Geothermal Heating, Ventilating and Cooling System

Abstract

An apparatus for modifying an atmosphere for use in a conditioned zone of a structure. The apparatus typically includes an underground air conduit system to take advantage of geothermal conditions to modify the temperature of air and water vapor flowing through the apparatus. A drain is typically provided for removal of water vapor that condenses to liquid in the air conduit. In some embodiments air from the conditioned zone of the structure may be recycled through the apparatus, together with a source of air that originates outside the conditioned zone of the structure. The apparatus may be integrated into other heating and cooling systems as appropriate to further control the air temperature. The apparatus may be combined with a solar heated water heater or “trombe” wall type structure where the heat generation in the winter provides a complete balance for year round stable and livable air temperatures.

1 . An apparatus for modifying an atmosphere for use in a conditioned zone of a structure, comprising:
 a tank for containing a thermal ballast material in an underground space below a grade level; and   an air conduit system disposed within the tank for contacting the thermal ballast material, the air conduit system having an entry passage with an entry port for an air flow connection with the conditioned zone of the structure and an exit passage with an exit port for the air flow connection with the conditioned zone of the structure.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the air conduit system comprises a conduit having a serpentine path. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the air conduit system comprises a plurality of conduits following substantially parallel serpentine paths. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the tank has a lid and the apparatus further comprises insulative foam disposed above the lid and below the grade level. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the tank has a domed bottom formed convex toward the underground space. 
   
   
       6 . A method for forming an apparatus for modifying an atmosphere for use in a conditioned zone of a structure, comprising:
 (a) excavating a space underground below a grade level;   (b) casting a tank in-situ in the space;   (c) disposing in the tank an air conduit system having an entry passage with an entry port and an exit passage with an exit port, wherein the entry port and the exit port are above the grade level;   (d) disposing a thermal ballast material in the tank;   (e) disposing a lid on the tank, the lid covering the tank and the thermal ballast material   (f) backfilling to substantially the grade level the space underground that is not occupied by the tank, the lid, the entry passage, and the exit passage, while providing for retention of the entry port and the exit port above the grade level.   
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein step (e) further comprises disposing a foam insulation above the lid on the tank below the grade level, and wherein step (f) comprises backfilling to substantially the grade level the space underground that is not occupied by the tank, the lid, the foam insulation, the entry passage, and the exit passage, while providing for retention of the entry port and the exit port above the grade level. 
   
   
       8 . A method for forming an apparatus for modifying an atmosphere for use in a conditioned zone of a structure, comprising:
 (a) excavating a space underground below a grade level;   (b) disposing a first thermal transfer material portion in the space;   (c) disposing a tank having a bottom and sides in the space, where the bottom of the tank rests on the thermal transfer material;   (g) disposing in the tank an air conduit system having an entry passage with an entry port and an exit passage with an exit port, wherein the entry port and the exit port are above the grade level;   (h) disposing a thermal ballast material in the tank;   (i) disposing a lid on the tank, the lid covering the tank and the thermal ballast material;   (j) disposing a second thermal transfer material portion in the space adjacent the sides of the tank;   (k) backfilling to substantially the grade level the space underground that is not occupied by the tank, the lid, the entry passage, the exit passage, and the thermal transfer material, while providing for retention of the entry port and the exit port above the grade level.   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein step (i) further comprises disposing a foam insulation above the lid on the tank below the grade level, and wherein step (k) comprises backfilling to substantially the grade level the space underground that is not occupied by the tank, the lid, the foam insulation, the entry passage, the exit passage, and the thermal transfer material, while providing for retention of the entry port and the exit port above the grade level. 
   
   
       10 . A method for modifying an atmosphere for use in a conditioned zone of a structure, comprising:
 (a) establishing a cycle of transitions between on and off phases of flow outside air through an underground air conduit to reformulate the outside air as conditioned air for use in the conditioned zone of the structure;   (b) monitoring the off phase for a likelihood of an undesirable characteristic of the conditioned air in the air conduit;   (c) prior to the transition from an off phase of flow to an on phase of flow, discharging the conditioned air in the air conduit to an outside atmosphere if the likelihood of the undesirable characteristic exceeds a threshold value.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein step (b) comprises monitoring a time duration of the off phase and wherein the threshold value of step (c) comprises an elapsed time interval. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein step (b) comprises monitoring a temperature of the conditioned air in the air conduit and wherein the threshold value of step (c) comprises a maximum temperature. 
   
   
       13 . An apparatus for modifying an atmosphere for use in a conditioned zone of a structure, comprising:
 an air conduit having a length and being disposed at least partially in a stable temperature environment, wherein the air conduit has an entry port that is open to an outdoor atmosphere that is external to the conditioned zone of the structure;   an air movement system for conveying a flow of air and water vapor from the entry port through the air conduit and out an exit port in the air conduit into the conditioned zone of the structure; and   at least one drain that is in flow communication with the air conduit, the drain having at least one drain outlet for receiving and expelling to the outdoor atmosphere that is external to conditioned zone of the structure a substantial portion of any water vapor that condenses to a liquid water as the air and the water vapor flow through the air conduit;   wherein the apparatus is further configured such that substantially all of the air and water vapor that flows through the apparatus travels a distance that is substantially equal to the length of the air conduit.   
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the at least one drain comprises a drainage pipe that has a length that is substantially the same length as the length of the air conduit and that is disposed in a substantially continuously-downward-sloping orientation. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the at least one drain comprises a drainage pipe that is disposed in a substantially continuously-downward-sloping orientation and the at least one drain outlet is disposed proximal to the entry point or proximal to the entry port of the air conduit. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the air conduit is disposed in a substantially continuously-downward-sloping orientation from the exit port to the entry port and the drain comprises a trough portion of the air conduit and the entry port comprises the at least one drain outlet. 
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the air conduit is disposed in a substantially continuously-downward-sloping orientation and the at least one drain comprises a trough portion of the air conduit and the at least one drain outlet comprises a drain hole in the trough portion. 
   
   
       18 . A system for conditioning air in a conditioned zone of a structure, comprising:
 a source of air external to the conditioned zone;   a regulator configured to provide a regulated flow rate of external air from the source of external air;   an air conduit system disposed at least partially in a stable temperature environment and having a first entry port that is in fluid communication with the air in the conditioned zone of the structure, and having a second entry port that is in fluid communication with the regulated flow rate of external air, and having an exit port into the conditioned zone of the structure; and   a source of pressure differential that flows air into the air conduit system from the first entry port and from the second entry port of the air conduit system and through a substantial portion of the air conduit system and out of the exit port of the air conduit system into the conditioned zone of the structure.   
   
   
       19 . An apparatus for modifying an atmosphere for use in a conditioned zone of a structure, comprising a plurality of flow reversion blocks interconnected by air conduit, each block having a plurality of openings in only one face, wherein air enters the block through one or more openings in the face and exits the block through one or more openings the face.