DIRECT EXCHANGE HEAT PUMP WITH GROUND PROBE OF IRON ANGLED AT 25 DEGREES OR LESS OR OTHER MATERIAL ANGLED AT 4 DEGREES OR LESS TO THE HORIZONTAL

• US 20140298843A1
• Filed: 04/08/2013
• Published: 10/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Latent Energy Transfer System, LLC
• Original Assignee: Latent Energy Transfer System, LLC
• Inventors: Burton, Terry, Gustafson, Larry
• Application Number:
  US13/858,451
• Publication Number:
  US 20140298843A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/238.7
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2005/0057 receiving heat-exchange fluid from a closed circuit in the ground
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 3/001 in which the air treatment in the central station takes place by means of a heat-pump or by means of a reversible cycle reversible cycle for humidifying and drying air F24F3/147
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 5/0046 using natural energy, e.g. solar energy, energy from the ground
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 30/06 characterised by the source of low potential heat
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/40 Geothermal heat-pumps
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/10 Efficient use of energy, e.g. using compressed air or pressurized fluid as energy carrier

Abstract

Disclosed is a ground probe heat pump system including a direct exchange heat exchanger installed in the earth at a nearly horizontal angle. The ground probe includes separate flow paths for a working fluid allowing the working fluid to directly exchange heat energy with the ground. Also disclosed are methods of installing multiple probes and heat pump systems in various arrangements separately or in conjunction with existing heating and cooling systems. Included are embodiments of the ground probe which are predominantly iron configured to be inserted through a below-ground level structure such as a basement wall by pounding or otherwise applying pressure to the ground probe.

Claims

1. A nearly horizontal ground probe heat pump, comprising:

a first heat exchanger;

a compressor;

a second heat exchanger including a probe having a first working end, the probe defining a first path and a separate second path coupled to one another near a second closed end positioned in the earth;

a working fluid; and

a closed loop including the first heat exchanger, the compressor and the second heat exchanger, the closed loop containing the working fluid;

wherein the probe is inclined from one half to four degrees below horizontal.

2. The ground probe heat pump of claim 1, wherein the first path is smaller than second path.

3. The ground probe heat pump of claim 2, wherein a ratio of a second size of the second path to a first size of the first path is between about 25 to 1 and about one and a half to one.

4. The ground probe heat pump of claim 1, wherein the second path is defined by a predominantly iron tube.

5. The ground probe heat pump of claim 3, wherein the predominantly iron tube is predominantly steel.

6. The ground probe heat pump of claim 1, wherein the first path has a substantially circular cross section.

7. The ground probe heat pump of claim 1, wherein the first path is defined by a first tube, and the second path is defined by a second tube and the first tube is positioned within the second tube.

8. The ground probe heat pump of claim 7, which additionally includes a standoff to space a major length of the first tube away from an inside wall of the second tube.

9. The ground probe heat pump of claim 7, wherein the first tube includes an insulative layer.

10. The ground probe heat pump of claim 1, wherein an outer surface of the closed second end is substantially perpendicular to a long axis of the probe.

11. The ground probe heat pump of claim 1, wherein the first working end is in a room of a building.

12. The ground probe heat pump of claim 11, wherein the room is a basement room.

13. The ground probe heat pump of claim 11, wherein the room is a crawl space.

14. The ground probe heat pump of claim 1, wherein the compressor and the first working end are mounted on a bracket.

15. The ground probe heat pump of claim 1, wherein the working fluid is any one of R-22, R-22A, R-134A, or R-410A.

16. A predominantly iron ground probe heat pump, comprising:

a first heat exchanger;

a compressor;

a second heat exchanger including a predominantly iron probe having a first working end, the probe defining a first path and a separate second path coupled to one another near a second closed end positioned in the earth;

a working fluid; and

a closed loop including the first heat exchanger, the compressor and the second heat exchanger, the closed loop containing the working fluid;

wherein the probe is 25 degrees or less from horizontal.

17. The ground probe heat pump of claim 16, wherein the first path is smaller than second path.

18. The ground probe heat pump of claim 17, wherein a ratio of a second size of the second path to a first size of the first path is between about 25 to 1 and about one and a half to one.

19. The ground probe heat pump of claim 16, wherein the predominantly iron probe is predominantly steel.

20. The ground probe heat pump of claim 16, wherein the first path is defined by a first tube, and the second path is defined by a second tube, and the first tube is positioned within the second tube.

21. The ground probe heat pump of claim 20, which additionally includes a standoff to space a major length of the first tube away from an inside wall of the second tube.

22. The ground probe heat pump of claim 20, wherein the first tube includes an insulative layer.

23. The ground probe heat pump of claim 16, wherein the first working end is in a room of a building.

24. A multiple ground probe heating and cooling system for a building, comprising:

three first heat exchangers positioned in the building;

three compressors;

three second heat exchangers, each second heat exchanger including a probe having a first working end, the probe defining a first path and a separate second path coupled to one another near a second closed end positioned in the earth; and

three separate closed loops including a corresponding first heat exchanger, compressor and second heat exchanger respectively, the three separate closed loops each containing a working fluid;

wherein the probe is 25 degrees or less from horizontal.

25. The ground probe heating system of claim 24, wherein the first path is defined by a predominantly iron tube.

26. The ground probe heating system of claim 25, wherein the predominantly iron tube is predominantly steel.

27. The ground probe heating system of claim 24, wherein the first working end is in a room of a building.

28. The ground probe heating system of claim 27, wherein the room is a basement room.

29. The ground probe heating system of claim 27, wherein the room is a crawl space.

30. The ground probe heating system of claim 27, wherein the three first heat exchangers are in a second room.

31. The ground probe heating system of claim 27, wherein one of the first heat exchangers is in the room, and one of the first heat exchangers is in a second room of the building.

32. The ground probe heating system of claim 27, wherein the three first heat exchangers are in a duct in the room.

33. The ground probe heating system of claim 24, wherein the compressors and the first working ends are mounted on brackets.