Heat exchanger for use with earth-coupled air conditioning systems

Abstract

An air handling system that includes at least one earth-coupled heat exchanger assembly that further includes a first pipe section having an inner diameter and an outer diameter; a second pipe section concentrically surrounding a portion of the first pipe section, wherein the second pipe section includes an inner diameter and an outer diameter, wherein the outer diameter of the first pipe section and the inner diameter of the second pipe section define a space therebetween, and wherein the space between the first pipe section and the second pipe section is evacuated to form an insulating vacuum therein; and a third pipe section concentrically surrounding a portion of the second pipe section, wherein the third pipe section includes an inner diameter and an outer diameter, and wherein the outer diameter of the second pipe and the inner diameter of the third pipe section define a passageway therebetween.

1 . An air handling system, comprising:
 (a) at least one earth-coupled heat exchanger assembly, wherein the at least one earth-coupled heat exchanger assembly is adapted to be buried in the earth and includes:
 (i) a first pipe section, wherein the first pipe section includes an inner diameter and an outer diameter; 
 (ii) a heat-transfer reducing insulator that includes a second pipe section concentrically surrounding a portion of the first pipe section, wherein the second pipe section includes an inner diameter and an outer diameter, wherein the outer diameter of the first pipe section and the inner diameter of the second pipe section define a space therebetween, wherein the space between the first pipe section and the second pipe section is evacuated to form an insulating vacuum therein, and 
 (iii) a third pipe section concentrically surrounding a portion of the second pipe section, wherein the third pipe section includes an inner diameter and an outer diameter, and wherein the outer diameter of the second pipe and the inner diameter of the third pipe section define a passageway therebetween, 
 (iv) wherein the heat-transfer reducing insulator is operative to reduce heat transfer between the first pipe section and the third pipe section and improve efficiency of heat transfer between the third pipe section and the earth. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a gas expansion device connected to the first pipe section at the bottom portion thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a turbulence-inducing spiral structure disposed within the third pipe section. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a stabilizing spacer disposed within the third pipe section. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of individual liquid lines, wherein each line in the plurality of individual liquid lines is connected to the first pipe section of an earth-coupled heat exchanger assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , further comprising a solenoid valve connected to each individual liquid line upstream from each earth-coupled heat exchanger assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein each solenoid valve is connected to a manifold, wherein the manifold is connected to a single liquid line, and wherein the single liquid line is connected to the coil of an indoor air conditioning unit. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of hot gas suction lines, wherein each line in the plurality of hot gas suction lines is connected to the third pipe section of an earth-coupled heat exchanger assembly and is communication with the passageway formed between the outer diameter of the second pipe and the inner diameter of the third pipe section. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein each hot gas suction line is connected to a main hot gas suction line, and wherein the main hot gas suction line is connected to a compressor. 
     
     
         10 . An air handling system, comprising:
 (a) a plurality of earth-coupled heat exchanger assemblies, wherein each earth-coupled heat exchanger assembly in the plurality of earth-coupled heat exchanger assemblies is adapted to be buried in the earth and includes:
 (i) a first pipe section, wherein the first pipe section includes an inner diameter and an outer diameter; 
 (ii) a heat-transfer reducing insulator that includes a second pipe section concentrically surrounding a portion of the first pipe section, wherein the second pipe section includes an inner diameter and an outer diameter, wherein the outer diameter of the first pipe section and the inner diameter of the second pipe section define a space therebetween, and wherein the space between the first pipe section and the second pipe section is evacuated to form an insulating vacuum therein; and 
 (iii) a third pipe section concentrically surrounding a portion of the second pipe section, wherein the third pipe section includes an inner diameter and an outer diameter, and wherein the outer diameter of the second pipe and the inner diameter of the third pipe section define a passageway therebetween, wherein the heat-transfer reducing insulator is operative to reduce heat transfer between the first pipe section and the third pipe section and improve efficiency of heat transfer between the third pipe section and the earth; 
   (b) a plurality of individual liquid lines, wherein each line in the plurality of individual liquid lines is connected to the first pipe section of an earth-coupled heat exchanger assembly; and   (c) a plurality of hot gas suction lines, wherein each line in the plurality of hot gas suction lines is connected to the third pipe section of an earth-coupled heat exchanger assembly and is communication with the passageway formed between the outer diameter of the second pipe and the inner diameter of the third pipe section.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising a gas expansion device connected to the first pipe section at the bottom portion thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising a turbulence-inducing spiral structure disposed within the third pipe section. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising a stabilizing spacer disposed within the third pipe section. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising a solenoid valve connected to each individual liquid line upstream from each earth-coupled heat exchanger assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein each solenoid valve is connected to a manifold, wherein the manifold is connected to a single liquid line, and wherein the single liquid line is connected to the coil of an indoor air conditioning unit. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein each hot gas suction line is connected to a main hot gas suction line, and wherein the main hot gas suction line is connected to a compressor. 
     
     
         17 . An air handling system, comprising:
 (a) a plurality of earth-coupled heat exchanger assemblies, wherein each earth-coupled heat exchanger assembly in the plurality of earth-coupled heat exchanger assemblies is adapted to be buried in the earth and includes:
 (i) a first pipe section, wherein the first pipe section includes an inner diameter and an outer diameter, and wherein the first pipe section further includes a gas expansion device attached to the bottom portion thereof; 
 (ii) a heat-transfer reducing insulator that includes a second pipe section concentrically surrounding a portion of the first pipe section, wherein the second pipe section includes an inner diameter and an outer diameter, wherein the outer diameter of the first pipe section and the inner diameter of the second pipe section define a space therebetween, and wherein the space between the first pipe section and the second pipe section is evacuated to form an insulating vacuum therein; and 
 (iii) a third pipe section concentrically surrounding a portion of the second pipe section, wherein the third pipe section includes an inner diameter and an outer diameter, and wherein the outer diameter of the second pipe and the inner diameter of the third pipe section define a passageway therebetween, wherein the heat-transfer reducing insulator is operative to reduce heat transfer between the first pipe section and the third pipe section and improve efficiency of heat transfer between the third pipe section and the earth; 
   (b) a plurality of individual liquid lines, wherein each line in the plurality of individual liquid lines is connected to the first pipe section of an earth-coupled heat exchanger assembly at one end thereof and to a solenoid valve at the other end thereof, wherein each solenoid valve is connected to a manifold, wherein the manifold is connected to a main liquid line, and wherein the main liquid line is connected to the coil of an indoor air conditioning unit; and   (c) a plurality of hot gas suction lines, wherein each line in the plurality of hot gas suction lines is connected to the third pipe section of an earth-coupled heat exchanger assembly and is communication with the passageway formed between the outer diameter of the second pipe and the inner diameter of the third pipe section, wherein each hot gas suction line is connected to a main hot gas suction line, and wherein the main hot gas suction line is connected to a compressor.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising a turbulence-inducing spiral-shaped structure disposed within the third pipe section. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising a stabilizing spacer disposed within the third pipe section. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein each earth-coupled heat exchanger assembly is adapted to be operated separately from the other earth-coupled heat exchanger assemblies.