Thermal storage system for use in connection with a thermal conductive wall structure

Abstract

There is described a thermal storage system for transferring and storing heat in the ground, the thermal storage system comprising pumping means configured to circulate a working fluid, a heat exchanger, a supply output, a length of pipe, a return inlet and a thermally conductive ground engaging footing such that the pumping means circulates the working fluid through the length of pipe allowing heat transfer between the ground and the working fluid, the thermally conductive ground engaging footing thermally communicating with the ground.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to thermal storage systems adapted to store energy in the ground, absorb the stored energy from the ground and transfer the stored energy into a thermally conductive wall structure.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONHeating and cooling buildings consumes a large amount of energy. This is particularly the case in climates where there is a great disparity between maximum summer and minimum winter temperatures, as in much of North America, where it is necessary that buildings are cooled in the summer and heated in the winter.Buildings are cooled and heated by a variety of means, including air conditioning units, electric heaters, wood stoves, forced air gas furnaces, and hot water or steam radiators. It is generally the case that a constant indoor temperature is desired depending on the external temperature. For example, room temperature (a temperature at which humans are generally accustomed for indoor living) is typically between 64-74° F. ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a thermal storage system for storing heat in the ground beneath a building such that the stored heat can be transferred to a thermally conductive ground engaging footing. Therefore, in at least one embodiment, the thermally conductive ground engaging footing can form the below grade foundation of a vertical wall structure that is contemplated to absorb the stored heat from the ground through the footing into the interior structure of the wall. This arrangement can reduce the heating costs of a building by raising the internal temperature of the vertical wall structure in the winter.

In at least one embodiment, the thermal storage system of the present invention can be used to cool the ground beneath a building by conducting heat from the vertical wall structure through a thermally conductive ground engaging footing into the ground. This arrangement can reduce the cooling costs of a building by lowering the internal temperature of the vertical wall structure in the summer.

Problems solved by technology

Heating and cooling buildings consumes a large amount of energy.

However, there has been a lack of construction technology specifically designed to take advantage of the fact that the ground surrounding and underlying a building can be used as a heat sink in the summer and a heat source in the winter.

Furthermore, there has also been a lack of construction technology adapted to store abundant heat energy in the summer for use as a heat source in the winter months.

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