398results about "Collector components/accessories" patented technology

System and methods for creating shaped, non-circular boreholes in rocks especially for use with geothermal heat pump applications and for increasing wellbore support in applications such as horizontal oil and gas drilling are described. The systems and methods when applied to geothermal heat pumps create an elliptical shaped hole that is optimized for placing heat transfer tubes with a minimum of grout used. The significantly reduced cross-sectional area of the elliptical borehole also increases the overall drilling rate in rock and especially in hard rocks. In horizontal hard-rock drilling, creation of a horizontal non-circular borehole or modification of a circular borehole to a non-circular geometry is used to stabilize the borehole prior to casing insertion, and may also allow the use of lower mud pressures improving drilling rates. The system uses a non-contacting drilling system which in one embodiment uses a supersonic flame jet drilling system with a movable nozzle that swings between pivot points. In a second embodiment the elliptical shaped hole is created by an abrasive fluid or particle bearing-fluid or air jet drill that moves between pivot points. In another embodiment a non-contacting drill can use dual parallel nutating nozzles that create a pair of overlapping circular holes. The non-circular shaped hole is created by either the high temperature flame or water-particle jet or chemically active fluid jet as it removes rock material by erosion, dissolution and or thermal spalling. Modifications of circular boreholes to a generally elliptical shape can also be done using milling or jetting techniques.

An earth energy loop transfer system with a moving energy transfer fluid, the system for transferring energy for an entity, the system having means for measuring an amount of energy transferred for the entity to or from the moving energy transfer fluid, and means for invoicing the entity for the amount of energy transferred. The system including means for calculating a price for the amount of energy transferred, said invoicing based on said price. The system including means for transmitting a signal indicative of a measured amount of energy transferred from the means for measuring to the means 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.

System and methods for creating shaped, non-circular boreholes in rocks especially for use with geothermal heat pump applications and for increasing wellbore support in applications such as horizontal oil and gas drilling are described. The systems and methods when applied to geothermal heat pumps create an elliptical shaped hole that is optimized for placing heat transfer tubes with a minimum of grout used. The significantly reduced cross-sectional area of the elliptical borehole also increases the overall drilling rate in rock and especially in hard rocks. In horizontal hard-rock drilling, creation of a horizontal non-circular borehole or modification of a circular borehole to a non-circular geometry is used to stabilize the borehole prior to casing insertion, and may also allow the use of lower mud pressures improving drilling rates. The system uses a non-contacting drilling system which in one embodiment uses a supersonic flame jet drilling system with a movable nozzle that swings between pivot points. In a second embodiment the elliptical shaped hole is created by an abrasive fluid or particle bearing-fluid or air jet drill that moves between pivot points. In another embodiment a non-contacting drill can use dual parallel nutating nozzles that create a pair of overlapping circular holes. The non-circular shaped hole is created by either the high temperature flame or water-particle jet or chemically active fluid jet as it removes rock material by erosion, dissolution and or thermal spalling. Modifications of circular boreholes to a generally elliptical shape can also be done using milling or jetting techniques.

A directional geothermal energy system and method helps to increase control in paths to be taken by geo-fluid flow through hot rock to create engineered geothermal reservoirs and networks to mine heat from hot rock resources. The system uses directional drilling techniques to create a spanning borehole extending between an injection borehole and a production borehole. The spanning borehole typically extends through hot rock for a distance on the order of kilometers to allow the geo-fluid flowing through the spanning borehole adequate transit time and surface contact to obtain sufficient heat given a certain flow rate for the geo-fluid. In some implementations, multiple injection boreholes can supply geo-fluid to a single production borehole. Individual geo-fluid networks can be so sized, shaped, and located with respect to one another to form a collection of geo-fluid networks to mine heat from very large hot rock resources.

The present invention relates to systems and methods of intelligently extracting heat from geothermal reservoirs. One geothermal well system includes at least one injection well extending to a subterranean formation and configured to inject a working fluid into the subterranean formation to generate a heated working fluid. At least one production well extends to the subterranean formation and produces the heated working fluid from the subterranean formation. A production zone defines a plurality of production sub-zones within the subterranean formation and provides fluid communication between the at least one injection well and the at least one production well. Each production sub-zone is selectively accessed in order to extract heated working fluid therefrom and thereby provide a steady supply of heated working fluid to the surface.

A method and system for drilling creating a wellbore which, in at least certain aspects, includes positioning a drilling apparatus at a desired location at the earth surface, the drilling apparatus having rotating and hammering apparatus for simultaneously rotating and hammering a dual tubular string into the earth, the dual tubular string with an outer casing string spaced apart by an annular space from an inner drill pipe string, both the outer casing and inner drill pipe string being hollow, a drill bit secured to a lowermost end of the inner drill pipe string and, optionally, a casing drill apparatus secured at a lowermost end of the casing string, drilling through the earth to form the wellbore by simultaneously rotating and hammering the dual tubular string with the drilling apparatus; and, in certain aspects, installing a geothermal heat loop and grouting the space around it.

