Geothermal Exchange Module and a Method of use with an Augmented Water Temperature System

Abstract

The present invention is a geothermal exchange process to deliver water, in a closed loop ground to water system, at temperatures approaching that of ground water. Such water temperatures were heretofore only achievable with ground water systems. Optimum energy saving and performance of ground coupled heat pumps are directly linked to heat exchange between a circulating water loop and ground temperature. This invention allows for the optimization of energy and performance. The efficiency of heat pumps diminishes with descending outside air temperatures. This invention allows for the manipulation of entry water temperatures to stem the problem of diminishing efficiencies. The water system makes use of a uniquely designed geothermal exchange module with increased conductivity to maximize heat transfer into the water.

1 . The geothermal exchange module and augmented thermal exchange system comprises,
 a ground circuit;   an augmentation circuit;   a refrigerant loop;   a refrigerant/water heat pump;   an augmentation water/water heat exchanger;   a plurality of geothermal exchange module;   the ground circuit being linked with the refrigerant loop by means of the refrigerant/water heat pump;   the augmentation circuit being linked with the ground circuit by means of the augmentation water/water heat exchanger; and   each geothermal exchange module comprises of a thin wall outer shell, an inner pipe, an outer passageway, an inner passageways, a end plate, an o-ring seal, and optional tie rod.   
     
     
         2 . The geothermal exchange module and augmented thermal exchange system as claimed in  claim 1  comprises,
 the thin wall outer shell being cylindrically shaped; 
 the inner pipe being cylindrically shaped; and 
 the inner pipe being positioned within the thin wall outer shell in concentric relationship. 
 
     
     
         3 . The geothermal exchange module and augmented thermal exchange system as claimed in  claim 2  comprises,
 the inner pipe comprises of a plurality of openings; 
 the outer passageway being a space defined by the thin wall outer shell and the inner pipe; and 
 the inner passageway being a space traversing through the inner pipe. 
 
     
     
         4 . The geothermal exchange module and augmented thermal exchange system as claimed in  claim 3  comprises,
 the end plate being engaged to a top end of the thin wall outer shell sealing the outer passageway and sealing the inner passageway, wherein the outer passageway and the inner passageway are isolated; and 
 the outer passageway being filled with a conductive element, wherein the conductive element is sand. 
 
     
     
         5 . The geothermal exchange module and augmented thermal exchange system as claimed in  claim 3  comprises,
 the plurality of openings being positioned on a lower end of the inner pipe, wherein the plurality of openings connects the outer passageway with the inner passageway; and 
 the optional tie rod being traversed through the inner passageway and being secured to the end plate and the thin wall outer shell. 
 
     
     
         6 . The geothermal exchange module and augmented thermal exchange system as claimed in  claim 3  comprises,
 the end plate having a seal groove; and 
 the o-ring seal being positioned in between the seal groove and the thin wall outer shell to fully seal the inner passageway and the outer passageway. 
 
     
     
         7 . The augmented thermal exchange system using a geothermal exchange module as claimed in  claim 3  comprises,
 the plurality of geothermal exchange modules being connected in parallel relationship on the ground circuit; and 
 the ground circuit and the augmentation circuit being a closed system. 
 
     
     
         8 . A method of using a geothermal exchange module in an augmented thermal exchange system comprises,
 providing a refrigerant loop, a ground circuit, and a augmentation circuit;   flowing of water through the refrigerant loop, the ground circuit, and the augmentation circuit;   transferring of heat from the ground circuit to the refrigerant loop by means of a refrigerant/water heat pump; and   transferring of augmented heat from the augmentation circuit to the ground circuit by means of the augmentation water/water heat exchanger.   
     
     
         9 . The method of using a geothermal exchange module in an augmented thermal exchange system as claimed in  claim 8  comprises,
 cycling of the water flow in the ground circuit from the refrigerant/water heat pump to a plurality of geothermal exchange modules; 
 wherein the geothermal exchange modules are buried in bore holes underground; 
 extracting of ground heat from the ground by the geothermal exchange modules; and 
 absorbing of ground heat by the water flowing through the geothermal exchange modules. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method of using a geothermal exchange module in an augmented thermal exchange system as claimed in  claim 8  comprises,
 extracting the augmented heat from the augmentation circuit by the augmentation water/water heat exchanger; and 
 absorbing the augmented heat by the ground circuit through the augmentation water/water heat exchanger. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method of using a geothermal exchange module in an augmented thermal exchange system as claimed in  claim 9  comprises,
 wherein the flowing of the water within the ground circuit branches off into each of the plurality of geothermal exchange modules entering each of the geothermal exchange modules through an inner passageway, through a plurality of openings into an outer passageway, through a conductive element, and out back into the geothermal exchange loop. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of using a geothermal exchange module in an augmented thermal exchange system as claimed in  claim 10  comprises,
 wherein the augmentation circuit having a water heater in circuit is able to provide augmented heat for the ground circuit through the augmentation water/water heat exchanger; and 
 wherein the augmented heat is provided for the water flowing in the ground circuit on top of the heat extracted from the ground through the plurality of ground exchange modules. 
 
     
     
         13 . The geothermal exchange module and augmented thermal exchange system comprises,
 a ground circuit;   an augmentation circuit;   a refrigerant loop;   a refrigerant/water heat pump;   an augmentation water/water heat exchanger;   a plurality of geothermal exchange module;   the ground circuit being linked with the refrigerant loop by means of the refrigerant/water heat pump;   the augmentation circuit being linked with the ground circuit by means of the augmentation water/water heat exchanger;   each geothermal exchange module comprises of a thin wall outer shell, an inner pipe, an outer passageway, an inner passageways, a end plate, an o-ring seal, and optional tie rod;   the thin wall outer shell being cylindrically shaped;   the inner pipe being cylindrically shaped;   the inner pipe being positioned within the thin wall outer shell in concentric relationship;   the inner pipe comprises of a plurality of openings;   the outer passageway being a space defined by the thin wall outer shell and the inner pipe; and   the inner passageway being a space traversing through the inner pipe.   
     
     
         14 . The geothermal exchange module and augmented thermal exchange system as claimed in  claim 13  comprises,
 the end plate being engaged to a top end of the thin wall outer shell sealing the outer passageway and sealing the inner passageway, wherein the outer passageway and the inner passageway are isolated; and 
 the outer passageway being filled with a conductive element, wherein the conductive element is sand. 
 
     
     
         15 . The geothermal exchange module and augmented thermal exchange system as claimed in  claim 13  comprises,
 the plurality of openings being positioned on a lower end of the inner pipe, wherein the plurality of openings connects the outer passageway with the inner passageway; and 
 the optional tie rod being traversed through the inner passageway and being secured to the end plate and the thin wall outer shell. 
 
     
     
         16 . The geothermal exchange module and augmented thermal exchange system as claimed in  claim 13  comprises,
 the end plate having a seal groove; and 
 the o-ring seal being positioned in between the seal groove and the thin wall outer shell to fully seal the inner passageway and the outer passageway. 
 
     
     
         17 . The geothermal exchange module and augmented thermal exchange system as claimed in  claim 13  comprises,
 the plurality of geothermal exchange modules being connected in parallel relationship on the ground circuit; and 
 the ground circuit and the augmentation circuit being a closed system.