Method of heat exchange system

Abstract

A method for heat exchange with a heat transfer medium including providing a ground loop circuit through which the heat transfer medium is circulatable. The circuit includes an end portion, positioned proximal to a heat exchanger, one or more pipe portions having embedded parts thereof positioned in pipe bodies. Each pipe body defines a conduit therein through which a fluid is flowable, and has an exterior surface engaged with ground material. The method also includes circulating the heat transfer medium through the ground loop circuit, to permit heat transfer between the heat transfer medium moving through the embedded part and the fluid in the conduit, and heat transfer between the heat transfer medium moving through the embedded part and the ground material engaged with the pipe body.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of heat exchange with a heat transfer medium comprising:
 (a) providing a heat pump assembly for controlling an indoor fluid's temperature comprising a heat exchanger having a heat exchange fluid circulatable therein;   (b) providing at least one end portion of a ground loop circuit through which the heat transfer medium is circulatable, said at least one end portion being positioned proximal to the heat exchanger for heat exchange between the heat transfer medium moving through said at least one end portion and the heat exchange fluid moving through the heat exchanger;   (c) providing at least one pipe body comprising a substantially cylindrical main portion including a pipe wall defining at least one conduit therein in which at least one fluid is receivable, said at least one pipe body comprising an exterior surface adapted for engagement with ground material surrounding said at least one pipe body;   (d) providing at least one pipe portion of the ground loop circuit through which the heat transfer medium is movable, said at least one pipe portion comprising an embedded part thereof positioned in the pipe wall of said at least one pipe body;   (e) providing at least one connecting portion connecting said at least one pipe portion and said at least one end portion together to permit the heat transfer medium to circulate between said at least one end portion and said at least one pipe portion, said at least one connecting portion being engaged with ground material in which said at least one connecting portion is at least partially buried;   (f) circulating the heat transfer medium through the ground loop circuit;   (g) permitting heat transfer between the heat transfer medium in the embedded part and said at least one fluid in said at least one conduit; and   (h) permitting heat transfer between the heat transfer medium in the embedded part and the ground material surrounding said at least one pipe body.   
     
     
         2 . A method of heat exchange according to  claim 1  additionally comprising:
 permitting heat transfer between the ground material engaged with said at least one connecting portion and the heat transfer medium moving through said at least one connecting portion. 
 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1  in which:
 the fluid flows through said at least one conduit in a predetermined first direction; and 
 the heat transfer medium is moved through said at least one pipe portion generally in a second direction substantially opposite to the predetermined first direction for efficient heat exchange between the fluid and the heat transfer medium. 
 
     
     
         4 . A method of heat exchange with a heat transfer medium comprising:
 (a) moving the heat transfer medium through at least one pipe portion of a ground loop circuit, said at least one pipe portion comprising an embedded part thereof positioned in a pipe wall of at least one pipe body defining at least one conduit therein through which at least one fluid is flowable, said at least one pipe body comprising an exterior surface engaged with ground material surrounding said at least one pipe body;   (b) permitting substantially simultaneous heat exchange through the pipe wall between:
 (i) the heat transfer medium and said at least one fluid in said at least one conduit as the heat transfer medium moves through the embedded part of said at least one pipe portion, and 
 (ii) the heat transfer medium and the pipe ground material as the heat transfer medium moves through the embedded part of said at least one pipe portion; 
   (c) moving the heat transfer medium through an end portion of the ground loop circuit positioned proximal to a heat exchanger with a heat exchange fluid circulated therein;   (d) permitting heat exchange between the heat transfer medium and the heat exchange fluid as the heat transfer medium flows through the end portion; and   (e) moving the heat transfer medium through at least one connecting portion of the ground loop circuit in fluid communication with said at least one pipe portion and with the end portion to allow the heat transfer medium to circulate through the ground loop circuit.   
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 4  additionally comprising:
 (f) permitting heat exchange between the heat transfer fluid and the ground material that is engaged with said at least one connecting portion as the heat transfer medium moves through said at least one connecting portion. 
 
     
     
         6 . A method of heat exchange according to  claim 5  in which:
 the fluid is flowable through a plurality of pipe bodies in a first predetermined direction, the pipe bodies comprising pipe walls in which the embedded parts of a plurality of pipe portions are positioned; and 
 the heat transfer medium is moved through the pipe portions in a second direction that is generally opposed to the first predetermined direction of flow of the fluid through the conduits of the pipe bodies. 
 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 5  in which:
 a plurality of pipe bodies is provided, the pipe bodies being connected end-to-end to substantially align the conduits defined thereby, for permitting the fluid therein to flow therethrough in a first predetermined direction; 
 a plurality of pipe portions is provided, the pipe portions comprising embedded parts thereof positioned in the walls of the pipe bodies respectively, the pipe portions being arranged into respective groups; 
 a plurality of connecting portions is provided for connecting the groups of pipe portions respectively to the end portion; and 
 each said group being connected to the connecting portion therefor in parallel relative to the groups of pipe portions located adjacent thereto. 
 
     
     
         8 . A method of heat exchange according to  claim 7  in which:
 a manifold is provided for receiving the heat transfer medium from each group respectively moving from the pipe portions and toward the end portion at substantially the same pressure, to permit the heat transfer medium to flow into the manifold from the groups at substantially equal rates of flow. 
 