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.

In one aspect of the invention a drill bit assembly has a body portion intermediate a shank portion and a working portion. The working portion has a recess with a side wall which is substantially coaxial with the shank portion. At least one cutting element is attached to the side wall and an indenting member is disposed within the closed end. In another aspect of the invention a method includes providing a drill bit assembly with a recess formed in a working portion of the assembly. The working portion has a plurality of cutting elements and the recess has at least one cutting element. The method further has steps of cutting a formation with the plurality of cutting elements and also of penetrating a conical profile of the formation which is formed by the recess.

A geothermal in-ground conduit system and a method of constructing and installing same are described. The system comprises at least one loop of flexible tubing adapted to convect a heat exchange liquid therein. The loop has a lower end section and opposed spaced-apart elongated side sections communicating with one another. The lower end section is retained in a soil penetrating head. The soil penetrating head has a leading soil penetrating and ramming face formation. A force transmitting shaft is engageable with the soil penetrating head for transmitting a pushing force against the soil penetrating head to displace same in the soil while pulling the loop and guiding the loop into the soil as the penetrating face forms passages for permanent burial of at least a major portion of the loop together with the soil penetrating head, or the soil penetrating head can be retracted.

A system and a method for operating the system is provided to optimize heat exchange between a geothermal loop and a heat pump load loop for heating and cooling a structure. In the method, the flow rate through the earth loop is adjusted based on current thermal demand of a heat pump array, so as to reduce the electrical demand of the earth loop circulator when thermal demand from the heat pump loop is low. The method adjusts the speed of the earthloop circulator as required for the operating conditions of the heat pumps and earth loop, thereby permitting efficient laminar flow whenever possible, as long as thermal demand is met.The system of this invention provides a compact module containing a suitable digital data receiver and controller programmed to receive temperature and flow data and to calculate the needed flow in each loop to meet the thermal demand of the heat pump or pumps, and to signal the earthloop pump, and optionally a load loop pump, to operate at the necessary flow speed. Specifically, if flow in the earth loop transitions from turbulent to laminar, this method insures that the current thermal demand of the heat pumps is met, and if not, increasing the earth loop circulator speed to deliver the current thermal demand of the heat pumps.

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.

Provided is a geothermal air conditioning system. The system includes a plurality of indoor units, at least one outdoor unit, a ground heat exchanger, and an auxiliary heat source. The plurality of indoor units condition indoor air, the at least one outdoor unit communicates with the indoor units via, a plurality of pipes, and includes an outdoor heat exchanger where heat exchange occurs, and a plurality of compressors for compressing coolant. The ground heat exchanger is connected with the outdoor heat exchanger of the outdoor unit, and laid under the ground to allow heat to be exchanged between ground heat and a circulating medium circulating through the ground heat exchanger. The auxiliary heat source is installed on one side of the outdoor unit to assist heat exchange of the outdoor heat exchanger.

Bottom members for a heat loop for an earth energy transfer system with a moving energy transfer fluid and heat loops with such a bottom member; the bottom member in one aspect including a body with a top surface and a bottom surface, the body configured for connection at a lower end of the heat loop, the bottom surface shaped to facilitate passage of the heat loop through a borehole extending down into the earth.

A renewable energy, single well, primarily self-flow, geothermal heat / power production system that acquires naturally occurring sub-surface geothermal heat to heat water and / or produce mechanical / electrical power using a heat exchangers or a turbine / generator. The sub-surface structures defining a working fluid flow path may be insulated, such as with vacuum insulation, to increase system efficiency and ensure a substantially self-generating working fluid flow.

Apparatus is provided having one or more SWEGS that may be configured to heat air in a draft power tower arrangement. In a closed loop, cold fluid may be pumped into the SWEGS and heated to a temperature in a range of e.g., 100° C.-300° C., and hot fluid pumped out of the SWEGS. This fluid flows through a heating element (e.g., a radiator or specially designed heat exchanger) that heats the air in the draft power tower arrangement.

The invention provides a system for adapting an HVAC system in an existing building for utilizing geothermal energy, the system comprising an incoming flux of geothermal energy; a plurality of heat exchange surfaces adapted to receive the incoming flux of geothermal energy; and an interface between the HVAC system and the heat exchange surfaces, said interface adapted to transfer the geothermal energy to the system. Also provided is a method for repairing aberrations in drill borings, the method comprising using a rotary mud drill system to produce a drill hole up to the location of the aberrations; removing the rotary mud drill from the drill hole; inserting an auger into the drill hole to a point directly above the location of the aberrations; actuating the auger; introducing loose substrate into the drill hole; allowing the substrate to contact the auger; and lifting and lowering the auger along longitudinally extending regions of the drill hole defining the aberrations for a time and in substrate amounts sufficient to fill the aberrations. The invention also provides a system which facilitates rotating drill bits at an rpm which are multiples faster than their associated drill strings.

A system for adapting an HVAC system in an existing building for utilizing geothermal energy is described. The system uses an incoming flux of geothermal energy, along with a plurality of heat exchange surfaces adapted to receive the incoming flux of geothermal energy. The system also includes an interface between the HVAC system and the heat exchange surfaces. The interface is adapted to transfer the geothermal energy to the system. A multiplier sub for a drill rig and several drilling assemblies are also described, along with a system to reduce vibration.

The present invention features geothermal systems that use of a well field open loop scheme by interconnecting the well field through a system of mains and controlled branches, the latter composed of multiple (2-5) wells. The proposed design lends itself to the use of modular well field kits that minimize installation cost, insures equal return water distribution to the active wells, creates standardization and insures best practices. The benefits of individual branch control include the ability to serve the building load in staged delivery, thereby minimizing well field parasitic load, and maximizing the time available for well field thermal relaxation and availability.

A subterranean ground heat exchange system, a method of installation, and a grout composition therefor. The grout composition is a pumpable slurry formed of from about 70 to about 85 parts by weight natural flake graphite and from about 30 to about 15 parts by weight bentonite. The solids content of the pumpable grout slurry is preferably at least 35% by weight and is more preferably at least 40% by weight. The ground exchange apparatus preferably utilizes an improved supply and return header comprised of supply and return ports which are provided through the vertically extending outer wall of a header housing. The header also includes an interior supply conduit which extends from the supply port into the interior of the header housing and includes a bend positioned in the interior of the housing for directing the heat transfer fluid downwardly.

Provided is an air conditioning system using ground heat. The system includes one or more indoor units, at least one outdoor unit, a ground heat exchanger, and a plurality of auxiliary heat sources. The one or more indoor units condition indoor air. The at least one outdoor unit communicates with the indoor units via a plurality of pipes, and includes an outdoor heat exchanger where heat exchange occurs. The ground heat exchanger is connected with the outdoor heat exchanger of the outdoor unit, and laid under the ground to allow heat to be exchanged between ground heat and a circulating medium circulating through the ground heat exchanger. The plurality of auxiliary heat sources are installed on one side of the outdoor unit to assist heat exchange of the outdoor heat exchanger. Two or more auxiliary heat sources are simultaneously used, or one of them is selectively used.

Bottom members for a heat loop for an earth energy transfer system with a moving energy transfer fluid and heat loops with such a bottom member; the bottom member in one aspect including a body with a top surface and a bottom surface, the body configured for connection at a lower end of the heat loop, the bottom surface shaped to facilitate passage of the heat loop through a borehole extending down into the earth.

A method for installing a heat exchange pipe loop in a borehole, the method in at least certain aspects, including drilling a borehole with a sonic drill system having a head and casing connected thereto, a drill shoe on a lower end of the casing movable by the sonic drill head to drill the borehole, pumping fluid (e.g., water and drilling fluid) into the casing, out through a lower end of the casing, and up to earth surface in an annular space in the borehole so that drilled material flows to the earth surface, lowering a heat exchange pipe loop down into the casing, introducing grout into the casing around the heat exchange pipe loop, and extracting the casing from the borehole.

The present invention features geothermal systems with improved control strategies for efficient operation of multiple geothermal wells. In many embodiments, each well in a geothermal system of the present invention is operated in cycles. Each cycle includes a heat exchange phase followed by a thermal recovery phase. During a heat exchange phase, the well is engaged in exchanging heat with a heat pump. During a thermal recovery phase, the well is kept inactive for establishing thermal equilibrium with the earth. On many occasions, the geothermal system simultaneously operates a group of wells in a heat exchange phase to serve the building HVAC load, while maintaining other wells inactive for thermal recovery. The switching between different operational stages is regulated for each well to improve the overall performance of the system while satisfying the building demand.

A control system manages and optimizes a geothermal electric generation system from one or more wells that individually produce heat. The control system includes heat sensors that measure temperature and fluid flow and are placed at critical points in the wells, in piping, in a hot fluid reservoir, in a cold fluid reservoir and in a cooling system. The control system also includes pump and valve controls, generator controls, a network for gathering information and delivering instructions, and a processing module that collects information and communicates control information to each component.

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.

A geothermal heating and cooling system is thermally coupleable to a ground coil formed from a thermal superconductor material. The system includes a heat intensification circuit, a thermal superconductor heat exchange coil and a thermal switch coupling the intensifying heat exchanger to the superconductor heat exchanger, and a thermostat controller connected to the thermal switch and intensifying heat exchanger. The system employs a high thermal transfer superconductor to efficiently move heat to and from the earth source for the purpose of heating and cooling. The system operates in cooling and heating modes by controlling the thermal switches and activating the heat intensification circuit in response to the difference between a set point and a measured temperature. Heat can be transferred to and from the superconductor heat exchange coil through various air and liquid exchange subsystems including fans, direct and indirect liquid heat exchange.