Abstract:
A modular, stackable, geothermal block system for use as a subterranean or submarine heat exchanger in a geothermal energy system which provides a heating/cooling means to an external load. The stackable blocks, which can be filled with a fluid and/or material of generally high heat retention characteristics or precast in such material, contain one or more continuous passageways that extend from the top face of the block through the opposing face, through which a rigid structural heat exchange tube, fabricated from material of high thermal conductivity, is placed. The blocks are stacked one upon another and slidably mounted on the tube(s). Each tube contains a helically wound, thermal transfer tubing comprising one leg of a U-shape configured loop. Each stackable block can contain multiple paired passageways permitting more than one U-shape loop within the system.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    Not Applicable 
       FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH  
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       SEQUENCE LISTING OF THE PROGRAM  
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention relates to the transfer of thermal energy to and from subsurface and submarine environments to be utilized by any heating/cooling system as well as any power generating system that could exploit a temperature differential within a moving fluid. 
         [0005]    Increasing awareness of the limited supply of fossil fuel reserves has raised interest in alternative energy sources. Cost conscious consumers have expressed interest in solar power and wind power alternative energy sources to supplement or replace conventional fossil-fuel based systems. Extensive research in these two fields and the fact that they are able to supplement an existing electrical infrastructure has focused much interest in these two areas. However, the limitations of weather-dependent solar and wind technologies are apparent. They are, in effect, interruptible electrical power suppliers. 
         [0006]    Geothermal, a third source of energy, can provide a much more reliable source of alternative, renewable, non-polluting energy in a thermal form. The field of geothermal energy encompasses two substantially different disciplines. The first, involves the extraction of thermal energy in the form of steam from below-ground sources near (volcanic) magmatic regions. Water pumped into overlying ground fissures quickly absorbs abundant quantities of heat and is transformed to steam which is channeled to perform useful work. When the term “geothermal energy” is used, this method is often the one that is being described. However, the same term is often used to describe the second discipline, which is also the subject of the present invention. All references to “geothermal energy” in the description of the current invention will be based on the second discipline, which is described next. The second discipline is the transfer of thermal energy to and from relatively shallow depths below the surface of the Earth using a liquid thermal transfer medium and at temperatures generally much lower than that of steam. This methodology is often referred to as ground-source heat transfer, earth-coupled, geothermal heat pump and GeoExchange systems. A subsurface closed-loop system in which a finite amount of thermal transfer fluid is re-circulated to transfer heat between the earth and an above ground heating/cooling load is the most common ground source heat transfer system in use today although there are other open-loop type systems. Underground loops commonly fabricated from copper or polyethylene transport thermal transfer fluid, consisting of a refrigerant or aqueous solution, respectively, to an indoor facility to accomplish heating and/or cooling. Loops are placed in a predominantly vertical or horizontal orientation. Installation of vertical loop systems necessitates the use of bulky, expensive drilling rigs to drill one or more boreholes that are approximately four inches in diameter and two to four hundred feet deep. Within this deep narrow borehole a U-shape length of tubing is inserted to extract thermal energy from, or to put into, the ground by circulating a thermal transfer fluid within it. Horizontal loop systems require a substantially large surface area under which trenches approximately three or more feet in width and four to eight feet deep need to be excavated to install the loops in a variety of configurations. Loops fabricated from polyethylene, meant to carry an aqueous solution, must be considerably longer than their copper/refrigerant counterpart because the fluid they carry is at a much lower temperature differential relative to the surrounding earth and their thermal conductivity is much lower than that of copper. In addition, for both copper and polyethylene loops, the surrounding earth is susceptible to being depleted of thermal energy (in the heating mode) and saturated with thermal energy (in the cooling mode). In order for the average near-loop earth temperature to be constant, and therefore an effective heat-sink, a loop of sufficient length is required to mitigate the depletion/saturation problem. This also mandates a minimum separation between loops. The near-loop depletion/saturation of thermal energy occurs because the heat capacity of soil, its ability to absorb a large amount of heat with only a small change in temperature, is not as high as some other materials. In addition, this property, known as specific heat, varies based on soil composition, compaction and moisture content. The most effective material to surround the loops for heat transfer would be one that could absorb/release large amounts of thermal energy with the smallest change in temperature. 
