Patent Publication Number: US-2020278155-A1

Title: Compact Dual Chamber Heat Exchange Unit

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC 
     Not Applicable 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure reveals a compact dual chamber heat exchange unit that can be integrated into the heating and cooling system of a building that can be fabricated and assembled off site, transported to the site, installed and then filled with matrix and/or slurry, as well as a method of installation of the compact dual chamber heat exchange unit. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Heating and cooling systems that integrate below ground heat exchange systems have been designed to be used with the hearing and cooling systems of buildings. These systems transport a fluid (water or air) through piping, below ground, and allow the natural temperatures of the subsurface to air in heating or cooling a building. These systems generally require large surface areas or deep drilling to complete the heat exchange process. The present disclosure reveals a compact dual chamber heat exchange unit that can be fabricated and assembled off site, transported to the site, installed and then filled with matrix and/or slurry, and that can fit in the yard of most residential properties. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure reveals a compact dual chamber heat exchange unit that can be integrated into the heating and cooling system of a building and a method of installation. In essence, the compact dual chamber heat exchange unit comprises a container with two chambers. The chambers are filled with either a matrix or a slurry and further has tubing circulating through both chambers. Through the tubing a fluid is passed. As the fluid passes through the tubing, the fluid is either heated or cooled depending on the system requirements. The slurry is associated with a water system that exchanges heat with the fluid passing through the tubing within the chamber. When this water becomes too hot of cold, it can be extracted and replaced with water at a more appropriate temperature. 
     A recirculation system is also included such that if the fluid exits the compact dual chamber heat exchange unit and is still too hot or cold, the fluid can be recirculated through the compact dual chamber heat exchange unit. 
     A water reclamation system is also included. This portion of the system monitors the temperature of the water in the slurry and when the water in the slurry is too hot or cold, the water can be removed from the system and stored until it cools down or heats up to a more appropriate temperature, at which time the water can be returned to the slurry, replacing other water that is at an inappropriate temperature. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         FIG. 1  a view of the compact dual chamber heat exchange unit with matrix in the first chamber and slurry in the second chamber, with the recirculation system; 
         FIG. 2  a view of the compact dual chamber heat exchange unit with slurry in the first chamber and the second chamber, with the recirculation system and the water reclamation system; 
         FIG. 3  a view of the compact dual chamber heat exchange unit with matrix in the first chamber and the second chamber, with the recirculation system; and 
         FIG. 4  Is a view method of installation of the compact dual chamber heat exchange unit. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure reveals a compact dual chamber heat exchange unit  1  that can be integrated into the heating and cooling system of a building for the treatment of a fluid, said fluid being either water or air, as well as a method of installation. The compact dual chamber heat exchange unit  1 , comprises a container  2 , control unit  3 , a plurality of valves  4 , a plurality of tubing  5 , a plurality of pumps  6 , a plurality of filters  7 , a plurality of water level indicators  8 , a plurality of temperature sensors  9 , a matrix  10 , and/or a slurry  11 . The compact dual chamber heat exchange unit  11  is designed so that the parts can be prefabricated and assembled off site and transported to the site for installation and filing with matrix  10  and/or slurry  11 . 
     The container  2  comprising a top  12 , bottom  13 , and four sides  14 , wherein said four sides  14 , top  12  and bottom  13  create an enclosure with an inside  15  and an outside  16 . Further, there is a wall  17  inside the container  2  said wall  17  extending from the top  12  to the bottom  13  of the container  2  so that the container  2  is divided into two chambers, those chambers being a first chamber  18  and a second chamber  19 , wherein said wall  17  prevents anything from passing from the first chamber  18  into the second chamber  19 . The first chamber  18  and second chamber  19  each comprise an interior space  20 . The top of the container  2  comprises a first access point  21  and a second access point  22 , wherein the first access  21  point allows access into the interior space  20  of the first chamber  18  and the second access point  22  allows access into the second chamber  19 . 
     The matrix  10  is a mixture comprising grout, and/or cement, and/or material to increase the conductivity within the matrix  10 . The slurry  11  is a mixture of sand and/or gravel and water. 
     There is a plurality of valves  4 , wherein the plurality of valve  4  is defined as at least one valve  4 . These valve  4  comprise inflows and outflows with connections. The connections may be threaded, snap tight connections, or adhesive. The valve  4  may also include other features including flow control mechanisms, or temperature sensors  9 . 
     There is a plurality of tubing  5 , wherein the plurality of tubing  5  is defined as at least one section of tubing  5 . Each section of tubing  5  comprises two ends and a length. The tubing  5  allows fluid to flow through the compact dual chamber heat exchange unit  1  or to transfer water into the slurry  11  within either chamber. 
     There are a plurality of pumps  6 , said plurality of pumps  6  defined as at least one pumps  6 . Said pumps  6  are used to move fluid through the system or to move water into or out of the slurry  11  in one or both chambers. The pumps  6  may also include a flow control mechanism or temperature sensor  9 . 
     There is a plurality of filters  7 , wherein the plurality of filters  7  is at least one filter  7  and comprises a filter mechanism and a connection. The filters  7  are used to prevent the sand and/or gravel from being sucked into the attached tubing  5  as water is withdrawn for the chamber into which the filter is inserted. The filter  7  may also include temperature sensor  9 . 
     There is a plurality of water level indicators  8 , wherein the plurality of later level indicators  8  measure the level of the water within the container  2  or vessel into which it is inserted. 
     There is a plurality of temperature sensors  9  that measure the temperature of the fluid in the area of the sensor  9 . 
