US20120285657A1 - Ground heat exchanger - Google Patents
Ground heat exchanger Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20120285657A1 US20120285657A1 US13/469,334 US201213469334A US2012285657A1 US 20120285657 A1 US20120285657 A1 US 20120285657A1 US 201213469334 A US201213469334 A US 201213469334A US 2012285657 A1 US2012285657 A1 US 2012285657A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- heat exchanger
- ground
- ground heat
- leg
- borehole
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24T—GEOTHERMAL COLLECTORS; GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS
- F24T10/00—Geothermal collectors
- F24T10/10—Geothermal collectors with circulation of working fluids through underground channels, the working fluids not coming into direct contact with the ground
- F24T10/13—Geothermal collectors with circulation of working fluids through underground channels, the working fluids not coming into direct contact with the ground using tube assemblies suitable for insertion into boreholes in the ground, e.g. geothermal probes
- F24T10/15—Geothermal collectors with circulation of working fluids through underground channels, the working fluids not coming into direct contact with the ground using tube assemblies suitable for insertion into boreholes in the ground, e.g. geothermal probes using bent tubes; using tubes assembled with connectors or with return headers
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
- Y02E10/10—Geothermal energy
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Sustainable Development (AREA)
- Sustainable Energy (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Heat-Exchange Devices With Radiators And Conduit Assemblies (AREA)
Abstract
The invention relates to a ground heat exchanger to be positioned in a borehole (1) in the ground. The ground heat exchanger (2) comprises a flow leg (3) and a heat exchanger leg (4). Yet further the ground heat exchanger (2) comprises a refilling pipe (9) that is permanently attached to a lower part of the ground heat exchanger (2).
Description
- Under 35 USC 119, this application claims the benefit of the May 13, 2011 priority date of European Application No. 11166017.1, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
- The invention relates to a ground heat exchanger to be positioned in a borehole in the ground, the ground heat exchanger comprising a flow leg and a heat exchanger leg.
- Ground heat exchangers are used as heat transfer units in heating or cooling systems utilizing the ground as a heat source or as heat storage. In the heating systems the ground heat exchangers are used for collecting heat present in the ground and for conveying or carrying it for warming the building, for example. In the cooling systems the ground heat exchangers are used for conveying or carrying extra heat present in the building and for transferring it to the ground.
- A borehole is formed for the ground heat exchanger and the ground heat exchanger is positioned in the borehole. After the ground heat exchanger is positioned in the borehole the borehole is filled with grout or any other suitable refilling material. Document WO 2005/003648 discloses a solution wherein a ground heat exchanger is pushed into the borehole with a tremie pipe. The tremie pipe has a bottom opening through which grout is bumped into the borehole. It is very challenging to ensure that the borehole will be filled completely. For example ensuring that the tremie pipe would be positioned to a position low enough in the borehole is very challenging. If the tremie pipe is not in a low enough position there is a risk that the borehole will not be filled completely. It is also sometimes very difficult to assemble the tremie pipe with the ground heat exchanger and therefore the assembly may take a long time.
- An object of the present invention is to provide a new type of ground heat exchanger.
- The ground heat exchanger according to the invention is characterized in that the ground heat exchanger further comprises at least one refilling pipe that is permanently attached to a lower part of the ground heat exchanger.
- A ground heat exchanger intended to be positioned in a borehole in the ground comprises a flow leg and a heat exchanger leg. The ground heat exchanger further comprises a refilling pipe that is permanently attached to a lower part of the ground heat exchanger. The solution provides the advantages that the borehole will be refilled reliably. The refilling step is fast, certain and reliable. The refilling step requires no additional steps for mounting a refilling pipe.