         [0007]    Based on the above considerations, there are two major impediments to the widespread implementation of ground-source geothermal systems, particularly for smaller residential applications. First, the installation of vertical, deep, borehole ground loop systems requires the use of expensive borehole drilling equipment with costly up-front capital expenditures resulting in a long payback period. Second, horizontal loop systems require a relatively large land surface area to be effective, severely limiting the pool of potential users. Their installation also has the potential to damage surface embellishment such as lawns and shrubbery, another discouraging factor. 
         [0008]    Consequently, a ground-source geothermal system that could mitigate the above impediments would be desirable from both a cost and aesthetic perspective. A hybrid system that employed multiple, shallow, vertical boreholes, on the order of approximately twelve to twenty five feet deep and two to four feet in diameter, capable of being drilled by less expensive equipment than the large drilling rigs, would lower initial capital costs significantly. Such equipment is commonly used today to drill holes for utility and telephone pole installation. In order for the shallower borehole system to be effective, based on the above considerations, three implementation characteristics are necessary. They are: 
         [0009]    1. The loop within the borehole cannot be the simple U-shape configuration with straight vertical segments; currently the standard method used for deep borehole geothermal systems. A method of increasing the effective loop contact area with the surrounding earth in a shallower borehole must be employed. 
         [0010]    2. The loop must be surrounded by, and in thermal contact with, material of much higher heat retention characteristics than that of common soil. The heat retention characteristics of soil can vary widely depending on compaction; on composition, such as clay, sand or stone; and to a much greater degree based on moisture content. By surrounding the loop(s) with material of high, constant, heat retention characteristics, the efficacy and efficiency of the system is enhanced and made resistant to thermal fluctuation. 
         [0011]    3. The system must be able to be assembled and installed with a minimum of expensive equipment and personnel costs. 
         [0012]    Prior art geothermal disclosures have attempted to improve on requirement (1) above. U.S. Pat. No. 5,623,986 discloses a heat exchange system with a helically wound loop. A major disadvantage of this implementation is that only one-half of the subsurface loop is helically wound while the other uncoiled half is entirely insulated to eliminate intra-loop thermal “short-circuiting” between the two legs of the U-shape loop. The result is that only one-half of the U-loop is useful in heat transfer, and the additional expense of insulation material and its installation is incurred. 
         [0013]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,054,541 discloses a ground coil assembly geothermal system designed for shallow depths. The design satisfies requirement (1) above with a helically wound loop which insures a large thermal transfer capability with the surrounding earth. A disadvantage is the possibility of thermal “short-circuiting” between sections of the loop, which are in close proximity. Because the entire unit is prefabricated and therefore must be transported to the installation site, there is a practical limitation on the borehole depth that can be used. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    It is therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a ground-source thermal exchange system that can be more widely used based on the combination of reduced installation cost and the relatively small ground surface-area footprint required. 
         [0015]    In accordance with this invention, there is provided a system composed of stackable, geothermal blocks, which can be assembled at the installation site. The blocks are either pre-formed containers that can be filled with material of high thermal capacity or non-containerized blocks cast from such material. By stacking the blocks, one upon another in a relatively shallow borehole, the need for expensive borehole drilling equipment currently used to drill deep wells is eliminated. Within the blocks, stacked one upon another and aligned, is at least one pair of passageways in the form of a U-shape in which a thermal transfer loop is placed; sections of the loop are helically wound to increase the total thermal transfer area Multiple U-shape pairs of passageways within the stacked blocks, each having a loop, can be used in a single system. Thermal transfer fluid, either a refrigerant or an aqueous solution, is circulated through the loop, or loops, to provide heating/cooling to an external load. 
         [0016]    The modular design of the relatively shallow borehole system results in a low cost of installation because the stackable blocks, particularly those of the containerized design, can be filled at the installation site. Also, the need for expensive drilling, excavation or other specialized equipment and the associated high, skilled labor cost, is not necessary. At any site, multiple installations of the system can be implemented and operated independently or connected in series/parallel arrangements. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view, partly broken away, of an example of a partially assembled modular, stackable, geothermal block system of the current invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2A  is a top view of a container-type stackable, geothermal block unit, showing two passageways that extend through the block as well as a flush-mounted filler cap which seals the unit. 
           [0019]      FIG. 2B  is a sectional view of the stackable geothermal block unit of  FIG. 2A . 
