Energy systems

• US 6,585,036 B2
• Filed: 08/15/2001
• Issued: 07/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Enlink Geoenergy Services Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Enlink Geoenergy Services Incorporated
• Inventors: Johnson, Howard E. Jr., Amerman, Thomas R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bennett; Henry
• Assistant Examiner(s): McKinnon; Terrell L.
• Application Number:
  US09/930,385
• Publication Number:
  US 20020104643A1
• Time in Patent Office: 685 Days
• Field of Search: 165/45 166/57,302 73/152.13,152.33 374/136 62/260
• US Class Current: 165/45
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 23/00 Apparatus for displacing, setting, locking, releasing or removing tools, packers or the like in boreholes or wells setting of casings, screens or liners E21B43/10
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/13 Methods or devices for cementing, for plugging holes, crevices or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F24T 10/15 using bent tubes; using tubes assembled with connectors or with return headers
• CPC Class Codes: F24T 2010/56 Control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 30/06 characterised by the source of low potential heat
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 20/0052 using the ground body or aquifers as heat storage medium
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 27/00 Control arrangements or safety devices specially adapted for heat-exchange or heat-transfer apparatus control arrangements in general G05
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/10 Geothermal energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/14 Thermal energy storage

Abstract

An earth energy transfer system with a moving energy transfer fluid, the system for transferring energy for an entity, the system, in certain aspects, having apparatus and related items for measuring an amount of energy transferred for the entity to or from the moving energy transfer fluid, and apparatus and related items for invoicing the entity for the amount of energy transferred. The system, in certain aspects, including apparatus and related items for calculating a price for the amount of energy transferred, said invoicing based on said price. The system, in certain aspects, including apparatus and related items for transmitting a signal indicative of a measured amount of energy transferred from the apparatus and related items for measuring to the apparatus and related items for invoicing. Methods are disclosed for using such systems to measure and calculate an amount of energy transferred and/or to invoice an entity for the transferred energy.

Claims

1. An energy system with a moving energy transfer fluid, the system for transferring via the moving energy transfer fluid energy from the earth to a facility, the system including

an energy transfer system through which the moving energy transfer fluid moves to transfer energy from the earth to the facility,

measuring means for measuring an amount of energy transferred from the earth to the facility,

data means for collecting data from the measuring means,

interface means between the measuring means and data means for routing information between the data means and the measuring means,

at least one ground loop system, the moving energy transfer fluid moving through the at least one ground loop system,

the at least one ground loop system comprising an earth energy loop transfer system including a loop wellbore in the earth extending from an earth surface down into the earth to a bottom of the wellbore, a loop disposed in the loop wellbore and extending down to a position therein, the loop comprised of loop pipe, the loop having a fluid input end and a fluid output end, an input line in fluid communication with input end of the loop and in fluid communication with the facility, an output line in fluid communication with the output end of the loop and in fluid communication with the facility, and

means for invoicing an entity for the amount of energy transferred.

2. The energy system of claim 1 further comprising

communication means between the interface means and an internet system for communication between the interface means and the internet system.

3. The energy system of claim 1 further comprising

server means in communication with and between the data means and an internet system.

4. The energy system of claim 3 wherein the server means is able to receive information from the data means, interface means, and the measuring means.

5. The energy system of claim 3 wherein the server means provides communication via the internet system between a customer and the data means for the customer to query the data means regarding data therein.

6. The energy system of claim 1 wherein the data means is remote from the facility.

7. The energy system of claim 3 wherein the server means is remote from the facility.

8. The energy system of claim 1 further comprising

means for calculating a price for the amount of energy transferred, said invoicing based on said price.

9. The energy system of claim 1 further comprising

means for transmitting a signal indicative of a measured amount of energy transferred from the means for measuring to the means for invoicing.

10. The energy system of claim 1 wherein the means for invoicing is remote from the means for measuring.

11. The system of claim 1 further comprising

the means for invoicing including means for producing an invoice.

12. The energy system of claim 11 further comprising

the means for invoicing including means for sending the invoice to the entity.

13. An energy system with a moving energy transfer fluid, the system for transferring via the moving energy transfer fluid energy from the earth to a facility, the system including

an energy transfer system through which the moving energy transfer fluid moves to transfer energy from the earth to the facility,

measuring means for measuring an amount of energy transferred from the earth to the facility,

data means for collecting data from the measuring means,

interface means between the measuring means and data means for routing information between the data means and the measuring means, and

at least one ground loop system, the moving energy transfer fluid moving through the at least one ground loop system.

14. The energy system of claim 13 further comprising

communication means between the interface means and an internet system for communication between the interface means and the internet system.

15. The energy system of claim 13 further comprising

server means in communication with and between the data means and an internet system.

16. The energy system of claim 15 wherein the server means provides communication via the internet system between a customer and the data means for the customer to query the data means regarding data therein.

17. The energy system of claim 13 further comprising

means for invoicing an entity for the amount of energy transferred, and means for calculating a price for the amount of energy transferred, said invoicing based on said price.

18. The energy system of claim 17 further comprising

means for transmitting a signal indicative of a measured amount of energy transferred from the means for measuring to the means for invoicing.

19. The energy system of claim 17 wherein the means for invoicing and the the srver means are both remote from the means for measuring.

20. The system of claim 17 further comprising

the means for invoicing including means for producing an invoice,

and the means for invoicing including means for sending the invoice to the entity.