Apparatus and method for heating and/or cooling.
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional underground thermal energy storage systems suffer from inefficient thermal energy distribution and harvesting due to radial dissipation and unidirectional heat exchange, leading to reduced efficiency and wasted energy, especially in residential areas with multiple geothermal systems.
Innovation Solution
The system employs at least four holes arranged in concentric circles with a control gear managing a valve system to direct the heat carrier flow, prioritizing inner circles for heating when the carrier is warmer and outer circles for cooling when the carrier is cooler, ensuring thermal energy is replenished from the center and harvested from the periphery, minimizing thermal dissipation losses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If thermal energy is replenished into or harvested from all holes at the same time using conventional energy storages, then the system structure is simple, but thermal energy is dissipated radially away from the holes reducing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the ground into multiple zones by arranging holes along concentric circles, allowing selective heating or cooling of specific radial zones at different times. This segmentation prevents thermal energy from dissipating uniformly in all directions and enables targeted thermal management of different ground regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary heating or cooling of the ground in a sequential pattern from inner to outer circles (or vice versa). By pre-conditioning the ground in specific zones before harvesting thermal energy, the system ensures that thermal energy remains concentrated in the targeted zones rather than dissipating radially, thereby improving overall efficiency.
2Productivity
If geothermal systems are located close to one another in residential areas, then land use is efficient, but thermal energy distribution becomes unbalanced leading to reduced efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different thermal treatments to different spatial zones by controlling which concentric circle zones are heated or cooled at any given time. This local quality approach allows each zone to be optimized independently based on its specific thermal conditions, enabling the system to adapt to varying local conditions in residential areas with multiple geothermal systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the operational state of different hole zones based on real-time thermal conditions. By switching between heating and cooling modes for different concentric circles according to actual ground temperature measurements, the system adapts to changing local thermal conditions and maintains optimal productivity even in densely populated areas with multiple systems.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the heat carrier flows through all holes with the same temperature and flow rate, then the system operation is simple, but thermal energy is not optimally utilized leading to energy waste
Solution Approach 1:
The heat carrier flow is segmented into different pathways corresponding to different concentric circle zones. By directing the heat carrier through specific zones based on their thermal needs, the system optimizes energy utilization in each zone rather than uniformly distributing heat carrier flow, which would result in energy waste in already conditioned zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary assessment of ground thermal conditions in different zones and pre-determines the optimal heat carrier flow paths. By conditioning the ground in specific zones before heat carrier circulation, the system ensures maximum energy utilization when the heat carrier passes through those zones, avoiding energy waste in zones that do not require thermal treatment.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach significantly enhances the efficiency of thermal energy harvesting and storage by reducing peripheral losses and optimizing energy utilization, allowing a larger portion of replenished energy to be usable during harvesting, compared to conventional systems.
Implementation Method 1
During this passage, a thermal interchange of heat with the ground is conducted, so that the heat carrier either emits or receives thermal energy or coldness to or from the ground surrounding the hole
Implementation Method 2
a control gear is arranged to control a valve system, which is arranged to direct the heat carrier to holes that are arranged along one circle
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
Method for storing thermal energy in, and recapturing thermal energy from, respectively, an underground energy storage (1) , comprising at least four holes (2) , through which a heat carrier is transported and therewith heating or cooling the ground (3) , respectively. The invention is characterized in that the holes (2) are arranged essentially along at least two concentric circles (10, 11, 12) , in that a control gear is arranged to control a valve system, which is arranged to direct the heat carrier to holes that are arranged along one circle and thereby heating or cooling, respectively, the ground along said circle, in that when the temperature of the heat carrier is higher than that of the surrounding ground (3) , inner circles are heated before outer circles, and in that when the temperature of the heat carrier is lower than that of the surrounding ground (3) , outer circles are cooled before inner circles. The invention also relates to a device.