           [0020]      FIG. 3A  is a top view of a terminal, stackable, geothermal block unit showing two passageways that extend through the block as well as a transverse passageway that joins the two passageways that extend through the block to forming a continuous U-shape passageway. 
           [0021]      FIG. 3B  is a sectional view of the terminal, stackable, geothermal block unit of  FIG. 3A . 
           [0022]      FIG. 4A  is a perspective view, partly broken away, of a tube, threaded on the distal end, on which the stackable, geothermal block units can be slidably mounted. 
           [0023]      FIG. 4B  is a perspective view of a threaded cap used to secure the terminal stackable geothermal block unit to the threaded end of the tube of  FIG. 4A . 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view, partly broken away, of approximately one-half of a helically wound thermal transfer tubing that is placed within the tube of  FIG. 4A . 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an example of an assembled, modular, stackable, geothermal block system placed in a subsurface environment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0026]    Within the drawings which describe the preferred embodiments of the present invention, like parts are identified with the same numerals. 
         [0027]      FIG. 1  illustrates the position of the various elements of the modular stackable, geothermal system  1  in relation to each other and as it would be assembled in a subsurface environment. The order of description of the elements will closely parallel the sequence of the preferred method of assembly of the system. 
         [0028]    Thermally conductive tubing  16 , contains two helically coiled segments of equal length separated by centrally located uncoiled section  16   b.  Both ends of the tubing,  16  and  16   c,  are also uncoiled. One end of the tubing is inserted into the distal, threaded end of a thermally conductive tube  18   c  and drawn through until the coiled section is totally surrounded by the tube  18 . As the tubing is drawn through the tube, a thermally conductive grout  22   a  is inserted so that any space between the tubing coils and between the tubing and tube are filled. The second half of the tubing is inserted into the distal, threaded end of tube  12   a  using the same procedure described for the first half of the tubing. When in place, the U-shape distal end of the tubing passes through an aperture  30  located at the distal end of tube  18  and an aperture  26  located at the distal end of tube  12 . A cross sectional view of part of the tube  18   a  displays a cross sectional view of the helically wound tubing  16   a  surrounded by the thermal grout  22 . It should be noted that the above constructive process can be performed at the location of the installation of the system or preassembled offsite. The terminal, stackable, geothermal unit  24 , of which there is only one in a system, serves as the base for all other stackable units. It surrounds the U-shape part of the tubing  16   b,  protecting it from being damaged and encasing it in thermally conductive grout  22   b.  The terminal unit is slidably mounted on the distal end of tubes  18  and  12 . A transverse passageway  32  within the terminal unit permits the U-shape portion of the tubing to be positioned within it. Fastening means  28  and  28   a,  threaded caps in this embodiment, attach the terminal unit to the two tubes and prevent the leakage of the thermal grout  22   a.    
         [0029]    The assembled support structure just described including the tubes  18  and  12 , the embedded helically wound thermal transfer tubing  16 , the terminal stackable geothermal unit  24  and fasteners  28  and  28   a,  can now be inserted into a borehole. 
         [0030]    Once positioned in a borehole, blocks of stackable a geothermal unit  10  can be slidably lowered so that the two tubes  18  and  12 , pass through the corresponding passageways in the blocks. The blocks can be constructed in two ways; either as containers which can be filled with fluids of material of high thermal capacity or cast from such material into a solid, non-containerized unit. It is also possible for a material to be cast within the containers, either at the installation site or at an offsite location. If the block is a container, a fill orifice and flush-mounted cap  20  is provided. 
         [0031]    As has been noted, the system can be placed in a borehole. It can also be placed within a trench in a generally horizontal position, however, its orientation is not limited to a vertical or horizontal one. The system can also serve in a submarine location where the protection of the thermal transfer tubing would be enhanced by the surrounding elements of the system. 
         [0032]      FIG. 2A  is a top view of the stackable, geothermal block unit  10 , a plurality of which would normally be used in the construction of a system although a system with a single unit is feasible and practicable. In the unit illustrated there are two passageways  34  and  36  that extend from one face to, and through, the opposing face. Although one pair of passagways is illustrated, multiple pairs of passageways are feasible and practicable. Each pair of passageways would enclose a separate U-shape thermal transfer loop. The individual loops can then be connected in a series, parallel or a series/parallel arrangement to provide the thermal transfer fluid to/from an external load. 
