GEO-COOL: Hybrid foundation and cooling system for heat-intensive infrastructure buildings (data centers and energy storage facilities)
The GEO-COOL system addresses the inefficiencies of conventional cooling in high-tech facilities by using thermally activated injection anchors to dissipate heat into the subsurface, achieving efficient space use, reduced energy consumption, and lower costs.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- DE · DE
- Patent Type
- Utility models
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2026-02-04
- Publication Date
- 2026-04-09
AI Technical Summary
High-tech facilities like data centers and battery storage systems generate significant waste heat, requiring continuous cooling that is energy-intensive and noisy, and conventional cooling methods are inefficient and costly.
The GEO-COOL system uses thermally activated injection anchors with a double-pipe design and optimized drilling trajectories to dissipate heat into the subsurface, combining load-bearing and cooling functions, with dynamic flow control to maintain temperature differences and avoid thermal hotspots.
The system achieves efficient space utilization, reduced energy consumption, and lower construction costs by integrating cooling with load-bearing foundations, while maintaining environmental compliance.
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Abstract
Description
1. Technical field
[0001] The invention relates to a structural engineering system (referred to as "GEO-COOL") for the simultaneous static foundation and thermal conditioning of heat-intensive technical systems. Areas of application include, in particular, data centers, server farms, and stationary electrical energy storage systems (BESS). 2. State of the art
[0002] High-tech facilities generate significant amounts of waste heat during operation. Data centers require continuous cooling due to increasing power density; battery storage systems generate process heat during charging cycles. These structures are typically built on conventional pile or slab foundations. Cooling is provided separately by air-cooled systems (chillers), resulting in high energy consumption, maintenance costs, and noise pollution. 3. Problem statement
[0003] The invention is based on the objective of providing an integrated system that safely carries away static loads and simultaneously dissipates process heat into the subsurface with high efficiency, overcoming local space limitations at the surface through optimized development of the earth volume. Solution 4: The GEO-COOL System
[0004] The problem is solved according to the invention by the GEO-COOL principle, which uses thermally activated injection anchors (micropiles) in a specific geometry.
[0005] Key features: • Fan geometry: The anchors are inserted radially spread below the building structure. This allows the anchor heads to be positioned close together at the surface, saving space, while maximizing the thermal utilization of the soil volume at depth. • Variable drilling trajectory (radius drilling): The injection anchors can be installed in a straight line or with a curved section (radius or "banana" trajectory). This allows obstacles to be bypassed and an even greater spreading of the thermal zones in the target layer. • Coaxial principle: The anchors are designed as a double-pipe system. An outer pipe (preferably made of steel) serves to transfer the load and for primary heat exchange with the ground. An inserted inner pipe (preferably made of insulated plastic) returns the medium to minimize thermal short-circuiting within the anchor. • Dynamic flow control: The system is optimized for high flow rates (High-Flow) to keep the temperature difference (Delta T) between supply and return low, thus avoiding thermal hotspots in the soil and biological fouling. 5. Functionality in different soil types • Scenario A (Water-bearing strata): The system utilizes groundwater advection. The heat is transported away as a "heat plume". The fan-shaped arrangement prevents the anchors from thermally influencing each other. • Scenario B (clay / sand - dry): Here, the system acts as a geothermal heat storage system. The large surface area of the splayed anchors utilizes the heat capacity of the soil as a buffer. • Scenario C (Rock): The injection anchors are force-fitted into the rock by grout, with the grout acting as an efficient heat conductor. 6. Example of implementation
[0006] A module of a technical system (e.g., a data center or storage facility) is erected on a foundation block. Several injection anchors extend from this block in a fan-like pattern into the subsoil. A cooling medium circulates through the injection anchors. A control unit regulates the flow rate to ensure that a defined temperature limit in the surrounding soil is not exceeded. 7. Benefits Achieved • Maximum space efficiency: Closer placement of containers through underground spreading of the cooling zones. • Environmental compatibility: Compliance with temperature limits in groundwater through a high-flow strategy. • Investment protection: Dual use of foundation elements reduces construction costs (CAPEX). • Sustainability: Massive reduction in electricity consumption for cooling (OPEX). Reference symbol list 1. Building to be cooled / heat load (e.g., battery container or server room) 2 Foundation / Foundation slab 3 injection anchors (arranged in a fan shape, foundation elements) 4 Flow direction of the cooling medium (supply / return) 5 Groundwater-bearing layer / Thermal contact zone 6 Outer tube of the injection anchor (load-bearing element, e.g. steel) 7 Inner tube (coaxial probe, e.g. insulated plastic tube)