Underground Thermal Storage Layout for Seasonal Heat Pump Supply
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current heating and cooling systems in residential construction lack dynamic control and storage solutions for regenerative energies, leading to inefficient use of available thermal energy, particularly from solar and geothermal sources, due to static storage methods and high costs per kilowatt hour.
Innovation Solution
A thermal energy supply system integrating a solar thermal system, an exhaust air heat pump system, and a geothermal heat pump system with an underground storage tank, utilizing a three-dimensional pipeline layout for countercurrent heat exchange and dynamic energy management to optimize thermal energy storage and retrieval.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If solar thermal systems are used to generate thermal energy, then thermal energy availability increases, but energy storage and temporal matching becomes problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by storing excess thermal energy generated during sunny periods (spring/summer) in the ground storage facility before it is needed during colder periods (autumn/winter). This advance storage allows the system to prepare energy reserves in anticipation of future heating demands, resolving the temporal mismatch between solar energy availability and building heating requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from surface-level or above-ground storage to underground storage, utilizing the third dimension (depth) and the ground mass as a storage medium. By embedding heat exchanger circuits in the ground, the system accesses the ground's thermal mass and stability, creating a new dimensional approach to energy storage that enables long-term seasonal retention of thermal energy.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If ground storage facilities are used for thermal energy storage, then storage duration increases, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ground storage facility operates on self-service principles by utilizing natural ground temperature stability and passive heat transfer through embedded circuits. The system requires minimal active control or intervention, as the ground mass naturally maintains thermal energy over seasonal periods without requiring complex monitoring or active management systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the thermal storage function from complex above-ground mechanical systems and relocates it to the ground itself. By separating the storage function (performed by the ground mass) from the heat exchange function (performed by embedded circuits), the system achieves long-duration storage without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
3Speed
If existing heating systems are used, then immediate heating is provided, but dynamic control and energy optimization are lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback control by continuously monitoring building heating requirements and ground storage status, then dynamically adjusting heat extraction or injection rates. This closed-loop control enables the system to respond to changing building demands while optimizing ground storage utilization, achieving both dynamic adaptability and energy efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces dynamic control capabilities by enabling real-time adjustment of heat exchange rates between the building and ground storage facility. The system can dynamically shift between charging the ground storage during periods of excess supply and discharging during periods of high demand, creating a flexible, adaptive thermal energy management 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
This system enhances the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of thermal energy storage and retrieval, allowing for year-round building temperature control and reduced energy costs by utilizing otherwise unused thermal energy, achieving a primary energy system expenditure figure below 0.3, which is a significant improvement over existing systems.
Implementation Method 1
The thermal energy supply system has a heat exchanger through which the collector circuit and the primary heat pump circuit run, in that the heat exchanger is constructed and arranged in such a way that heat is transferred in it from the first fluid in the solar thermal system to the second fluid in the heat pump system
Implementation Method 2
The several pipelines lying next to each other within the planes, relating to the flow direction of the fluid arranged in the primary heat pump circuit of the heat pump system, are arranged in a three-dimensional laying geometry in the countercurrent principle
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a heat energy supply system (W) which provides heat energy for at least one heat energy consumption system (B; B1, B2) from at least one heat energy feed system (An). At least one solar thermal system (An; A1) and/or at least one exhaust air heat pump system (An; A6) and at least one heat pump system (An; A2) are provided. According to the invention, an underground storage tank (E) is provided in a special embodiment, to which thermal energy from the solar thermal system (An; A1) and/or the exhaust air heat pump system (An; A6) or the heat pump system (An; A2) is supplied. For this purpose, the heat energy supply system W comprises in the primary heat pump circuit (PKL) of the heat pump system (A2) for each heat energy feed system (An) at least one heat exchanger (A22), via which the heat energy is either immediately transferred to at least one heat energy consumption system (B; B1, B2) can be supplied or stored long-term in the underground storage tank (E) and, if necessary, can be removed again via the primary heat pump circuit (PKL) of the heat pump system (A2) and, if required, can only be fed later to the heat energy consumption system (B; B1, B2) connected on the secondary side is.