System and Method for Creating a Geothermal Roadway Utility with Alternative Energy Pumping Billing System

• US 20080154801A1
• Filed: 07/12/2007
• Published: 06/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Glouster Applications LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Genedics, LLC
• Inventors: Merritt, Edward, Fein, Gene S.
• Application Number:
  US11/777,040
• Publication Number:
  US 20080154801A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/412
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2016/003 solar power driven
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2016/006 wind power driven
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 11/26 Permanently installed heating or blowing devices specially for combating fog E01H; built-in melting devices for dislodged snow E01H5/102; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 3/02 having a plurality of rotors
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/25 the apparatus being an electrical generator F03D9/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/214 of the Musgrove or "H"-type
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/40 Use of a multiplicity of similar components
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/911 already existing for a prior purpose
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/9113 which is a roadway, rail track, or the like for recovering energy from moving vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/941 which is a land vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: F24T 10/10 with circulation of working fluids through underground channels, the working fluids not coming into direct contact with the ground
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/21 specially adapted for motorways, e.g. integrated with sound barriers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/10 Geothermal energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/728 Onshore wind turbines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/74 Wind turbines with rotation axis perpendicular to the wind direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/90 Energy harvesting concepts as power supply for auxiliaries' energy consumption, e.g. photovoltaic sun-roof

Abstract

Disclosed is a method and system for providing reporting and billing information in an installed energy roadway system tied in with a geothermal infrastructure. Newer alternative energy gathering systems will need state of the art reporting systems to generate accurate accounting, power distribution, efficiency, maintenance, billing and third party royalty information. The invention method provides at least one pump of a geothermal infrastructure. The at least one pump is electrically connected to a roadway system electricity grid. The invention method further tracks an amount of energy consumed by the least one pump and charging a consumer the amount of energy consumed by the at least one pump.

Claims

1. A computer billing system for an installed energy roadway system, the computer billing system comprising:

at least one pump of a geothermal infrastructure, the at least one pump being electrically connected to a roadway system electricity grid; and

a metering unit configured to track an amount of energy consumed by the at least one pump.

2. The computer billing system of claim 1 wherein the at least one pump is at least one heat exchanger.

3. The computer billing system of claim 2 wherein the at least one heat exchanger is at least one heat pump.

4. The computer billing system of claim 1 wherein the at least one pump is at least one pressure pump.

5. The computer billing system according to claim 1 further including a billing statement.

6. The computer billing system according to claim 5 wherein the billing statement includes charges based on the amount of energy consumed by the at least one pump.

7. The computer billing system according to claim 6 wherein the charges are on a per kilowatt hour.

8. The computer billing system according to claim 1 wherein the roadway system electricity grid includes:

a plurality of ground-based wind energy generating devices; and

one or more roads;

wherein each of substantially all of the ground-based wind energy generating devices is electrically connected to the roadway system electricity grid and positioned on part of one of the roads or near to one or more of the roads to thereby allow energy generation from wind created from passing vehicles in addition to energy generation from atmospheric wind.

9. The computer billing system according to claim 1 wherein the roadway system electricity grid includes a plurality of ground-based solar energy generating devices, wherein each of substantially all of the ground-based solar energy generating devices, independently, is electrically connected to the roadway system electricity grid and positioned on part of one of the roads or near to one or more of the roads.

10. The computer billing system according to claim 1 wherein the geothermal infrastructure includes:

at least one distribution flow line having a forward flow line for a first phase and a return flow line for a circulatory second phase;

one of a first end and a second end of the at least one distribution flow line configured to couple to any point along a main flow line, the other one of the first end and second end of the at least one distribution flow line configured to couple to a desired location;

the main flow line configured to be buried to a depth within a riparian body for converting the first and second phases; and

at least one anchor configured to secure the main flow line.

11. The computer billing system according to claim 10 wherein the geothermal infrastructure further including:

at least one switching mechanism configured to switch the main flow line from a closed position to an open position, in the open position, the main flow line is configured to;

receive a fluid at one end of the main flow line;

circulate the fluid through the main flow line and the at least one distribution flow line; and

exit the fluid at another end of the main flow line; and

in the closed position, the main flow line is configured to re-circulate the fluid through the main flow line and the at least one distribution flow line.

