Supplemental heat transfer apparatus for geothermal systems
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Geothermal heat transfer systems for residential structures face challenges in finding stable temperature sources for efficient heating and cooling, and high installation costs, particularly in integrating supplemental heat transfer systems effectively.
Innovation Solution
Integration of a pressure sewer wastewater discharge system with a geothermal loop, utilizing the wastewater's stable temperature for enhanced heat transfer and reducing installation costs by combining installations during initial geothermal system setup, with additional geothermal loop pipes installed horizontally to boost thermal capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a geothermal heat transfer system is installed separately from the wastewater discharge system, then the geothermal system can be installed, but installation costs increase due to separate excavation and installation processes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the geothermal loop installation with the wastewater discharge system installation by placing the geothermal loop pipes within the wastewater discharge conduit. This merging of two separate installation processes into one simultaneous operation reduces excavation costs, labor costs, and installation time, directly addressing the technical contradiction between installation cost and system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The wastewater discharge conduit serves dual functions: it transports wastewater from the building to the municipal sewer system, and simultaneously serves as the installation pathway and protective enclosure for the geothermal loop pipes. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate excavation and installation of the geothermal system, resolving the contradiction between installation cost and complexity.
2Ease of manufacture
If the geothermal loop is installed in the wastewater discharge conduit, then installation costs are reduced through simultaneous installation, but the thermal capacity of the geothermal system is limited by the conduit space
Solution Approach 1:
The geothermal system is divided into multiple separate loop pipes (supply line and return line) that are installed within the wastewater conduit. This segmentation allows for adequate thermal capacity through multiple heat exchange surfaces while maintaining the space constraints of the conduit. The segmented approach also facilitates proper flow distribution and heat transfer efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The geothermal loop pipes are nested within the wastewater discharge conduit, with the smaller diameter geothermal pipes fitting inside the larger wastewater conduit. This nesting arrangement maximizes the use of available space within the conduit while maintaining the thermal capacity needed for effective heat transfer, resolving the contradiction between installation cost and thermal capacity.
3Use of energy by moving object
If wastewater temperature is used for heat transfer, then the heat transfer efficiency is enhanced, but the system becomes dependent on wastewater flow availability
Solution Approach 1:
The geothermal loop pipes act as an intermediary heat exchange medium between the wastewater and the building's HVAC system. The loop pipes extract or reject heat from the wastewater, and this thermal energy is then transferred to or from the building's heating or cooling system. This intermediary approach allows the system to benefit from wastewater's thermal energy while maintaining reliability through the decoupled heat transfer mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes the natural temperature parameter of wastewater (typically 50-70°F) as a stable thermal source or sink. By designing the geothermal loop to operate within this temperature range and using heat exchangers optimized for this temperature differential, the system achieves high heat transfer efficiency while maintaining reliability regardless of wastewater flow variations.
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 enhances the geothermal system's efficiency by utilizing wastewater temperature for both heating and cooling, achieving significant BTU gains and cost savings through simultaneous installation, thereby optimizing energy performance and reducing operational expenses.
Implementation Method 1
Circulation of a heat transfer fluid through the geothermal heat transfer system (flow conduits or piping buried at a desired depth) results in the following forms of heat transfer... heat transfer from the cooler earth's mass... heat transfer to the circulating fluid
Implementation Method 2
utilizing the wastewater's stable temperature for enhanced heat transfer
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides improvements for heating and cooling of structures. In the exemplary embodiments reference is made to residential structures though light commercial buildings would be another option. The heat transfer systems of the exemplary embodiments are constructed and arranged as a way to provide supplemental heat transfer for geothermal systems. One improvement provided by the exemplary embodiments relative to current geothermal systems is the utilization of residential wastewater discharge as the heat sink. Another improvement provided by the exemplary embodiments relative to current geothermal systems is the installation method which can be performed at the same time when the geothermal system is being installed. By linking together these two system installations, cost savings should be realized.