     
     
         9 . A method of heat exchange according to  claim 5  additionally comprising:
 (g) providing a supplemental loop circuit through which the heat transfer medium is circulatable; and 
 (h) providing a three-way valve controlled by a controller thereof, the three-way valve being switchable between a first condition, in which the supplemental loop circuit is connected to the end portion, and a second condition, in which the supplemental loop circuit is connected to said at least one connecting portion, to permit the heat transfer medium to move through the ground loop circuit. 
 
     
     
         10 . A method of heat exchange according to  claim 9  additionally comprising:
 (i) providing a temperature sensor positioned for sensing at least one temperature of the heat transfer medium exiting the end portion and flowing into the connecting portion toward said at least one pipe portion; 
 (j) if said at least one temperature of the heat transfer medium exiting the end portion and flowing into said at least one connecting portion is below a predetermined temperature, generating an activation signal; 
 (k) transmitting said activation signal to the controller; 
 (l) providing a variable speed pump, for pumping the heat transfer medium from the supplemental loop circuit to said at least one connecting portion toward said at least one pipe portion; and 
 (m) upon the activation signal being received at the controller, via the controller, the three-way valve is switched into the second condition:
 to permit the heat transfer medium from moving from the ground loop portion directly to the end portion; and 
 the variable speed pump is energized, to move the heat transfer medium from the supplementary loop circuit to said at least one connecting portion toward said at least one pipe portion. 
 
 
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 5  additionally comprising:
 (g) providing a supplemental loop circuit in fluid communication with the connecting portion, to permit the heat transfer medium to circulate:
 from the end portion to the supplemental loop circuit; 
 from the supplemental loop circuit to said at least one connecting portion; 
 from said at least one connecting portion to said at least one pipe portion; and 
 from said at least one pipe portion, via said at least one connecting portion, to the end portion. 
 
 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 4  in which said at least one pipe body comprises at least one internal wall portion positioned between the embedded part and said at least one conduit, and said at least one internal wall portion is formed for thermal conductivity therethrough. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 12  in which said at least one pipe body comprises at least one external wall portion comprising the exterior surface and positioned between the embedded part and the ground material, and said at least one external wall portion is formed for thermal conductivity therethrough. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 4  additionally comprising:
 providing at least one supplemental loop circuit in which a supplemental heat exchange medium is circulatable, said at least one supplemental loop circuit being at least partially engaged with said ground material for heat exchange between said ground material and said supplemental heat exchange medium, and for subsequent heat exchange between said supplemental heat exchange medium and the heat exchange fluid in the heat exchanger. 
 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 4  in which the embedded part is located substantially equidistant between the exterior surface of said at least one pipe body and said at least one conduit. 
     
     
         16 . A method for heat exchange with a heat transfer medium comprising:
 (a) providing a ground loop circuit through which the heat transfer medium is circulatable, the ground loop circuit comprising:
 an end portion, positioned proximal to a heat exchanger through which a heat exchange fluid is circulatable; 
 at least one pipe portion comprising an embedded part positioned in a pipe wall of at least one pipe body, said at least one pipe body defining at least one conduit therein through which a fluid is flowable, said at least one pipe body having an exterior surface engaged with ground material; 
 at least one connecting portion connecting the end portion and said at least one pipe portion, said at least one connecting portion engaging the ground material; 
   (b) circulating the heat transfer medium through the ground loop circuit, to permit:
 heat transfer between the heat transfer medium moving through the end portion and the heat exchange fluid; 
 heat transfer between the heat transfer medium moving through the embedded part and the fluid in said at least one conduit; 
 heat transfer between the heat transfer medium moving through the embedded part and the ground material engaged with said at least one pipe body; and 
 heat transfer between the heat transfer medium moving through said at least one connecting portion to the end portion and the ground material engaged with said at least one connecting portion. 
   
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 16  additionally comprising:
 (c) providing a supplemental loop circuit through which a supplemental heat exchange medium is circulatable therethrough and to the end portion, the supplemental loop circuit including a loop circuit for heat transfer between the supplemental heat exchange medium and the ground material engaged with the supplemental loop circuit; and 
 (d) permitting heat exchange between the heat exchange fluid and the supplemental heat exchange medium as the supplemental heat exchange medium moves through the end portion. 
 
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 16  additionally comprising:
 (c) providing a supplemental loop circuit connectable with the ground loop circuit via a three-way valve controlled by a controller, the three-way valve being switchable between a first condition, in which the heat transfer medium is movable from the supplemental loop circuit directly to the end portion, and a second condition, in which the heat transfer medium is movable from the supplemental loop circuit to said at least one connecting portion toward said at least one pipe portion; 
 (d) providing a temperature sensor for sensing at least one temperature of the heat transfer medium moving through said at least one connecting portion toward said at least one pipe portion; 
 (e) providing a variable speed pump for moving the heat transfer medium out of the supplementary loop circuit; 
 (f) upon the temperature sensor determining that said at least one temperature is less than a predetermined temperature, the temperature sensor generates a first signal to switch the three-way valve to the second condition; 
 (g) upon the variable speed pump receiving the first signal, the variable speed pump is energized, and pumps the heat transfer medium from the supplementary loop circuit to said at least one connecting portion toward said at least one pipe portion; and 
 (h) upon the temperature sensor determining that said at least one temperature is greater than the predetermined temperature, the temperature sensor generates a second signal to switch the three-way valve to the first condition. 
 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 16  additionally comprising:
 (c) providing a supplemental loop circuit connected with the ground loop circuit; and 
 (d) permitting the heat transfer medium to circulate from the supplemental loop circuit to said at least one connecting portion toward said at least one pipe portion and to the end portion.