Geothermal hybrid heat exchange system

Abstract

A geothermal hybrid heat exchange system is provided. The system includes a heat pump having a first fluid port and a second fluid port, a fluid reservoir, and at least one earth loop. A first end of the earth loop is connected to the first fluid port of the heat pump and the second fluid port of the heat pump and the second end of the earth loop are coupled in fluid communication with the reservoir so that fluid in the reservoir passes through the earth loop and the heat pump during heating/cooling operation of the heat pump.

1 . A geothermal hybrid heat exchange system comprising:
 a heat pump having a first fluid port and a second fluid port;   a fluid reservoir; and   at least one earth loop having first and second ends, the first end being connected to the first fluid port of the heat pump, and the second fluid port of the heat pump and the second end of the at least one earth loop coupled in fluid communication with the reservoir so that fluid in the reservoir passes through the earth loop and the heat pump during heating/cooling operation of the heat pump.   
   
   
       2 . A geothermal hybrid heat exchange system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the reservoir is a relatively large underground tank. 
   
   
       3 . A geothermal hybrid heat exchange system as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the relatively large underground tank has a fluid capacity ten times the fluid capacity of the heat pump and the earth loop or more. 
   
   
       4 . A geothermal hybrid heat exchange system as claimed in  claim 1  further including a circulating pump coupled to circulate fluid from the reservoir through the earth loop when the heat pump is not operating. 
   
   
       5 . A geothermal hybrid heat exchange system as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the circulating pump is a component of the heat pump. 
   
   
       6 . A geothermal hybrid heat exchange system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the reservoir further includes a fresh fluid inlet and a hot/cold saturated fluid outlet. 
   
   
       7 . A geothermal hybrid heat exchange system as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the reservoir further includes a flow of fresh fluid into the inlet of the reservoir and a flow of hot/cold saturated fluid through the fluid outlet of the reservoir controlled by a sensor and a circulating pump. 
   
   
       8 . A geothermal hybrid heat exchange system comprising:
 a heat pump having a first fluid port and a second fluid port, the heat pump including heating and cooling operations;   a relatively large underground fluid reservoir;   at least one earth loop having first and second ends, the first end being connected to the first fluid port of the heat pump, and the second fluid port of the heat pump and the second end of the at least one earth loop coupled in fluid communication with the reservoir so that fluid in the reservoir passes through the earth loop and the heat pump during heating/cooling operations of the heat pump; and   a circulating pump coupled to circulate fluid from the reservoir through the earth loop when the heat pump is not operating.   
   
   
       9 . A geothermal hybrid heat exchange system as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the circulating pump is a component of the heat pump. 
   
   
       10 . A geothermal hybrid heat exchange system as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the reservoir further includes a fresh fluid inlet and a hot/cold saturated fluid outlet. 
   
   
       11 . A geothermal hybrid heat exchange system as claimed in  claim 10  wherein the reservoir further includes a flow of fresh fluid into the inlet of the reservoir and a flow of hot/cold saturated fluid through the fluid outlet of the reservoir controlled by a sensor and a circulating pump. 
   
   
       12 . A method of heating/cooling an area comprising the steps of:
 providing a heat pump including a heat exchanger situated within the area to be heated/cooled, a relatively large underground fluid reservoir, and at least one earth loop;   filling the heat pump, the earth loop, and the reservoir to capacity with a fluid;   circulating the fluid from the reservoir through the heat pump and the at least one earth loop during heating/cooling operation.   
   
   
       13 . A method as claimed in  claim 12  including the steps of circulating the fluid from the reservoir through the heat pump and the at least one earth loop at a high rate during heating/cooling operation and circulating the fluid from the reservoir through the at least one earth loop at a lower rate during non-heating/cooling operation. 
   
   
       14 . A method as claimed in  claim 12  including a step of providing a circulating pump and connecting the circulating pump to circulate fluid from the reservoir through the earth loop, and further connecting the circulating pump to operate when the heat pump is not operating so as to utilize the reservoir as a heat sink. 
   
   
       15 . A method as claimed in  claim 12  including a step of providing a fluid inlet to the reservoir and coupling the fluid inlet to a source of fresh fluid, providing a saturated fluid outlet from the reservoir and coupling the saturated fluid outlet to a fluid disposal, and introducing fresh fluid from the fluid inlet to the reservoir and removing saturated fluid from the reservoir through the saturated fluid outlet when the fluid in the reservoir has reached a saturated state.