12. The computer billing system according to claim 11 wherein the at least one pump is at least one pressure pump, the at least one pressure pump is configured to transfer the fluid in the main flow line.

13. The computer billing system according to claim 11 wherein the at least one pump is at least one energy exchanger, the at least one energy exchanger is configured to provide circulatory flow in the at least one distribution flow line.

14. The computer billing system according to claim 13 wherein the at least one energy exchanger is at least one heat pump, the at least one heat pump includes:

at least one evaporator having a series of piping configured to connect to an air handler, the air handler configured to blow air and thereby the at least one evaporator absorbing heat from the air;

at least one condenser configured to condense the first phase to the second phase by transferring heat to cooler surrounding air, water, or earth;

at least one valve in communications with the at least one evaporator and the at least one condenser, the at least one valve configured to control a flow of the fluid; and

at least one compressor configured to increase pressure and temperature of the fluid, thereby causing the fluid to flow.

15. A computer implemented method for providing billing information in an installed energy roadway system, the method comprising:

providing at least one pump of a geothermal infrastructure, the at least one pump electrically connecting to a roadway system electricity grid; and

tracking an amount of energy consumed by the least one pump.

16. The computer implemented method according to claim 15 wherein providing the at least one pump of the geothermal infrastructure is providing at least one heat exchanger.

17. The computer implemented method according to claim 16 wherein the heat exchanger is at least one heat pump.

18. The computer implemented method according to claim 15 wherein providing the at least one pump of the geothermal infrastructure is providing at least one pressure pump.

19. The computer implemented method according to claim 15 wherein tracking the amount of energy consumed includes charging the amount of energy consumed by the at least one pump.

20. The computer implemented method according to claim 19 wherein charging the amount of energy consumed by the at least one pump on a per kilowatt hour.

21. The computer implemented method according to claim 15 wherein electrically connecting to the roadway system electricity grid includes:

generating energy using a plurality of energy generating devices, along one or more roads, the plurality of energy generating devices forming a roadway network of generated energy; and

distributing the generated energy using the roadway system electricity grid, wherein each of substantially all of the energy generating devices is electrically connected to the roadway system electricity grid and positioned on part of one of the roads or near to the one or more roads.

22. The computer implemented method according to claim 21 wherein the plurality of energy generating devices are solar generating devices, wind generating devices, and any combination thereof.

23. The computer implemented method according to claim 15 wherein providing the at least one pump of the geothermal infrastructure includes:

providing a circulation process for generating geothermal energy using at least one distribution flow line having a forward flow line for a first phase and a return flow line for a circulatory second phase;

coupling one of a first end and second end of the at least one distribution flow line to any point along a main flow line, the other one of the first end and second end of the at least one distribution flow line coupling to a desired location;

burying the main flow line for converting the first and second phases, the burying of the main flow line being to a depth of a riparian body;

distributing the geothermal generated energy; and

anchoring the main flow line.

24. The computer implemented method according to claim 23 wherein providing the at least one pump of the geothermal infrastructure further including:

switching the main flow line from a closed position to an open position, in the open position, the main flow line receiving a fluid at one end of the main flow line;

circulating the fluid through the main flow line and the at least one distribution flow line; and

exiting the fluid at another end of the main flow line; and

in the closed position, the main flow line re-circulating the fluid through the main flow line and the at least one distribution flow line.

25. The computer implemented method according to claim 23 wherein providing the at least one pump of the geothermal infrastructure further including:

regulating the flow of the fluid in the main flow line to the at least one distribution flow line; and

transferring the fluid in the main flow line using at least one pressure pump; and

connecting electrically the at least one pressure pump to the roadway system electricity grid.

26. A computer program product for providing reporting and billing information in an installed energy roadway system, comprising:

a computer useable medium having a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to;

track an amount of energy consumed by at least one pump of a geothermal infrastructure, the at least one pump is electrically connected to a roadway system electricity grid; and

charging an amount of energy consumed by the at least one pump.

27. The computer program product of claim 26, wherein the computer useable medium is any of a CD-ROM, floppy disk, tape, flash memory, system memory, and hard drive.