Ground-installed coldness storage and utilization system

• US 4,466,256 A
• Filed: 05/12/1982
• Issued: 08/21/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Calvin D. Maccracken
• Original Assignee: Calvin D. Maccracken
• Inventors: MacCracken, Calvin D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Makay, Albert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bennett, Henry
• Application Number:
  US06/377,667
• Time in Patent Office: 832 Days
• Field of Search: 62/260, 62/324.1, 62/238.6, 165/45, 126/400
• US Class Current: 62/260
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 5/0046 using natural energy, e.g. solar energy, energy from the ground
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 3/00 Devices using other cold materials; Devices using cold-storage bodies
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 20/0052 using the ground body or aquifers as heat storage medium
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/20 Solar thermal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/14 Thermal energy storage

Abstract

A ground-installed coolness storage and utilization system wherein a given volume of water-soaked soil is frozen by passing an air-chilled heat-exchange liquid through tubes buried in the soil, and thereafter on demand the heat-exchange liquid is conveyed out of the tubes buried in the frozen soil to cool a warmer medium such as ambient air in a building.

Claims

1. A method of storing and utilizing coolness in the ground wherein a pit is excavated and lined with a liquid-impermeable membrane and back-filled with water-permeable soil in which is buried tube means providing a heat-exchange flow path, said method comprising:

(a) permeating the back-filled soil with water to a level above the tube means and below upper ground surface,

(b) freezing the water-permeated back-filled soil into a frozen ground matrix around the tube means by pumping a sub-zero degrees centigrade heat exchange liquid through the tube means,

(c) thermally insulating the upper surface of the back-filled soil above said water level to allow for expansion as the frozen-ground matrix forms without disturbing the upper soil surface and to reduce heat transfer into the frozen matrix, and

(d) thereafter pumping said heat-exchange liquid on demand from the tube means buried within the frozen matrix into heat-exchange relation with a medium substantially warmer than sub-zero degrees centigrade so as to cool said medium.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the heat-exchange liquid is chilled by ambient air to a temperature below sub-zero degrees centigrade.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the heat-exchange liquid is chilled at least in part by a powered liquid source heat pump.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein said water level is established by running off excess water.