- In the following, the invention will be described in greater detail by means of preferred embodiments with reference to the attached drawings, in which
-
FIG. 1 shows schematically a side view of a ground heat exchanger. -
FIG. 1 shows partly in cross-section a side view of aground heat exchanger 2 positioned in aborehole 1. In the following, theground heat exchanger 2 may also be called anexchanger 2. Theexchanger 2 comprises aflow leg 3, aheat exchanger leg 4, anupper manifold 7 and a lower manifold 8. Theupper manifold 7 is positioned in the upper part of theborehole 1, and the lower manifold 8 is positioned at the bottom of theborehole 1. Theflow leg 3 extends from the upper part of theborehole 1 through theupper manifold 7 to the lower manifold 8. Theheat exchanger leg 4 comprises anoutlet pipe 5 extending upwards from theupper manifold 7 and a plurality ofheat exchanger pipes 6 between theupper manifold 7 and the lower manifold 8. The heat exchanger pipes surround theflow leg 3. The lower manifold 8 connects theflow leg 3 and theheat exchanger leg 4 together by dividing the heat transfer fluid flow in theflow leg 3 into smaller volume flows for theheat exchanger pipes 6. - The basic operation principle of the
ground heat exchanger 2 above is as follows. Theflow leg 3 forwards the flow of heat transfer fluid from an overground cooling system, which may be, for example, a heat pump, to theground heat exchanger 2, and especially to the lower manifold 8. The over-ground cooling system is not shown inFIG. 1 for the sake of clarity. The heat transfer fluid may be, for example, water or a mix of water and ethanol with a mixing ratio of 65/35%, for example. In the lower manifold 8 the flow of the heat transfer fluid flowing in theflow leg 3 is divided into smaller volume flows for theheat exchanger pipes 6. In theheat exchanger pipes 6 the heat transfer fluid flows upwards from the lower manifold 8 towards theupper manifold 7. In theupper manifold 7 the smaller volume flows of the heat transfer fluid are combined into one larger volume flow flowing in theoutlet pipe 5 of theheat exchanger leg 4 towards the overground heating system. The flow of the heat transfer fluid may be generated by one or more pumps, for example, which may be integrated inside the cooling system or separated from the actual cooling system. If theground heat exchanger 2 is used in connection with a heating system, the direction of the flow of the heat transfer fluid is opposite to that explained above. - When the heat transfer fluid flows in the
heat exchanger pipes 6, it either collects or receives heat from the ground or transfers or delivers heat to the ground. If the overground system is used for heating, the temperature of the heat transfer fluid flowing in theheat exchanger pipes 6 is quite low, whereby the temperature of the heat transfer fluid is lower than the ground temperature and the fluid has an ability to receive heat from the ground. If the overground system is used for cooling, the temperature of the heat transfer fluid flowing in theheat exchanger pipes 6 may be quite high, in any case higher than the ground temperature, whereby the heat transfer fluid delivers heat energy to the ground and cools down. - Further,
FIG. 1 shows only twoheat exchanger pipes 6 from the lower manifold 8 to theupper manifold 7 but in practice theground heat exchanger 2 comprises as manyheat exchanger pipes 6 as possible so that the surface area of the wall of theborehole 1 is covered by theheat exchanger pipes 6 as effectively as possible for maximizing the heat transfer ability of theground heat exchanger 2. - The
ground heat exchanger 2 further comprises arefilling pipe 9. The end of therefilling pipe 9 is permanently attached to a lower part of theground heat exchanger 2. Thus the lower end of therefilling pipe 9 is closer to the lower manifold 8 than theupper manifold 7. The distance between the lower end of therefilling pipe 9 and the upper end of the lower manifold 8 can be about 0.25-1 m, for example. - The
refilling pipe 9 is permanently attached to theflow leg 3. In the embodiment disclosed inFIG. 1 theflow leg 3 is the central pipe that is surrounded by theheat exchanger pipes 6 between the lower manifold 8 andupper manifold 7. A welding which is denoted byreference numeral 10 inFIG. 1 is an example of permanently attaching therefilling pipe 9 to theflow leg 3. Another example of permanent attaching means is gluing. Because therefilling pipe 9 is permanently attached, theground heat exchanger 2 comprises the refilling pipe already when it is transported to the assembly site. Thus there is no need to make any attaching operations or cumbersome assembly operations concerning the refilling pipe on site. - The
