Geothermal Exchange System Using A Thermally Superconducting Medium With A Refrigerant Loop

Abstract

A geothermal exchange system is couplable to a ground coil formed from a thermal superconductor material, and transfers heat using a refrigerant loop. The device includes a compressor, a reversible refrigerant loop with two heat exchangers, one of which couplable to a thermal superconductor ground loop. The device uses a high thermal transfer superconductor to efficiently move heat to and from the earth source for the purpose of heating and cooling. The device operates in cooling or heating modes by controlling the thermal switches and activating the heat intensification circuit in response to the difference between a set point and a measured temperature. Alternatively, the system can be configured for heating only or cooling only modes, by operating the refrigerant loop in one direction.

1 . A geothermal exchange system employing a refrigerant loop with high heat transfer superconductor couplable to earth source, the system comprising: 
 (a) a compressor;    (b) a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger, each of said heat exchangers adapted to function interchangeably as an evaporator and a condenser, wherein said first heat exchanger is operable as an evaporator and said second heat exchanger is operable as a condenser when said system is operating in a cooling mode, and wherein said first heat exchanger is operable as a condenser and said second heat exchanger is operable as an evaporator when said system is operating in a heating mode;    (c) at least one first conduit in communication with said compressor and each of said heat exchangers and adapted for carrying refrigerant through said system to each of said heat exchangers, said at least one conduit including a return conduit for carrying refrigerant gas back to said compressor;    (d) a reversing valve in communication with said at least one conduit and configured to reverse the flow of refrigerant from said compressor to said heat exchangers depending upon whether said system is operating in said cooling mode or said heating mode;    (e) at least one of: 
 (1) an above-ground thermal superconductor segment thermally coupled to said second heat exchanger;  
 (2) a thermal interconnect thermally coupled to said second heat exchanger, and thermally couplable to a thermal superconductor segment such that heat transfer losses are less than 20%;  
   whereby, when said system is operating in heating mode, said valve is activated to direct refrigerant pumped from said compressor through said at least one conduit to said first heat exchanger where said refrigerant gas is condensed into liquid, through said return conduit to said second heat exchanger where said liquid is vaporized into gas and heat is efficiently transferred from earth source through at least one of said thermal superconductor and said thermal interconnect, and back to said compressor via said return conduit; and    whereby, when said system is operating in cooling mode, said valve is activated to direct refrigerant pumped from said compressor through said at least one conduit to said second heat exchanger where said refrigerant gas is condensed into liquid and heat is efficiently transferable to earth source through at least one of said thermal superconductor and said thermal interconnect, through said return conduit to said first heat exchanger wherein said liquid is vaporized into gas, and back to said compressor via said return conduit.    
     
     
         2 . The geothermal exchange system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one exterior thermally superconducting ground coil formed from a high heat transfer superconducting material, extending below a surface of earth allowing passive thermal conduction to the earth source and couplable to at least one of said thermal superconductor and said thermal interconnect.  
     
     
         3 . The geothermal exchange system of  claim 1 , further comprising a thermostat controller associated with said first heat exchanger and in communication with said reversing valve and said compressor, for controlling the valve and resultant heating or cooling mode in response to the difference between a desired temperature set point and a measured temperature set point received by the thermostat.  
     
     
         4 . The geothermal exchange system of  claim 1 , wherein said thermal superconductor material is an inorganic high heat transfer medium.  
     
     
         5 . The geothermal exchange system of  claim 4 , wherein said high heat transfer medium is applied in a sealed heat transfer pipe.  
     
     
         6 . The geothermal exchange system of  claim 5 , wherein said heat transfer pipe containing said high heat transfer medium is insulated above ground along a heat transfer segment extending up to said thermal coupling to said second heat exchanger, said heat transfer pipe having thermal conductivity greater than 100 times the thermal conductivity of silver, and substantially negligible heat loss along said heat transfer segment.  
     
     
         7 . The geothermal exchange system of  claim 3 , further comprising a blower positioned proximal to said first heat exchanger, and wherein said thermostat controller is connected to said blower to control operation in response to the difference between said set point and said measured temperature for the purpose of heating and cooling inside air.  
     
