 
   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 filling the bore hole with water, such that inserting the polymer pipe into the bore hole includes lowering the polymer pipe into the water.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the indentations or elevations are spaced apart substantially uniformly in the inner surface of the polymer pipe. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the polymer pipe has a substantially uniform cross-sectional area. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein,
 the polymer indentations or elevations continuously alternate between extending helically according to a first angle and extending helically according to a second angle.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the common interval is greater than 0 meters and less than 2 meters. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the common interval is greater than 1 meter and less than 2 meters. 
     
     
         22 . A method of operating a geothermal heating system, the method comprising:
 circulating a heat transfer fluid into a bore hole, through a first portion of a polymer pipe located within the bore hole, the bore hole extending into an environment that includes a geothermal heat source, such that geothermal heat is transferred from the geothermal heat source to the heat transfer fluid circulating through the polymer pipe; and   circulating the heat transfer fluid out of the bore hole and to a heat pump, through at least a second portion of the polymer pipe, such that the geothermal heat is conveyed to the heat pump by the heat transfer fluid;   wherein the polymer pipe includes,
 an inner surface that includes a plurality of separate polymer indentations or elevations extending continuously in a longitudinal direction of the polymer pipe, wherein,
 the polymer indentations or elevations are configured to induce turbulent flow in a heat transfer liquid flowing through the polymer pipe, 
 each polymer indentation or elevation is spaced apart from adjacent indentations or elevations, 
 the polymer indentations or elevations extend helically in continuously alternating rotational directions in the longitudinal direction of the polymer pipe, such that the polymer indentations or elevations continuously alternate between extending helically in a common first rotational direction and extending helically in a common second rotational direction, 
 the second rotational direction is opposite to the first rotational direction, and 
 the polymer indentations or elevations continuously alternate between the common first rotational direction and the common second rotational direction at a common interval in the longitudinal direction. 
 
   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein,
 the bore hole is at least partially filled with water, such that the geothermal heat is at least partially conveyed from the geothermal heat source to the heat transfer fluid circulating in the polymer pipe through the water in the bore hole.   
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein the indentations or elevations are spaced apart substantially uniformly in the inner surface of the polymer pipe. 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein,
 the polymer indentations or elevations continuously alternate between extending helically according to a first angle and extending helically according to a second angle.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the common interval is greater than 0 meters and less than 2 meters. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the common interval is greater than 1 meter and less than 2 meters.