System and method of maximizing performance of a solid-state closed loop well heat exchanger

Abstract

A heat exchanger transfers heat from solid state heat conducting material to a fluid in a closed loop system. A heat harnessing component includes a closed-loop solid state heat extraction system having a heat exchanging element positioned within a heat nest in a well designed to optimize the transfer of heat from heat conductive material to a closed loop fluid flow. A piping system conveys contents heated by the heat exchanging element to a surface of the well.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . Apparatus, including a heat nest, configured to be positioned in a bore hole at the bottom of a well for receiving fluid from a downward-flowing feeder pipe and providing heated fluid to upward-flowing feeder pipes, comprising:
 a heat conductive material and grout configured to fill the bore hole; and   a fluid heat exchanging element configured with multiple pipes having spaces in-between that are filled with the heat conductive material and grout, the multiple pipes being configured in relation to one another to increase the length of the travel path through the heat conductive material and grout and also to increase the heat transfer surface area increasing the transfer capability with the heat conductive material and grout, so the fluid has a longer period of time to pick up heat from the heat conductive material.   
     
     
         12 . Apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the multiple pipes are configured as double helix pipes, each pipe having a diameter that is equal to or greater than the downward and upward flowing feeder pipes. 
     
     
         13 . Apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the twisted nature of the multiple pipes increases the length of the travel path through the heat conductive material and also increases the heat transfer surface area increasing the transfer capability with the heat conductive material and grout. 
     
     
         14 . Apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the twisted nature of the multiple pipes increases the length of the travel path through the heat conductive material and also increases the heat transfer surface area increasing the transfer capability with the heat conductive material and grout. 
     
     
         15 . Apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the multiple pipes are a collection of smaller heat exchanger pipes, where the sum of the volume capacity of the smaller heat exchanger pipes is greater than the volume capacity of the downward and upward flowing feeder pipes. 
     
     
         16 . Apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein increased volume of the smaller heat exchanger pipes slows the fluid flow and increased surface area of the smaller heat exchanger pipes increases the heat transfer capability. 
     
     
         17 . Apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the smaller diameter of the smaller heat exchanger pipes is configured to allow more of the fluid to be exposed to the heat from the heat conductive material and grout thereby increasing the capability of the transfer of heat. 
     
     
         18 . Apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the larger volume of the smaller heat exchanger pipes increases the time the fluid spends within the heat conductive material and grout, and increased surface area of the smaller heat exchanger pipes and the smaller diameters increases the heat transfer capability, such that the increased time allows the fluid a longer time to pick up the heat from the heat conductive material and grout and the increased surface area and smaller diameters improves the transfer capability per linear foot. 
     
     
         19 . Apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the fluid heat exchanging element is configured in modules and the total length is the sum of attached modules. 
     
     
         20 . Apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein a last module located at the bottom of the well has a downward flowing feeder pipe attached to an upward flowing feeder pipe creating a U-connection. 
     
     
         21 . Apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the fluid heat exchanging element is configured with a plurality of smaller capillaries or heat exchanger pipes, so that the fluid enters the fluid heat exchanging element from at least one downward-flowing feeder pipe and is dispersed flowing through each of the plurality of smaller capillaries or heat exchanger pipes. 
     
     
         22 . Apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the fluid heat exchanging element is configured from a titanium clad tube sheet, including one formed from a high temperature nickel based alloy or ferritic steel. 
     
     
         23 . Apparatus according to  claim 22 , wherein the thickness of the titanium clad tube sheet depends on the specific temperature and/or pressure conditions under which the fluid heat exchanging element operates. 
     
     
         24 . Apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the fluid includes antifreeze, gas or water. 
     
     
         25 . Apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the fluid does not contain any corrosive properties and the material of the multiple pipes is substantially resistant to the fluid. 
     
     
         26 . Apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the apparatus is configured so that the fluid is pressurized within the fluid heat exchanging element 
     
     
         27 . Apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the heat conductive material and grout is configured to bond and solidify within the well. 
     
     
         28 . Apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the fluid heat exchanging element comprises at least one twisted pipe to increase the distance and slow the fluid flowing through the fluid heat exchanging element. 
     
     
         29 . Apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the multiple piping arrangement includes a plurality of capillaries. 
     
     
         30 . Apparatus according to  claim 29 , wherein contents of the downward-flowing pipe are dispersed through the plurality of capillaries after entering the multiple piping arrangement. 
     
     
         31 . Apparatus according to  claim 30 , wherein each capillary in the plurality of capillaries has a diameter smaller than a diameter of the downward-flowing pipe, thereby allowing the contents of the apparatus to heat quickly as the contents pass through the plurality of capillaries.