     
         8 . The geothermal exchange system of  claim 3 , further comprising an auxiliary heat exchanger coupled to said first heat exchanger, for the purpose of exchanging heat from or to said geothermal exchange system.  
     
     
         9 . The geothermal exchange system of  claim 7 , wherein said first heat exchanger is coupled to a sealable insulated enclosure, for the purpose of refrigerating the interior of said enclosure.  
     
     
         10 . The geothermal exchange system of  claim 3 , further comprising a secondary interior heat exchanger coupled to said first heat exchanger, for the purpose of exchanging heat in one of said heating and cooling modes.  
     
     
         11 . The geothermal exchange system of  claim 10 , wherein said secondary heat exchanger uses liquid for heat transfer.  
     
     
         12 . The geothermal exchange system of  claim 11 , wherein said liquid is water used for floor heating of said interior space.  
     
     
         13 . The geothermal exchange system of  claim 11 , wherein said liquid is water used for domestic purposes.  
     
     
         14 . The geothermal exchange system of  claim 11 , wherein said liquid is greywater used for heat recovery.  
     
     
         15 . The geothermal exchange system of  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 a first enclosure housing said compressor, said second heat exchanger, said controller and said reversing valve; and    a second enclosure housing said first heat exchanger and said blower positioned proximal to said segment, and having at least one vent formed therein;    wherein said first enclosure has openings formed therein to couple at least one of said thermal superconductor and said thermal interconnect, conduits and control lines, and said first enclosure and said second enclosure are connected by said conduit and control wires from said blower.    
     
     
         16 . The geothermal exchange system of  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 a first enclosure housing said compressor, controller means and reversing valve,    a second enclosure housing said first heat exchanger and said blower positioned proximal to said segment, and having at least one vent formed therein; and    a ground loop enclosure housing said second heat exchanger;    wherein said first enclosure has openings formed therein to couple to at least one of said thermal superconductor and said thermal interconnect, conduits and control lines, and said first enclosure and said second enclosure are connected by said conduit and control wires from said blower, and said ground loop enclosure housing is connected to said first enclosure housing by said conduit.    
     
     
         17 . The geothermal exchange system of  claim 3 , further comprising an enclosure housing said compressor, said thermostat, said first and second heat exchangers, said blower, and having at least one vent formed therein, wherein said enclosure has at least one opening formed therein for at least one of said thermal superconductor and said thermal interconnect to couple to said second heat exchanger, power source connections, and a water drain line.  
     
     
         18 . The geothermal exchange system of  claim 3 , further comprising: 
 a first enclosure housing said compressor, said thermostat, said first heat exchanger, said blower, and having at least one vent formed therein;    a second enclosure housing said second heat exchanger;    wherein said second enclosure has at least one opening formed therein for at least one of said thermal superconductor and said thermal interconnect to couple to said second heat exchanger.    
     
     
         19 . The geothermal exchange system of  claim 7 , further comprising a thermal mass contacting both above ground superconductor and said second heat exchanger, to indirectly transfer heat between both.  
     
     
         20 . The geothermal exchange system of  claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of said thermal superconductors are formed in discrete segments joined by substantially short thermally conducting joiners.  
     
     
         21 . The geothermal exchange system of  claim 3 , further comprising a receiver connected to said thermostat controller and a remote control for communicating information with said receiver such that thermostat set points and operations are wirelessly controllable.  
     
