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A geothermal space conditioning and water heating system for a building structure comprises a battery of serially coupled thermal storage wells. Each well includes a dual concentric thermal conduction tube having an external circumference and an integrated earth interface and substantially moisture

A geothermal space conditioning and water heating system for a building structure comprises a battery of serially coupled thermal storage wells. Each well includes a dual concentric thermal conduction tube having an external circumference and an integrated earth interface and substantially moisture impervious clay platelet transition surrounding and at least double the tube circumference. The thermal storage battery has a cold port and a hot port maintained at a temperature greater than the cold port. A space conditioning arrangement is provided in which thermal transport fluid passes through a fan-driven radiator. A reversible heat pump has a radiator conditioned air coupled first heat exchanger and a downstream radiator fluid coupled second heat exchanger. A second heat pump has a first heat exchanger in thermal communication with a hot port coupled hot water heater and a cold port coupled second heat exchanger. A transient storage tank provides a time averaged uniform transport fluid temperature. Valving allows reversal of fluid from the hot and cold ports to and from the transient storage tank and the space conditioning arrangement as determined by multiple temperature sensors determining output states of a controller. The geothermal storage wells are established by circulating a mud in a well to stabilize the hole, running a conduit in the well and thereafter reverse-circulating a sand/gravel slurry through the conduit thereby packing the region between the conducting tube and the earth interface.

대표청구항 ▼

An earth coupled structural energy system comprising: an energy distribution system for selectively applying thermal energy within a building structure; earth storage means for communicating thermal energy with the earth, the earth storage means having a substantially moisture impervious integrated

An earth coupled structural energy system comprising: an energy distribution system for selectively applying thermal energy within a building structure; earth storage means for communicating thermal energy with the earth, the earth storage means having a substantially moisture impervious integrated earth interface, thereby maintaining substantial thermal conductive moisture within the earth storage means, yet providing conduction to the earth at the integrated earth interface, the integrated earth interface generally defining an earth interface surface area; fluid transport means disposed within the earth storage means for circulating a thermal transfer fluid through the earth storage means; the fluid transport means having an interface with the earth storage means, the fluid transport means interface defining a surface surrounded in spaced-apart relationship to the earth interface surface area; means for maintaining a high thermal conductivity at the fluid transport means interface; and means for thermally communicating with the thermal transfer fluid to effect thermal changes in the energy distribution system; the earth storage means having a high thermal permeability, whereby thermal energy is readily conducted between the earth and the fluid transport means with minimal thermal radiation. The process for constructing a thermal storage well comprising the steps of: drilling a well; circulating mud through the hole to establish a filter cake; running a thermal transfer conduit in the hole; running a drill string within the hole while circulating mud; measuring moisture loss from the well; and reverse circulating a sand/gravel slurry through the thermal transfer conduit to establish an intermediate particulate mass extending adjacent to the filter cake.