Thermal gradient fluid header for multiple heating and cooling systems
First Claim
1. An apparatus for supplying heating and cooling in a facility, said apparatus comprising:
- an elongate thermal gradient header that contains a fluid at temperatures progressing from relatively high towards a first end of said elongate thermal gradient header to relatively low towards a second end of said elongate thermal gradient header; and
,a plurality of heating/cooling systems that circulate said fluid from said elongate thermal gradient header and that discharge said fluid back to said elongate thermal gradient header, said plurality of heating/cooling systems including;
at least one heating system that supplies heat from said elongate thermal gradient header to said facility, said at least one heating system in turn comprising;
at least one pump that circulates said fluid through said at least one heating system;
an intake in fluid communication with said elongate thermal gradient header at a location that is disposed towards said first end of said elongate thermal gradient header via which said fluid is drawn from said header by said at least one pump at a relatively higher temperature, andan outlet in fluid communication with said elongate thermal gradient header at a location that is disposed towards said second end of said elongate thermal gradient header via which said fluid is discharged to said header by said at least one pump at a relatively lower temperature; and
at least one cooling system that absorbs heat from said facility to said elongate thermal gradient header, said at least one cooling system in turn comprising;
at least one pump that circulates said fluid through said at least one cooling system;
an intake in fluid communication with said elongate thermal gradient header at a location that is disposed towards said second end of said elongated thermal gradient header via which said fluid is drawn by said at least one pump from said header at a relatively lower temperature; and
,an outlet in fluid communication with said elongate thermal gradient heater at a location disposed towards said first end of said elongate thermal gradient header via which said fluid is discharged to said header by said at least one pump at a relatively higher temperature.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and method for heating/cooling buildings and other facilities. An elongate pipe filled with water or other fluid medium forms a thermal gradient header having temperature zones that are progressively warmer towards one end and cooler towards the other. Multiple heating/cooling systems are connected to the header so as to draw fluid from zones that are closest in temperature to the optimal intake temperature of each system, and to discharge fluid back to the header at zones that are closest to the temperature to the optimal output temperature of each system, allowing each heating/cooling system to take advantage of the thermal output of other systems. The pipe forming the thermal gradient header may be routed back and forth in the facility to define a series of legs containing the different temperature zones. A boiler or other source may supply makeup heat to the thermal gradient header, and excess heat may be sent from the header to a ground field or other thermal reservoir for later use.
44 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An apparatus for supplying heating and cooling in a facility, said apparatus comprising:
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an elongate thermal gradient header that contains a fluid at temperatures progressing from relatively high towards a first end of said elongate thermal gradient header to relatively low towards a second end of said elongate thermal gradient header; and
,a plurality of heating/cooling systems that circulate said fluid from said elongate thermal gradient header and that discharge said fluid back to said elongate thermal gradient header, said plurality of heating/cooling systems including; at least one heating system that supplies heat from said elongate thermal gradient header to said facility, said at least one heating system in turn comprising; at least one pump that circulates said fluid through said at least one heating system; an intake in fluid communication with said elongate thermal gradient header at a location that is disposed towards said first end of said elongate thermal gradient header via which said fluid is drawn from said header by said at least one pump at a relatively higher temperature, and an outlet in fluid communication with said elongate thermal gradient header at a location that is disposed towards said second end of said elongate thermal gradient header via which said fluid is discharged to said header by said at least one pump at a relatively lower temperature; and at least one cooling system that absorbs heat from said facility to said elongate thermal gradient header, said at least one cooling system in turn comprising; at least one pump that circulates said fluid through said at least one cooling system; an intake in fluid communication with said elongate thermal gradient header at a location that is disposed towards said second end of said elongated thermal gradient header via which said fluid is drawn by said at least one pump from said header at a relatively lower temperature; and
,an outlet in fluid communication with said elongate thermal gradient heater at a location disposed towards said first end of said elongate thermal gradient header via which said fluid is discharged to said header by said at least one pump at a relatively higher temperature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for supplying heating and cooling in a facility, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing an elongate thermal gradient header that contains a fluid at temperatures progressing from relatively high towards a first end of said elongate thermal gradient header to relatively low towards a second end of said elongate thermal gradient header; and
,circulating said fluid from said elongate thermal gradient header to a plurality of heating/cooling systems and back to said elongate thermal gradient header, each of said heating/cooling systems comprising at least one pump that draws and discharges said fluid from and to said elongate thermal gradient header, the step of circulating said fluid including; drawing said fluid at a relatively higher temperature from said elongate thermal gradient header to a heating system that supplies heat from said header to said facility, via an intake in fluid communication with said elongate thermal gradient header at a location that is disposed towards said first end of said elongate thermal gradient header, and then discharging said fluid at a relatively lower temperature from said heating system to said elongate thermal gradient header, via an outlet in fluid communication with said elongate thermal gradient header at a location that is disposed towards said second end of said elongate thermal gradient header; and
,drawing said fluid at a relatively lower temperature from said elongate thermal gradient header to a cooling system that absorbs heat from said facility to said header, via an intake in fluid communication with said elongate thermal gradient header at a location that is disposed towards said second end of said elongate thermal gradient header, and then discharging said fluid at a relatively higher temperature from said cooling system to said elongate thermal gradient header, via an outlet in fluid communication with said elongate thermal gradient header at a location that is disposed towards said first end of said elongate thermal gradient header. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification