Geothermal air conditioning system

Abstract

Provided is a geothermal air conditioning system. The system includes a plurality of indoor units, at least one outdoor unit, a ground heat exchanger, and an auxiliary heat source. The plurality of indoor units condition indoor air, the at least one outdoor unit communicates with the indoor units via, a plurality of pipes, and includes an outdoor heat exchanger where heat exchange occurs, and a plurality of compressors for compressing coolant. The ground heat exchanger is connected with the outdoor heat exchanger of the outdoor unit, and laid under the ground to allow heat to be exchanged between ground heat and a circulating medium circulating through the ground heat exchanger. The auxiliary heat source is installed on one side of the outdoor unit to assist heat exchange of the outdoor heat exchanger.

1 . A geothermal air conditioning system comprising:
 a plurality of indoor units for conditioning indoor air;   at least one outdoor unit communicating with the indoor units via a plurality of pipes, and including an outdoor heat exchanger where heat exchange occurs, and a plurality of compressors for compressing coolant;   a ground heat exchanger connected with the outdoor heat exchanger of the outdoor unit, and laid under the ground to allow heat to be exchanged between ground heat and a circulating medium circulating through the ground heat exchanger; and   an auxiliary heat source installed on one side of the outdoor unit to assist heat exchange of the outdoor heat exchanger.   
   
   
       2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the compressor comprises:
 a constant-speed compressor operating in a constant speed; and   an inverter compressor, which is a variable speed heat pump.   
   
   
       3 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein the constant-speed compressor is selectively used depending on the number of indoor units of the plurality of indoor units, that are required to operate for one of a cooling cycle and a heating cycle. 
   
   
       4 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein the constant-speed compressor is additionally operated when a load increases and is not handled by the inverter compressor alone. 
   
   
       5 . A geothermal air conditioning system comprising:
 a plurality of indoor units for conditioning indoor air;   a plurality of outdoor units provided on one side of the indoor unit and including an outdoor heat exchanger where coolant circulating through the outdoor heat exchanger exchanges heat with outside air, and a compressor for compressing the coolant;   a plurality of ground heat exchangers connected with the outdoor heat exchanger of the outdoor unit, and laid under the ground to allow heat to be exchanged between ground heat and a circulating medium circulating through the ground heat exchangers; and   a circulation distributor installed between the plurality of outdoor heat exchangers and the ground heat exchangers to control flow of the circulating medium depending on an operating condition.   
   
   
       6 . The system according to  claim 5 , wherein a circulating pipe is provided between the outdoor heat exchanger and the ground heat exchanger to guide circulation of the circulating medium, and a circulating pump for forcing flowing of the circulating medium is installed at the circulating pipe. 
   
   
       7 . The system according to  claim 6 , wherein the circulation distributor controls the circulating medium supplied to the plurality of ground heat exchangers depending on one of a user's setting and a load condition. 
   
   
       8 . The system according to  claim 6 , wherein the circulation distributor controls the circulating medium to selectively flow to the outdoor heat exchangers depending on whether the plurality of outdoor heat exchangers operate. 
   
   
       9 . The system according to  claim 6 , wherein a plurality of circulating pumps are installed. 
   
   
       10 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein the circulating pump comprises:
 a fixed delivery type circulating pump having a fixed volume to be delivered; and   a variable delivery type circulating pump whose volume to be delivered is variable.   
   
   
       11 . The system according to  claim 10 , wherein the fixed delivery type circulating pump is additionally operated when loads applied to the plurality of outdoor heat exchangers increase and are not handled by the variable delivery type circulating pump alone. 
   
   
       12 . The system according to  claim 5 , further comprising a coolant distributor connected between the plurality of indoor units and outdoor units to control the coolant's flow depending on an operating condition. 
   
   
       13 . A geothermal air conditioning system comprising:
 a plurality of indoor units for conditioning indoor air;   at least one outdoor unit communicating with the indoor units via a plurality of pipes, and including an outdoor heat exchanger where heat exchange occurs, and a plurality of compressors for compressing coolant;   a ground heat exchanger connected with the outdoor heat exchanger of the outdoor unit, and laid under the ground to allow heat to be exchanged between ground heat and a circulating medium circulating through the ground heat exchanger;   an auxiliary heat source installed on one side of the outdoor unit to assist heat exchange of the outdoor heat exchanger;   a circulation distributor installed between the plurality of outdoor heat exchangers and the ground heat exchangers to control flow of the circulating medium depending on an operating condition;   a circulating pipe installed between the outdoor heat exchanger and the ground heat exchanger to guide circulation of the circulating medium; and   circulating pumps installed at the circulating pipe to force flowing of the circulating medium.   
   
   
       14 . The system according to  claim 13 , wherein the circulating pump comprises:
 a fixed delivery type circulating pump having a fixed volume to be delivered; and   a variable delivery type circulating pump whose volume to be delivered is variable.   
   
   
       15 . The system according to  claim 14 , wherein the fixed delivery type circulating pump is additionally operated when loads applied to the plurality of outdoor heat exchangers increase and are not handled by the variable delivery type circulating pump alone. 
   
   
       16 . The system according to  claim 13 , wherein the compressor comprises:
 a constant-speed compressor operating in a constant speed; and   an inverter compressor, which is a variable speed heat pump.   
   
   
       17 . The system according to  claim 16 , wherein the constant-speed compressor is selectively used depending on the number of indoor units of the plurality of indoor units, that are required to operate for one of a cooling cycle and a heating cycle. 
   
   
       18 . The system according to  claim 16 , wherein the constant-speed compressor is additionally operated when a load increases and is not handled by the inverter compressor alone.