Geothermal tank vault with transition fittings

Abstract

A geothermal vault apparatus for use in a geothermal system includes a tank vault to enclose the one or more manifolds of the system. The tank vault includes a tank shell defining an interior volume (e.g., formed of fiber reinforced plastic material), an access opening to permit a person to enter the tank shell, and an arrangement of a plurality of transition fittings located in a cylindrical wall of the tank shell and configured to couple a plurality of energy transfer pipes (e.g., HPDE pipes) to a plurality of ports of the one or more manifolds enclosed within the tank vault.

1 . A geothermal apparatus for use in a geothermal system, wherein the geothermal system includes a plurality of energy transfer pipes for transfer of energy from a ground source to a solution to be transported to a heat pump apparatus, the geothermal apparatus comprising:
 one or more manifolds used in controlling the flow of the solution from the plurality of energy transfer pipes to the heat pump apparatus, wherein the one or more manifolds comprise a plurality of ports; and   a tank vault to enclose the one or more manifolds used to control the flow of the solution, the tank vault comprising:
 a tank shell comprising at least a cylindrical wall terminating in two dome-shaped ends and defining an interior volume, wherein the cylindrical wall comprises a fiber reinforced plastic material; 
 an access opening sized to permit a person to enter the tank shell; and 
 an arrangement of a plurality of transition fittings located in the cylindrical wall of the tank shell and configured to couple the plurality of energy transfer pipes to the plurality of ports of the one or more manifolds enclosed within the tank vault, wherein each of the plurality of transition fittings comprises a transition pipe formed of at least a polymer material connectable to one of the plurality of energy transfer pipes and coupled to one of the plurality of ports of the one or more manifolds, wherein each transition fitting provides for a water tight seal at the cylindrical wall of the tank shell between the transition pipe and the cylindrical wall comprising the fiber reinforced plastic material. 
   
     
     
         2 . The geothermal apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the transition pipe comprises a polyethylene material. 
     
     
         3 . The geothermal apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the transition pipe is formed of at least high density polyethylene material and is connectable to an energy transfer pipe formed of high density polyethylene material. 
     
     
         4 . The geothermal apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the transition pipe of the transition fitting comprises an inner wall defining an opening through the transition pipe, wherein the inner wall of the transition pipe comprises at least high density polyethylene, and further wherein the transition pipe comprises an outer wall facing opposite the inner wall, wherein the outer wall of the transition pipe comprises at least fiber reinforced plastic material, and further wherein at least a portion of the outer wall of the transition pipe is coupled to the cylindrical wall using fiber reinforced plastic material. 
     
     
         5 . The geothermal apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the transition fitting comprises a sleeve formed of a fiber reinforced plastic material or a metal material, the sleeve comprising an inner wall defining an opening through the sleeve, wherein the inner wall of the sleeve is coupled to the transition pipe to provide a water tight seal therebetween, and further wherein the transition fitting comprises a sleeve formed of a fiber reinforced plastic material or a metal material, the sleeve comprising an outer wall coupled to the cylindrical wall using fiber reinforced plastic material. 
     
     
         6 . The geothermal apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the transition fitting comprises a sleeve formed of a fiber reinforced plastic material or a metal material, the sleeve comprising an inner wall defining an opening through the sleeve, wherein the inner wall of the sleeve is coupled to the transition pipe to provide a water tight seal therebetween, and further wherein the opening defined by the inner wall lies along an axis of the sleeve, and further wherein the transition fitting comprises a flange extending about the sleeve non-orthogonal to the axis, the flange being coupled to the cylindrical wall of the tank shell using fiber reinforced plastic material. 
     
     
         7 . The geothermal apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the transition fitting comprises:
 a sleeve formed of a metal material, wherein the sleeve comprises an inner wall defining an opening through the sleeve along an axis thereof;   an insert configured to be inserted into an opening of the transition pipe, wherein the transition pipe is press fit between the insert and the sleeve; and   a flange formed of a metal material extending about the sleeve non-orthogonal to the axis, the flange being coupled to the cylindrical wall of the tank shell using fiber reinforced plastic material.   
     
