Artificial Underground Water Heat Accumulator

Abstract

Disclosed is a device of a water heat accumulator or storage medium that is composed of water and at least one solid construction material which has a structure with hollow spaces and is specifically designed to absorb the entire amount of water and autonomously retain as much thereof as possible, has a statically load-bearing structure and can thus accommodate a superstructure, and can have water-permeable and/or hygroscopic properties. All additional equipment required for operating and utilizing the heat accumulator is assigned to said water heat accumulator or storage medium. The inventive device is characterized in that the construction material is a foam product or a construction material which is composed of several identical and/or different solid construction materials that are fixedly interconnected.

1 - 8 . (canceled) 
   
   
       9 . A heat accumulator mounted in a pit in the ground, the heat accumulator comprising a heat storage medium, wherein the heat storage medium
 a) is solid,   b) comprises cavities suitable to absorb and retain a liquid,   c) is water-permeable or hygroscopic, and   d) is load-bearing.   
   
   
       10 . A heat accumulator as in  claim 9 , wherein the cavities in the heat storage medium are filled with water. 
   
   
       11 . A heat accumulator as in  claim 9 , wherein the cavities in the storage medium are pores, seams, cracks, capillaries, or a combination thereof. 
   
   
       12 . A heat accumulator as in  claim 9 , wherein the heat storage medium is sufficiently load bearing to allow buildings and other structures to be built over the heat accumulator. 
   
   
       13 . A heat accumulator as in  claim 9 , wherein the heat storage medium is made of hardened foam. 
   
   
       14 . A heat accumulator as in  claim 9 , wherein about 80% of the volume of the heat storage medium consist of water. 
   
   
       15 . A heat accumulator as in  claim 9 , wherein the heat storage medium is made of foamed concrete. 
   
   
       16 . A heat accumulator as in  claim 9 , wherein the heat storage medium contains pumice. 
   
   
       17 . A heat accumulator as in  claim 9 , wherein the heat storage medium is made of pieces which are joined together solid. 
   
   
       18 . A heat accumulator as in  claim 9 , wherein the heat storage medium is formed by pouring a liquid construction material into the pit in the ground and letting it harden solid. 
   
   
       19 . A heat accumulator as in  claim 18 , wherein the heat storage medium comprises a hardened outer shell where the liquid construction material was in contact with the surrounding soil. 
   
   
       20 . A heat storage medium for use in a water heat accumulator, wherein the heat storage medium is a solid material containing a plurality of cavities which can absorb and retain a liquid. 
   
   
       21 . A heat storage medium as in  claim 20 , wherein the cavities in the storage medium are pores, seams, cracks, capillaries, or a combination thereof. 
   
   
       22 . A heat storage medium as in  claim 20 , having water-permeable or hygroscopic properties or both. 
   
   
       23 . A heat accumulator comprising two or more heat storage mediums as in  claim 20 . 
   
   
       24 . A heat accumulator as in  claim 23 , wherein the heat storage mediums are pre-fabricated elements which are joined together during installation of the heat accumulator. 
   
   
       25 . A heat storage medium as in  claim 20 , wherein the liquid is added to the heat storage medium after it has been installed.