     The compact dual chamber heat exchange unit  1  starts at a valve  4  located outside of the container  2 . The end of the section of tubing  5  being connected to the outflow of the valve  4  and the length of the tubing  5  extending from outside of the container  2  to the inside of the container  2  into the first chamber  18 , wherein the length of the section of tubing  5  extends in a spiral fashion around the interior space  20  of the first chamber  18 , wherein the length of the section of tubing  5  then extends through the wall of the container  2 , into the second chamber  19 , wherein the length of the section of tubing  5  spirals around the interior space  20  of the second chamber  19 , wherein the length of the section of tubing  5  extends through the wall of the container  2  and the end of the tubing  5  is outside of the container  2  and connects to the inflow of the second valve  4 . 
     The interior space  20  of either chamber is filled with either a matrix  10  or a slurry  11 . When a chamber is filed with a slurry  11 , there is a valve outside of the container  2  connected to a section of tubing  5 , wherein the length of the section of tubing  5  extends into the chamber of the container  2  with the slurry  11  so that an end of the tubing  5  is located inside the container  2 , and wherein water flows through the section of tubing  5  into the chamber to supply water to the slurry  11 . Further, the is a filter  7  located in the interior space  20  of the chamber with the slurry  11  in the area of the bottom of the container  2 . Attached to the filter  7  is a section of tubing  5 , wherein the length of the section of tubing  5  then extends out of the container  2  to a pumps  6 , wherein the end of the tubing  5  attaches to intake connection of the pumps  6 . The actuator of the first pumps  6  is then capable of drawing water from the slurry  11 , through the filter  7 , through the third section of tubing  5 , to expel the water out the output connection of the pumps  6 . Within the chamber filled with slurry  11  there is also a water level indicator  8  in the area of the top to measure the level of water in the second chamber  19  within the slurry  11 . 
     The control unit  3  comprises a power source  23  and a control logic system  24 , is connected to the valves  4  with control mechanisms water level indicators  8 , temperature sensors  9  and the pumps  6  by appropriate wiring  25 . The power source may be from an A/C sources, from a D/C converter, from a battery, from a solar cell, or any combination thereof. The power source  23  supplies power to the control logic system  24  and the control logic system  24  of the control unit  3  manages the flow of water into and out of the slurry  11  within the second chamber  19  by monitoring the level of the water within slurry  11  of the second chamber  19 . The plurality of valve  4 , plurality of pumps  6 , plurality of water level indicators  8 , and plurality of temperature sensors  9  of the compact dual chamber heat exchange unit  1  are connected to the control unit  3  by first being connected to a wiring harness  26  which in turn is connected to the control unit  3 . 
     The compact dual chamber heat exchange unit  1  may also comprise a recirculation system  27 . The recirculation system  27  is designed to assure the outgoing fluid from the compact dual chamber heat exchange unit  1  is at the appropriate temperature by causing the fluid to be recirculated through the compact dual chamber heat exchange unit  1  before exiting the system. The recirculation system is accomplished by having a temperature sensor  9  at the valve where the fluid exits the compact dual chamber heat exchange unit  1 , and wherein the valve has two outflows and a control mechanism such that, it the temperature of the fluid does not meet specification, the control unit  3  adjusts the control mechanism to direct the flow of fluid through a section of tubing  5  from the valve back to the first valve in the system, which then directs the flow of fluid back through the compact dual chamber heat exchange unit  1 . 
     For each compartment filled with slurry  11  there may also be a water reclamation system  28 . The water reclamation system  28  conserves water consumption by recirculating the water through the slurry  11  to a vessel where it can acclimatize to be reused in the slurry  11  and thus preventing the need for continuous fresh water to be added to the slurry  11 . 
     The water reclamation system  28  comprising a vessel, a temperature sensor  9  of the plurality of temperature sensors  9 , a pumps  6  of the plurality of pumps  6 , and water level indicator  8  of the plurality of water level indicators  8 . 
     The vessel  29  comprising an interior, a top area, and a bottom area. In this instance, water flows from the filter  7 , through tubing  5 , to the pumps  6 . From the pumps  6  it reaches a valve that can direct the water to be discharged or direct the water to the vessel  29 . The water in the vessel  29  is then monitored by a temperature sensor  9  to determine when it is acclimatized, and a water level indicator  8  to indicate when the vessel  29  is full. If the vessel  29  is too full but not at the right temperature, a pumps  6  can draw water out of the vessel  29  for disposal. If the water in the vessel  29  is acclimatized, it can be pumped out of the vessel  29  back to the valve  4  that directs water into the slurry  11 . 
     The control logic system of the control unit  3  is connected to the mechanism of the valve, the temperature sensor  9 , the pumps  6 , and water level indicator  8  such that the logic control system of the control unit  3  is capable of detecting the level of the water and the temperature of the water within the vessel  29  and recycling the water from the vessel  29  into the slurry  11  or contributing water from the inflow of the valve  4  and back into the chamber. 
     The method of installation of the compact dual chamber heat exchange unit comprises preassembling the container and/or vessel(s), appropriate tubing, pumps, and connections  30 . Then inserting the container into an excavation wherein the top of the container, when buried, would be below the level where surface temperatures would impact the container  31 . Adding the matrix and/or slurry into the first chamber and second chamber. Connecting the tubing of the compact dual chamber heat exchanger with tubing extending from and to a building HV/AC system  32 . Connecting power to the control unit  33 . And burying the compact dual chamber heat exchanger below the level wherein surficial temperatures would interfere  34 . 
     In the method of installation, the recirculation systems may also be preassembled, inserted into the excavation, connected, powered, and buried.