Ground Thaw Coil Heating with Geothermal Heat Pump Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for thawing ground are energy-consuming, especially when thawing ice and snow on surfaces, as they require high energy input and suffer from heat loss due to cold weather, wind, and humidity.
Innovation Solution
A heating device and method utilizing a geothermal heat pump system with anti-freeze liquid, where low temperature heat from an energy well and high temperature heat from a heat pump are selectively used for thawing, with control systems and insulation to optimize energy efficiency, allowing for efficient thawing of ground surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ground placed electrical coils or geothermal heat pumps are used for thawing ground, then the ground can be thawed to reduce slipping risk, but energy consumption increases due to high melting heat requirements and heat loss to surroundings
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary heating of the ground before ice formation occurs, maintaining the ground temperature above freezing point. This preventive approach reduces the energy required compared to thawing frozen ground, as it avoids the high melting heat requirement of 80 cal/gram.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating device operates periodically rather than continuously, activating heating elements only when temperature sensors detect that ground temperature is approaching freezing point or when ice formation is detected. This periodic operation significantly reduces energy consumption while maintaining reliability.
2Reliability
If thawing is performed in cold weather conditions, then ground can be kept thawed, but heat loss to surroundings increases due to cold temperature, wind, and humidity
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates temperature sensors and control units that continuously monitor ground temperature and heating element performance. This feedback mechanism allows the system to adjust heating power dynamically, maintaining ground temperature just above freezing point and minimizing energy waste from excessive heating or heat loss to surroundings.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system adjusts heating parameters such as power output, duration, and frequency based on environmental conditions including temperature, wind speed, and humidity. By changing these parameters adaptively, the system optimizes the balance between maintaining ground thawed state and minimizing heat loss to the environment.
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
The system reduces energy consumption and heat loss, enabling efficient thawing of ground surfaces by leveraging both low and high temperature heat sources, making it suitable for cost-conscious applications like villas and driveways, particularly effective during mild weather conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a heat pump which is adapted to take up and transfer heat from the energy well by the aid of a line from the energy well to the heat pump for transport of anti-freeze liquid
Implementation Method 2
The melting heat for ice is high (80 cal/gram) and frozen ground, especially at a high water content therefore requires also much energy for thawing
Implementation Method 3
thaw coils for thawing ground surrounding the thaw coils, in which the anti-freeze liquid is transportable
Implementation Method 4
insulation material is arranged under the thaw coils
Data Source
AI summary
A heating device (1) comprising: an energy well (2), a heat pump (3) which is adapted to take up and transfer heat from the energy well (2) by the aid of a line from the energy well to the heat pump (3) for transport of anti-freeze liquid, a heat extraction device (4) connected to a heat pump (3) which selectively can be brought into a connected and a disconnected position, thaw coils (5) for thawing ground surrounding the thaw coils (5), in which the anti-freeze liquid is transportable, which thaw coils (5) selectively can be connected and disconnected to the line from the energy well to the heat pump (3), a heat exchanger (7) connected to the heat extraction device (4) adapted to selectively transfer heat to the thaw coils (5) by the aid of the heat extraction device (4), a control system (6) which is adapted for controlling the heating device (1) whereby low temperature heat from the energy well (2) alternatively high temperature heat from the heat pump (3) and the heat extraction device (4) selectively can be used for pre-heating, thawing, or maintenance heating ground surrounding the thaw coils (5).