ground heat exchanger 2 comprises at least onerefilling pipe 9. It is also possible to provide theground heat exchanger 2 with two or more refilling pipes. If two or more refilling pipes are used, the lower end can be positioned at the same position or one ormore refilling pipes 9 can be positioned such that their lower end is in an upper position than the lowermost end of the lowest refilling pipe. In such a case the grout is first supplied to the refilling pipe that has its end at the lowermost position such that theborehole 1 is filled starting from its bottom end, whereby the borehole is filled completely and reliably. - The inner diameter of the
refilling pipe 9 depends on the length of theground heat exchanger 2. The inner diameter of therefilling pipe 9 can vary between 20 mm and 40 mm, for example, when the length of the ground heat exchanger varies from 50 m to 250 m, for example. - The material of the refilling pipe can be plastic, such as polyethylene PE or polypropylene PP, for example, or any other suitable material. The refilling
pipe 9 can also be flexible to some extent, whereby the refillingpipe 9 can also be called a re-filling hose. - The refilling
pipe 9 may have an optical marking such that it can be differentiated from the other pipes of theground heat exchanger 2. The refillingpipe 9 may have a different colour than the other pipes of theground heat exchanger 2. The refilling pipe can also have a colour line or text or figure pattern or a sticker that differentiates it from the other pipes of theground heat exchanger 2. - It is possible to attach the refilling pipe also to one or more of the
heat exchanger pipes 6. However, theflow leg 3 is larger than theheat exchanger pipes 6 and it is positioned in the middle of the ground heat exchanger. Therefore, attaching the refillingpipe 9 to theflow leg 3 is preferable. The refillingpipe 9 should not substantially enlarge the outer dimension of theground heat exchanger 2 because a larger outer dimension of theground heat exchanger 2 would require a larger diameter for theborehole 1. Therefore it is not preferable to attach the refillingpipe 9 outside thepipes 6 in theground heat exchanger 2. - The ground heat exchanger can also be formed such that it has a simple structure having a flow leg and a heat exchanger leg which form a U-shaped ground heat exchanger. In such a case there is no difference whether the refilling pipe is attached to the flow leg or the heat exchanger leg.
- In some cases the features set forth in this description may be used as such, irrespective of other features. On the other hand, features set forth in this description may be combined, where necessary, to provide various combinations.
- It will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that, as the technology advances, the inventive concept can be implemented in various ways. The invention and its embodiments are not limited to the examples described above but may vary within the scope of the claims.
Claims (6)
1. A ground heat exchanger to be positioned in a borehole in the ground,
the ground heat exchanger comprising a flow leg,
a heat exchanger leg, and
at least one refilling pipe that is permanently attached to a lower part of the ground heat exchanger.
2. Ground heat exchanger according to claim 1 , comprising an upper manifold and a lower manifold to be positioned at the bottom of the borehole, the flow leg extending from the upper part of the borehole to the lower manifold, the heat exchanger leg comprising an outlet pipe extending upwards from the upper manifold and a plurality of heat exchanger pipes between the upper manifold and the lower manifold, the lower manifold connecting the flow leg and the heat exchanger leg.
3. Ground heat exchanger according to claim 2 , wherein the refilling pipe is attached to the flow leg in a position between the upper manifold and the lower manifold.
4. Ground heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein the refilling pipe comprises an optical marking for differentiating it from other pipes of the ground heat exchanger.
5. Ground heat exchanger according to claim 2 , wherein the refilling pipe comprises an optical marking for differentiating it from other pipes of the ground heat exchanger.
6. Ground heat exchanger according to claim 3 , wherein the refilling pipe comprises an optical marking for differentiating it from other pipes of the ground heat exchanger.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP11166017.1 | 2011-05-13 | ||
EP11166017A EP2522930A1 (en) | 2011-05-13 | 2011-05-13 | Ground heat exchanger |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20120285657A1 true US20120285657A1 (en) | 2012-11-15 |
Family
ID=44786127
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US13/469,334 Abandoned US20120285657A1 (en) | 2011-05-13 | 2012-05-11 | Ground heat exchanger |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20120285657A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP2522930A1 (en) |