     
         22 . A heating device using an efficient geothermal system with high heat transfer superconductor couplable to earth source, the device comprising: 
 (a) a compressor;    (b) a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger, wherein said first heat exchanger is operable as an evaporator and said second heat exchanger is operable as a condenser in a cooling mode;    (c) at least one first conduit in communication with said compressor and first heat exchanger and adapted for carrying refrigerant through said system to each of said heat exchangers, said at least one conduit including a return conduit for carrying refrigerant gas back to said compressor from said second heat exchanger;    (d) at least one of: 
 (1) an above ground thermal superconductor segment thermally coupled to said second heat exchanger; and  
 (2) a thermal interconnect thermally coupled to said second heat exchanger, and thermally couplable to a thermal superconductor segment such that heat transfer losses are less than 20%;  
   whereby refrigerant is pumped from said compressor through said at least one conduit to said second heat exchanger where said refrigerant gas is condensed into liquid and heat is efficiently transferred to earth source through at least one of said thermal superconductor and said thermal interconnect, said refrigerant transfers through said return conduit to said first heat exchanger wherein said liquid is vaporized into gas, and back to said compressor via said return conduit.    
     
     
         23 . The heating device of  claim 22 , further comprising at least one exterior thermally superconducting ground coil formed from a high heat transfer superconducting material, extending below a surface of earth allowing passive thermal conduction to the earth source and couplable to at least one of said thermal superconductor and said thermal interconnect.  
     
     
         24 . The heating device of  claim 22 , further comprising a thermostat controller associated with said first heat exchanger and in communication with said compressor, for controlling the operation of the compressor in response to the difference between a desired temperature set point and a measured temperature set point received by the thermostat.  
     
     
         25 . The heating device of  claim 22 , wherein said thermal superconductor material is an inorganic high heat transfer medium.  
     
     
         26 . The heating device of  claim 25 , wherein said high heat transfer medium is applied in a sealed heat transfer pipe.  
     
     
         27 . The heating device of  claim 26 , wherein said heat transfer pipe containing said high heat transfer medium is insulated above ground along a heat transfer segment extending up to said thermal coupling to said second heat exchanger, said heat transfer pipe having thermal conductivity greater than 100 times the thermal conductivity of silver, and substantially negligible heat loss along said heat transfer segment.  
     
     
         28 . The heating device of  claim 24 , further comprising a blower positioned proximal to said first heat exchanger, and wherein said thermostat controller is connected to said blower to control operation in response to the difference between said set point and said measured temperature for the purpose of cooling inside air.  
     
     
         29 . The heating device of  claim 22 , further comprising an auxiliary heat exchanger coupled to said first heat exchanger, for the purpose of exchanging auxiliary heat.  
     
     
         30 . The heating device of  claim 29 , wherein said secondary heat exchanger uses liquid for heat transfer.  
     
     
         31 . The heating device of  claim 30 , wherein said liquid is water used for floor heating of said interior space.  
     
     
         32 . The heating device of  claim 30 , wherein said liquid is water used for domestic purposes.  
     
     
         33 . The heating device of  claim 30 , wherein said liquid is greywater used for heat recovery.  
     
     
         34 . The heating device of  claim 28  further comprising an enclosure housing said compressor, said thermostat, said first and second heat exchangers, said blower, and having at least one vent formed therein, wherein said enclosure has at least one opening formed therein for at least one of said thermal superconductor and said thermal interconnect to couple to said second heat exchanger, power source connections, and a water drain line.  
     
     
         35 . The heating device of  claim 28 , further comprising, 
 a first enclosure housing said compressor, said second heat exchanger and said controller; and    a second enclosure housing said first heat exchanger and said blower positioned proximal to said segment, and having at least one vent formed therein;    wherein said first enclosure has openings formed therein to couple at least one of said thermal superconductor and said thermal interconnect, conduits and control lines, and said first enclosure and said second enclosure are couplable by at least one of said thermal superconductor and said thermal interconnect and control wires from said blower.    
     
     
         36 . The heating device of  claim 22 , further comprising an a thermal mass contacting both above ground superconductor and said second heat exchanger, to indirectly transfer heat between both.  
     
     
         37 . The heating device of  claim 23 , wherein at least a portion of said thermal superconductors are formed in discrete segments joined by substantially short thermally conducting joiners.  
     
     
         38 . The heating device of  claim 24 , further comprising a receiver connected to said thermostat controller and a remote control for communicating information with said receiver such that thermostat set points and operations are wirelessly controllable.  
     