     
         8 . The geothermal apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the transition fitting comprises:
 a sleeve formed of a metal material, wherein the sleeve comprises an inner wall defining an opening through the sleeve along an axis thereof from a first end to a second to of the sleeve, wherein the second end of the sleeve is threaded, and further wherein the inner wall of the sleeve is coupled to the transition pipe to provide a water tight seal therebetween; and   a coupling extending from a first end to a second end, the coupling comprising an outer wall formed of a fiber reinforced plastic material and an inner wall defining an opening for receiving a portion of the transition pipe therein, wherein inner wall of the first end of the coupling is threaded to mate with the second end of the sleeve and the outer wall of the coupling is coupled to the cylindrical wall using fiber reinforced plastic material.   
     
     
         9 . The geothermal apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical wall extends along an axis of the tank shell between the dome-shaped ends, and further wherein multiple transition fittings of the plurality of transition fittings are linearly aligned along the cylindrical wall parallel to the axis of the tank shell. 
     
     
         10 . The geothermal apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tank shell comprises a single, double, or triple wall tank, and further wherein the tank shell is associated with one or more circumferential ribs spaced along an axis of the cylindrical wall of the tank shell. 
     
     
         11 . A vault apparatus for use in a geothermal system, wherein the geothermal system includes a plurality of energy transfer pipes for transfer of energy from a ground source to a solution to be transported to a heat pump apparatus via one or more manifolds, the vault apparatus comprising:
 a tank shell comprising at least a cylindrical wall terminating in two dome-shaped ends and defining an interior volume, wherein the cylindrical wall comprises fiber reinforced plastic material;   an access opening sized to permit a person to enter the tank shell; and   an arrangement of a plurality of transition fittings located in the cylindrical wall of the tank shell and configured to couple the plurality of energy transfer pipes to a plurality of ports of the one or more manifolds, wherein each of the plurality of transition fittings comprises a transition pipe connectable to one of the plurality of energy transfer pipes and connectable to one of the plurality of ports of the one or more manifolds, wherein each transition fitting provides for a water tight seal at the cylindrical wall of the tank shell between the transition pipe and the cylindrical wall comprising the fiber reinforced plastic material.   
     
     
         12 . The vault apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the transition pipe comprises a polyethylene material. 
     
     
         13 . The vault apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the transition pipe is formed of at least high density polyethylene material and is connectable to an energy transfer pipe formed of high density polyethylene material. 
     
     
         14 . The vault apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the transition pipe of the transition fitting comprises an inner wall defining an opening through the transition pipe, wherein the inner wall of the transition pipe comprises at least high density polyethylene, and further wherein the transition pipe comprises an outer wall facing opposite the inner wall, wherein the outer wall of the transition pipe comprises at least fiber reinforced plastic material, and further wherein at least a portion of the outer wall of the transition pipe is coupled to the cylindrical wall using fiber reinforced plastic material. 
     
     
         15 . The vault apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the transition fitting comprises a sleeve formed of a fiber reinforced plastic material or a metal material, the sleeve comprising an inner wall defining an opening through the sleeve, wherein the inner wall of the sleeve is coupled to the transition pipe to provide a water tight seal therebetween, and further wherein the transition fitting comprises a sleeve formed of a fiber reinforced plastic material or a metal material, the sleeve comprising an outer wall coupled to the cylindrical wall using fiber reinforced plastic material. 
     
     
         16 . The vault apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the transition fitting comprises a sleeve formed of a fiber reinforced plastic material or a metal material, the sleeve comprising an inner wall defining an opening through the sleeve, wherein the inner wall of the sleeve is coupled to the transition pipe to provide a water tight seal therebetween, and further wherein the opening defined by the inner wall lies along an axis of the sleeve, and further wherein the transition fitting comprises a flange extending about the sleeve non-orthogonal to the axis, the flange being coupled to the cylindrical wall of the tank shell using fiber reinforced plastic material. 
     
     
         17 . The vault apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the transition fitting comprises:
 a sleeve formed of a metal material, wherein the sleeve comprises an inner wall defining an opening through the sleeve along an axis thereof;   an insert configured to be inserted into an opening of the transition pipe, wherein the transition pipe is press fit between the insert and the sleeve; and   a flange formed of a metal material extending about the sleeve non-orthogonal to the axis, the flange being coupled to the cylindrical wall of the tank shell using fiber reinforced plastic material.   
     
