Geothermal heating and cooling system

Abstract

A geothermal heating and cooling system that uses a water source to provide a heat transfer medium is provided. Elements of the system may include a water source, one or more circulation loops coupled to the water source, a heat exchanger and/or heat pump, and/or a monitoring component configured to monitor for conditions within the system, including leak integrity and water quality.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for geothermal heating and cooling, the system comprising:
 a water source;   a circulation loop coupled to the water source and passing proximate to a space to be heated or cooled, the circulation loop configured to circulate water from the water source;   a heat pump coupled to the circulation loop and configured to provide heat transfer between the water and the space to be heated or cooled; and   a monitoring component configured to monitor for at least one of:
 quality of the water, and 
 leak integrity of the circulation loop. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a first fluid coupling joined to the circulation loop and to the water source, the first fluid coupling configured to provide the water to the circulation loop from the water source. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a second fluid coupling joined to the circulation loop and to the water source, the second fluid coupling configured to return the water from the circulation loop to the water source. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , further comprising a third fluid coupling joined to the circulation loop and to a diffusion well, and a junction with at least one valve configured to selectively direct the water through the first fluid coupling or the second fluid coupling. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the monitoring component is configured to:
 extract a portion of the water from the circulation loop or from the water source at a location downstream of the circulation loop; and   test the water for at least one of:
 contaminants; and 
 biologics and pathogens. 
   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein monitoring the leak integrity of the circulation loop comprises monitoring for:
 pressure changes within the circulation loop using a pressure sensor coupled to the circulation loop; and   a presence of the water outside of an internal portion of the circulation loop through which the water travels using a fluid detection sensor coupled to the circulation loop.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one backflow preventer coupled to the circulation loop that prevents the water from reversing direction. 
     
     
         8 . A system for geothermal heating and cooling, the system comprising:
 a water source;   a heat exchanger;   a first circulation loop configured to circulate water from the water source through the heat exchanger and back to the water source;   a second circulation loop configured to circulate a heat exchange fluid through the heat exchanger and proximate to a space to be heated or cooled; and   a monitoring component configured to monitor for at least one of:
 quality of the water, and 
 leak integrity of at least one of the first circulation loop and the second circulation loop. 
   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising a first fluid coupling joined to the first circulation loop and to the water source, the first fluid coupling configured to provide the water to the first circulation loop from the water source. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising a second fluid coupling joined to the first circulation loop and to the water source, the second fluid coupling configured to return the water from the first circulation loop to the water source. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising a third fluid coupling joined to the first circulation loop and to a diffusion well, and a junction with at least one valve configured to selectively direct the water through the second fluid coupling or the third fluid coupling. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the monitoring component monitors the quality of the water, and is configured to:
 extract a portion of the water from the first circulation loop or from the water source at a location downstream of the first circulation loop; and   test the water for at least one of:
 contaminants; and 
 biologics and pathogens. 
   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the monitoring component monitors for leak integrity of at least one of the first circulation loop and the second circulation loop, and wherein the monitoring component is configured to detect a pressure change within the heat exchanger using a pressure sensor. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the monitoring component monitors for leak integrity of at least one of the first circulation loop and the second circulation loop, and wherein the monitoring component is configured to determine a presence of fluid in the heat exchanger using a fluid detection sensor. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the system further comprises a notification component and a flow control component,
 wherein the notification component is configured to send a signal when the monitoring component detects that the quality of the water is compromised or a leak is present in at least one of the first circulation loop and the second circulation loop, and   wherein the flow control component is configured to prevent the water from returning to the water source when the monitoring component detects that the water quality is compromised or the leak is present in at least one of the first circulation loop and the second circulation loop.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising at least one heat pump coupled to the second circulation loop for providing heat transfer between the heat exchange fluid and the space to be heated or cooled. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the heat exchanger is a double-walled heat exchanger, wherein the first circulation loop and the second circulation loop are separated by at least one air chamber in the double-walled heat exchanger, and wherein the monitoring component monitors for the leak integrity within the at least one air chamber. 
     
     
         18 . A heat exchanger for a geothermal heating and cooling system, the heat exchanger comprising:
 a first circulation loop;   a second circulation loop;   at least one air chamber between the first circulation loop and the second circulation loop; and   a monitoring component positioned in the at least one air chamber, the monitoring component configured to detect at least one of:
 a presence of fluid in the at least one air chamber, and 
 a change of pressure in the at least one air chamber. 
   
     
     
         19 . The heat exchanger of  claim 18 , wherein the heat exchanger is a plate-and-frame heat exchanger, wherein the first circulation loop comprises a first series of plates, and wherein the second circulation loop comprises a second series of plates in alternating configuration with the first series of plates. 
     
     
         20 . The heat exchanger of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one air chamber is pressurized, and wherein the monitoring component monitors for the change of pressure in the at least one air gap using at least one pressure sensor. 
     
     
         21 . The heat exchanger of  claim 18 , wherein the monitoring component monitors for the presence of fluid in the at least one air chamber using at least one of a humidity sensor and a fluid detection sensor. 
     
     
         22 . A method for geothermal heating and cooling, the method comprising:
 providing a water source;   providing a heat exchanger;   coupling a first circulation loop to the heat exchanger and to the water source;   coupling a second circulation loop to the heat exchanger and extending the second circulation loop proximate to a space to be heated or cooled;   coupling a heat pump to the second circulation loop for exchanging heat between a heat exchange fluid in the second circulation loop and the space to be heated or cooled; and   providing a monitoring component configured to monitor for at least one of:
 quality of the water, and 
 integrity of at least one of the first circulation loop and the second circulation loop. 
   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the monitoring component monitors the integrity of at least one of the first circulation loop and the second circulation loop using at least one of:
 a pressure sensor coupled to the heat exchanger; and   a fluid detection sensor coupled to the heat exchanger.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the monitoring component monitors the quality of the water, and wherein monitoring the quality of the water comprises monitoring for:
 changes in temperature;   a presence of contaminants; and   a presence of biologics and pathogens.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising providing a temperature sensor coupled to the water source downstream of the first circulation loop, and measuring changes in temperature of the water. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 coupling a junction comprising a valve to the first circulation loop;   coupling the junction to a diffusion well;   determining the integrity of at least one of the first circulation loop and the second circulation loop is compromised; and   operating the valve to divert at least a portion of the water in the first circulation loop to the diffusion well to prevent the at least a portion of the water from returning to the water source.