     
         39 . A cooling device employing an efficient geothermal system with a high heat transfer superconductor couplable to earth source, the device comprising: 
 (a) a compressor;    (b) a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger, wherein said first heat exchanger is operable as an evaporator and said second heat exchanger is operable as a condenser in a cooling mode;    (c) at least one first conduit in communication with said compressor and first heat exchanger and adapted for carrying refrigerant through said system to each of said heat exchangers, said at least one conduit including a return conduit for carrying refrigerant gas back to said compressor from said second heat exchanger;    (d) at least one of: 
 (1) an above ground thermal superconductor segment thermally coupled to said second heat exchanger; and  
 (2) a thermal interconnect thermally coupled to said second heat exchanger, and thermally couplable to thermal superconductor segment such that heat transfer losses are less than 20%;  
   whereby refrigerant is pumped from said compressor through said at least one conduit to said second heat exchanger where said refrigerant gas is condensed into liquid and heat is efficiently transferred to earth source through at least one of said thermal superconductor and said thermal interconnect, said refrigerant transfers through said return conduit to said first heat exchanger wherein said liquid is vaporized into gas, and back to said compressor via said return conduit.    
     
     
         40 . The cooling device of  claim 39 , further comprising at least one exterior thermally superconducting ground coil formed from a high heat transfer superconducting material, extending below a surface of earth allowing passive thermal conduction to the earth source and couplable to at least one of said thermal superconductor and said thermal interconnect.  
     
     
         41 . The cooling device of  claim 39 , further comprising a thermostat controller associated with said first heat exchanger and in communication with said compressor, for controlling the operation of the compressor in response to the difference between a desired temperature set point and a measured temperature set point received by the thermostat.  
     
     
         42 . The cooling device of  claim 39 , wherein said thermal superconductor material is an inorganic high heat transfer medium.  
     
     
         43 . The cooling device of  claim 42 , wherein said high heat transfer medium is applied in a sealed heat transfer pipe.  
     
     
         44 . The cooling device of  claim 43 , wherein said heat transfer pipe containing said high heat transfer medium is insulated above ground along a heat transfer segment extending up to said thermal coupling to said second heat exchanger, said heat transfer pipe having thermal conductivity greater than 100 times the thermal conductivity of silver, and substantially negligible heat loss along said heat transfer segment.  
     
     
         45 . The cooling device of  claim 41 , further comprising a blower positioned proximal to said first heat exchanger, and wherein said thermostat controller is connected to said blower to control operation in response to the difference between said set point and said measured temperature for the purpose of cooling inside air.  
     
     
         46 . The cooling device of  claim 39 , wherein said first heat exchanger is coupled to a sealable insulated enclosure, for the purpose of refrigerating the interior of said enclosure.  
     
     
         47 . The cooling device of  claim 41 , further comprising an enclosure housing said compressor, said thermostat, said first and second heat exchangers, said blower, and having at least one vent formed therein, wherein said enclosure has at least one opening formed therein for at least one of said thermal superconductor and said thermal interconnect to couple to said second heat exchanger, power source connections, and a water drain line.  
     
     
         48 . The cooling device of  claim 22 , further comprising: 
 a first housing said compressor, said second heat exchanger and said controller; and    a second enclosure housing said first heat exchanger and said blower positioned proximal to said segment, and having at least one vent formed therein,    wherein said first enclosure has openings to couple at least one of said thermal superconductor and said thermal interconnect, conduits and control lines, and said first enclosure and said second enclosure are couplable by at least one of said thermal superconductor and said thermal interconnect and control wires from said blower.    
     
     
         49 . The cooling device of  claim 40 , further comprising an a thermal mass contacting both above ground superconductor and said second heat exchanger, to indirectly transfer heat between both.  
     
     
         50 . The cooling device of  claim 40 , wherein at least a portion of said thermal superconductors are formed in discrete segments joined by substantially short thermally conducting joiners.  
     
     
         51 . The cooling device of  claim 41 , further comprising a receiver connected to said thermostat controller and a remote control for communicating information with said receiver such that thermostat set points and operations are wirelessly controllable.