Geothermal heating and cooling system

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing geothermal heating and cooling systems require drilling, trenching, and water circulation, and often include moving parts, leading to high costs and complexity.

Innovation Solution

A geothermal heating and cooling system utilizing a concrete foundation, slab, and external walls that extend into a ground stable layer, combined with high R-value insulation to create a passive conductive heat exchanger, eliminating the need for drilling and moving parts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional geothermal systems use vertical loops with multiple bore holes, then heat exchange efficiency is improved, but system complexity and installation cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat exchange efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the foundation structure with the geothermal heat exchange function. The concrete foundation, slab, and external walls are integrated to form a single passive heat exchange system that eliminates the need for separate bore holes and piping infrastructure, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining heat exchange efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The foundation structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support for the building and acts as a geothermal heat exchange medium. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated geothermal infrastructure, reducing both complexity and installation cost

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If conventional geothermal systems use drilling and trenching, then heat exchange capability is improved, but installation cost and time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat exchange capabilityVSAvoidinstallation cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the foundation construction process with the geothermal system installation. By integrating the heat exchange function into the foundation, slab, and external walls, the system eliminates the need for separate drilling and trenching operations, thereby reducing installation cost and time while maintaining heat exchange capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The geothermal heat exchange capacity is built into the foundation structure during the initial construction phase. This preliminary action eliminates the need for subsequent drilling and installation operations, reducing both installation cost and time while ensuring heat exchange capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Temperature

If conventional geothermal systems use water circulation and heat pumps, then heating and cooling performance is improved, but system complexity and maintenance requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheating and cooling performanceVSAvoidmechanical components

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The passive geothermal system utilizes the natural thermal mass of the earth and the thermal properties of concrete to provide heating and cooling without mechanical components. The foundation and slab actively exchange heat with the ground through conduction, eliminating the need for water circulation systems and heat pumps

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical heat pump and water circulation system with a passive thermal conduction system. The concrete foundation and slab directly conduct heat between the interior space and the ground, eliminating moving parts and mechanical complexity while maintaining heating and cooling performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

Provides efficient heating and cooling by leveraging the ground's thermal mass, maintaining a consistent temperature year-round, reducing costs and complexity without mechanical components.

Implementation Method 1

an insulation material provided about outer surfaces of the roof structure, the sidewall structure, the foundation structure, and the footing structure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal Insulation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 2

The system uses the ground as a heat exchanger... a foundation structure having a plurality of foundation portions supporting the plurality of sidewall portions; a slab structure having at least one slab portion extending between the plurality of foundation portions

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal Conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS20260016196A1Geothermal heating and cooling system

Publication Date: 2026.01.15 CARSON BRIAN

AI summary

A geothermal heating and cooling system is provided. The geothermal heating and cooling system is used for a house or building structure where the foundation extends to a depth below the ground surface layer and into the ground stable layer. The geothermal heating and cooling system includes insulation provided about outer surfaces of the house or building structure. The geothermal heating and cooling system may also be used in conjunction with water tanks and swimming pools.