     
         18 . The vault apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the transition fitting comprises:
 a sleeve formed of a metal material, wherein the sleeve comprises an inner wall defining an opening through the sleeve along an axis thereof from a first end to a second to of the sleeve, wherein the second end of the sleeve is threaded, and further wherein the inner wall of the sleeve is coupled to the transition pipe to provide a water tight seal therebetween; and   a coupling extending from a first end to a second end, the coupling comprising an outer wall formed of a fiber reinforced plastic material and an inner wall defining an opening for receiving a portion of the transition pipe therein, wherein inner wall of the first end of the coupling is threaded to mate with the second end of the sleeve and the outer wall of the coupling is coupled to the cylindrical wall using fiber reinforced plastic material.   
     
     
         19 . The vault apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the cylindrical wall extends along an axis of the tank shell between the dome-shaped ends, and further wherein multiple transition fittings of the plurality of transition fittings are linearly aligned along the cylindrical wall parallel to the axis of the tank shell. 
     
     
         20 . The vault apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the tank shell comprises a single, double, or triple wall tank, and further wherein the tank shell is associated with one or more circumferential ribs spaced along an axis of the cylindrical body of the tank shell. 
     
     
         21 . A method of installing a geothermal vault apparatus for use in a geothermal system, wherein the geothermal system includes a plurality of energy transfer pipes for transfer of energy from a ground source to a solution to be transported to a heat pump apparatus, the method comprising:
 delivering a geothermal vault apparatus to a site for installation, wherein the geothermal vault apparatus comprises:
 one or more manifolds used in controlling the flow of the solution from the plurality of energy transfer pipes to the heat pump apparatus; 
 a tank vault enclosing the one or more manifolds used to control the flow of the solution, the tank vault comprising:
 a tank shell comprising at least a cylindrical wall terminating in two dome-shaped ends and defining an interior volume, wherein the cylindrical wall comprises a fiber reinforced plastic material; 
 an access opening sized to permit a person to enter the tank shell; and 
 an arrangement of a plurality of transition fittings located in the cylindrical wall of the tank shell and configured to couple the plurality of energy transfer pipes to a plurality of ports of the one or more manifolds enclosed within the tank vault, wherein each of the plurality of transition fittings comprises a transition pipe connectable to one of the plurality of energy transfer pipes and coupled to one of the plurality of ports of the one or more manifolds, wherein each transition fitting provides for a water tight seal at the cylindrical wall of the tank shell between the transition pipe and the cylindrical wall comprising the fiber reinforced plastic material; and 
 
   positioning the geothermal vault apparatus into a hole at the site.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the method further comprises installing a ballast system to provide a non-buoyant vault apparatus in the hole. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the transition pipe comprises a polyethylene material to be coupled to an energy transfer pipe also formed of a polyethylene material. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the tank shell comprises a single, double, or triple wall tank, and further wherein the tank shell is associated with one or more circumferential ribs spaced along an axis of the cylindrical body of the tank shell. 
     
     
         25 . A tank apparatus for connection to one or more fluid transfer pipes, wherein each of the one or more fluid transfer pipes is formed of high density polyethylene material, the tank apparatus comprising:
 a tank shell comprising at least a cylindrical wall terminating in two ends and defining an interior volume, wherein the cylindrical wall comprises fiber reinforced plastic material; and   one or more transition fittings located in the cylindrical wall of the tank shell and configured to couple the one or more fluid transfer pipes to the interior of the tank shell, wherein each of the one or more transition fittings comprises a transition pipe connectable to one of the one or more fluid transfer pipes, wherein each transition fitting provides for a water tight seal at the cylindrical wall of the tank shell between the transition pipe and the cylindrical wall comprising the fiber reinforced plastic material, and further wherein the transition pipe of the transition fitting comprises an inner wall defining an opening through the transition pipe, wherein the inner wall of the transition pipe comprises at least high density polyethylene, and further wherein the transition pipe comprises an outer wall facing opposite the inner wall, wherein the outer wall of the transition pipe comprises at least fiber reinforced plastic material, and further wherein at least a portion of the outer wall of the transition pipe is coupled to the cylindrical wall using fiber reinforced plastic material.   
     
     
         26 . The tank apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the tank shell comprises a single, double, or triple wall tank, and further wherein the tank shell is associated with one or more circumferential ribs spaced along an axis of the cylindrical body of the tank shell.