         [0033]    The unit can be cast from a material of high thermal capacity. It can also be formed as a container capable of being filled through a sealable, fill aperture  20 , with a fluid or substance of high thermal capacity. 
         [0034]      FIG. 2B  is a cross sectional view of the stackable geothermal block unit  10  of  FIG. 2A , which is illustrated as a container-type unit showing the hollow interior space  46 . 
         [0035]      FIG. 3A  is a top view of a terminal, stackable, geothermal block unit  24 , only one of which would be used in the construction of a system and would be placed at the distal end thereof. In the unit illustrated there are two passageways  35  and  37  that extend from one face to, and through, the opposing face. It should be noted that multiple pairs of passageways are feasible and practicable. However, the number of passageways in the terminal unit must match the number of similar passageways in the stackable geothermal block units that overlie the terminal unit. The terminal unit, when assembled as part of the system, encloses the U-shape central portion of the helically wound thermal transfer tubing and contains a transverse passageway  32  through which the tubing can be inserted and surrounded with thermally conductive grout. The unit illustrated is one that is cast from a material of generally high thermal capacity although it could be fabricated in a different manner to lessen its weight while maintaining its resistance to compression. 
         [0036]      FIG. 3B  is a cross sectional view of the terminal, stackable block unit  24  of  FIG. 3A , which is shown as a unit that has been cast from material  38 , of generally high thermal capacity. 
         [0037]      FIG. 4A  is a partially broken perspective view of a thermally conductive tube  18 . When used in the assembled system, the stackable, geothermal block units would be slidably mounted on the tube using the corresponding passageway of each unit. Part of a helically coiled thermal transfer tubing would be placed within the tube, along with heat conducting grout, so that the U-shape central portion of the tubing would extend through aperture  30  on the threaded, distal end of the tube. The generally uncoiled proximal end of the tubing would extend out of the proximal end of the tube. It should be noted that a system with multiple pairs of tubes is feasible and practicable. A system with just one tube can be constructed but it would be much less efficient than a system with multiple tubes. 
         [0038]      FIG. 4B  is a perspective view of a threaded cap  28  used to keep the stackable, geothermal blocks that are slidably mounted on the thermally conductive tube from moving relative to the tube. It also seals the bottom of the tube to prevent the loss of heat conducting grout. 
         [0039]      FIG. 5  is a partially broken, perspective view of approximately one-half of a helically wound thermal transfer tubing  16 . The coiled portion of the tubing would be placed within a thermally conductive tube along with heat conducting grout. The tubing serves as a conduit for a thermal transfer fluid, generally either an aqueous solution or refrigerant, to effect an exchange of thermal energy with an external load. Illustrated are two optional couplings  40  and  42 . To facilitate the placement of the system in a borehole or trench, it might be expedient to cut the proximal ends of the tubing a short distance from the system and then to reattach the tubing once the system was completely assembled below ground. In this instance coupling  40  would be necessary if the tubing were fabricated from copper. If the tubing were fabricated from a material like polyethylene, a coupling could be used but heat fusion welding could also be applied, making the coupling unnecessary. Coupling  42  would normally be unnecessary, however, in the installation of a direct exchange(DX) system, a refrigerant is used as the thermal transfer fluid and would exist in both a liquid and vapor state within the copper tubing. Therefore, in a DX system, it might be advantageous to have two sections of copper tubing of different diameters. Coupling  42  could then be used to attach tubing of two different sizes (not shown). 
         [0040]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an example of a modular, stackable, geothermal block system  1  that has been placed in a borehole. Shown are the terminal geothermal unit  24  with six overlying stackable, geothermal heat exchange units  10 . The proximal ends of thermally conductive tubes  18  and  12  are shown. Extending from the tubes are the proximal ends of helically wound thermal transfer tubing  16  and  16   c.  Tube couplings  40  and  44  are optional and would be used to if the tubing was cut to expedite the subsurface placement of the system. Tubing  48 , extending from coupling  40 , to the heating/cooling load would normally be insulated (not shown) in order to prevent thermal “short-circuiting” to the surrounding subsurface environment. 
         [0041]    The preceding description, given by way of example in order to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to practice the claimed invention, is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, which is defined by the claims of the current invention.