CA (1) | CA2776504A1 (en) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20120282032A1 (en) * | 2009-02-04 | 2012-11-08 | Alain Desmeules | Geothermal flexible conduit loop single pass installation system for dense soils and rock |
US20160223270A1 (en) * | 2014-11-19 | 2016-08-04 | University of Alaska Anchorage | Methods and systems to convert passive cooling to active cooling |
Citations (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4909323A (en) * | 1989-05-30 | 1990-03-20 | Hastings James E L | Grouting well pipe |
US5477912A (en) * | 1993-09-28 | 1995-12-26 | Aluminum Company Of America | Roll for use in a belt caster and an associated method |
US5630447A (en) * | 1995-10-06 | 1997-05-20 | Endot Industries, Inc. | Pipe for geothermal heating and cooling systems |
JP2001174073A (en) * | 1999-12-13 | 2001-06-29 | Akimi Suzawa | Embedding method for underground heat exchanger |
JP2003302108A (en) * | 2002-04-12 | 2003-10-24 | Misawa Kankyo Gijutsu Kk | U-tube type geothermal heat exchanger |
US6672371B1 (en) * | 1995-09-12 | 2004-01-06 | Enlink Geoenergy Services, Inc. | Earth heat exchange system |
US20040194914A1 (en) * | 1995-09-12 | 2004-10-07 | Johnson Howard E. | Bottom member and heat loops |
EP1865146A1 (en) * | 2006-06-07 | 2007-12-12 | Foralith Erdwärme AG | Packer for continuous sealing and closing of different ground water levels and artesian inflow in a borehole |
US20080289795A1 (en) * | 2007-05-25 | 2008-11-27 | James Hardin | Geothermal heat exchanger |
US20110203765A1 (en) * | 2010-02-23 | 2011-08-25 | Robert Jensen | Multipipe conduit for geothermal heating and cooling systems |
Family Cites Families (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2554661A (en) * | 1947-06-20 | 1951-05-29 | Drayer Hanson Inc | Apparatus for exchanging heat with subterranean regions |
US5372016A (en) * | 1993-02-08 | 1994-12-13 | Climate Master, Inc. | Ground source heat pump system comprising modular subterranean heat exchange units with multiple parallel secondary conduits |
US6955219B2 (en) | 2003-07-03 | 2005-10-18 | Enlink Geoenergy Services, Inc. | Earth loop installation with sonic drilling |
KR20080009844A (en) * | 2006-07-25 | 2008-01-30 | 정성진 | Ground coupled heat exchanger pipe with the spacing fillet |
-
2011
- 2011-05-13 EP EP11166017A patent/EP2522930A1/en not_active Withdrawn
-
2012
- 2012-05-09 CA CA2776504A patent/CA2776504A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2012-05-11 US US13/469,334 patent/US20120285657A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4909323A (en) * | 1989-05-30 | 1990-03-20 | Hastings James E L | Grouting well pipe |
US5477912A (en) * | 1993-09-28 | 1995-12-26 | Aluminum Company Of America | Roll for use in a belt caster and an associated method |
US6672371B1 (en) * | 1995-09-12 | 2004-01-06 | Enlink Geoenergy Services, Inc. | Earth heat exchange system |
US20040194914A1 (en) * | 1995-09-12 | 2004-10-07 | Johnson Howard E. | Bottom member and heat loops |
US5630447A (en) * | 1995-10-06 | 1997-05-20 | Endot Industries, Inc. | Pipe for geothermal heating and cooling systems |
JP2001174073A (en) * | 1999-12-13 | 2001-06-29 | Akimi Suzawa | Embedding method for underground heat exchanger |
JP2003302108A (en) * | 2002-04-12 | 2003-10-24 | Misawa Kankyo Gijutsu Kk | U-tube type geothermal heat exchanger |
EP1865146A1 (en) * | 2006-06-07 | 2007-12-12 | Foralith Erdwärme AG | Packer for continuous sealing and closing of different ground water levels and artesian inflow in a borehole |
US20080289795A1 (en) * | 2007-05-25 | 2008-11-27 | James Hardin | Geothermal heat exchanger |
US8511368B2 (en) * | 2007-05-25 | 2013-08-20 | James Hardin | Geothermal heat exchanger |
US20110203765A1 (en) * | 2010-02-23 | 2011-08-25 | Robert Jensen | Multipipe conduit for geothermal heating and cooling systems |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20120282032A1 (en) * | 2009-02-04 | 2012-11-08 | Alain Desmeules | Geothermal flexible conduit loop single pass installation system for dense soils and rock |
US9188368B2 (en) * | 2009-02-04 | 2015-11-17 | Brooke Erin Desantis | Geothermal flexible conduit loop single pass installation system for dense soils and rock |
US20160223270A1 (en) * | 2014-11-19 | 2016-08-04 | University of Alaska Anchorage | Methods and systems to convert passive cooling to active cooling |
US11555658B2 (en) * | 2014-11-19 | 2023-01-17 | University of Alaska Anchorage | Methods and systems to convert passive cooling to active cooling |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP2522930A1 (en) | 2012-11-14 |
CA2776504A1 (en) | 2012-11-13 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: UPONOR INNOVATION AB, SWEDEN Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:RUDOLF, JURGEN;REEL/FRAME:028501/0719 Effective date: 20120606 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |