System for conditioning air of a building

Abstract

A system for conditioning air of a building that comprises a conduit buried in a soil proximate the building at a given depth such that a temperature of the soil at the given depth is different from an air temperature of an environment of the building. The conduit has a breathable wall in fluid communication with the soil. The system further comprises a forced air system in fluid communication with the conduit. The forced air system is operable to draw air from the soil across the breathable wall and along the conduit. The system defines a fluid flow path extending from the breathable wall toward the forced air system. A method of operating the system is also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for conditioning air of a building, the system comprising a conduit buried in a soil proximate the building at a given depth such that a temperature of the soil at the given depth is different than an air temperature of an environment of the building, the conduit having a breathable wall in fluid communication with the soil, the system further comprising a forced air system in fluid communication with the conduit, the forced air system operable to draw air from the soil across the breathable wall and along the conduit, the system defining a fluid flow path extending from the breathable wall toward the forced air system. 
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the forced air system has an outlet configured to be in fluid communication with an interior of the building. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the forced air system has an outlet fluidly connected to the environment of the building along the fluid flow path, the system further comprising a heat pump including a heat exchanger having a first conduit in fluid communication with the fluid flow path and a second conduit for circulating a heat transfer fluid, the first conduit in heat exchange relationship with the second conduit. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the breathable wall fluidly connects the conduit to the soil via a plurality of apertures extending from an inner surface of the breathable wall to an outer surface thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a plate buried in the soil and axially offset from the conduit along a vertical axis perpendicular to a surface of the soil. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a cross-section of the conduit taken across a longitudinal axis thereof has an area of about 340 square inches. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein a length of the conduit is about 40 feet. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the conduit has an open cross-section, the breathable wall being a porous medium disposed adjacent an open-side of the open cross section. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the porous medium is a geotextile fabric. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , including a network of conduits and the forced air system includes fans, each conduit of the network of conduits in fluid communication with a respective one of the fans of the forced air system. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a perforated conduit in the building proximate a roof of the building, the perforated conduit in fluid communication with the forced air system and with an interior of the building via apertures extending through a peripheral wall of the perforated conduit. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a distribution conduit in the building proximate a floor of the building, the distribution conduit having a breathable wall in fluid communication with the interior of the building; and   a first valve fluidly connected with the forced air system, the perforated conduit, and the distribution conduit, the first valve selectively fluidly connecting the forced air system with the perforated conduit or the distribution conduit.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a second conduit buried in the soil at a depth superior to the given depth, the second conduit having a breathable wall fluidly connected with the soil; and   a second valve fluidly connected with the forced air system, the conduit and the second conduit, the second valve selectively fluidly connecting the forced air system with the conduit or the second conduit, the forced air system located between the two valves.   
     
     
         14 . A method for operating a system, the method comprising:
 drawing air contained within a soil at a given depth such that a temperature of the soil at the given depth is different than an air temperature of an environment of a building; and   changing an air temperature of an interior of the building by exchanging heat between air of the interior of the building and air drawn from the soil.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising drawing air from the environment of the building in the soil at the given depth. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising mixing air drawn from the environment with air drawn from the soil. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein,
 if the temperature of the soil is inferior to the air temperature of the environment, changing the air temperature of the interior of the building comprises:
 injecting the air drawn from the soil in the interior of the building, or 
   if the temperature of the soil is superior to the air temperature of the environment, changing the air temperature of the interior of the building comprises:
 heating a heat transfer fluid by cooling the air drawn from the soil; and 
 after heating the heat transfer fluid, cooling the heat transfer fluid by heating the air of the interior of the building. 
   
     
     
         18 . A method of operating a system, the method comprising:
 during day time:
 drawing air located in a building proximate a roof thereof; and 
 storing roof air, drawn from the building, in the soil at a given depth such that a temperature of the soil at the given depth is different than an air temperature of an environment of a building, and 
   during night time:
 drawing air from the soil; and 
 injecting the air from the soil in the building for heating the building. 
   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein drawing the air from the soil comprises drawing the air from the soil at a depth inferior to the given depth. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein injecting the air from the soil further comprises injecting the air from the soil proximate a floor of the building.