Geographic, E.g., Subterranean Feature Patents (Class 62/260)
  • Patent number: 11846305
    Abstract: A submerged offshore reverse osmosis desalination apparatus and method uses product water from the apparatus and an onshore cooler or heat exchanger to provide or improve the cooling of a Sea Water Air Conditioning (SWAC) system, power plant, data center, Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) system, or Rankine Cycle heat engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: NATURAL OCEAN WELL CO.
    Inventor: Robert A. Bergstrom
  • Patent number: 11725851
    Abstract: A multi-stage refrigeration system (100) includes: a refrigeration loop (110), which includes a gas suction port of a multi-stage compressor (111), a condenser (112), a first throttling element (113), an evaporator (114) and an exhaust port of the multi-stage compressor which are sequentially connected through pipelines; an economizer branch (120), which includes an economizer (121), a second throttling element (122) and a first control valve (123), the economizer having an economizer liquid inlet connected to the condenser via the first throttling element, an economizer liquid outlet connected to the evaporator via the second throttling element, and an economizer exhaust port connected to an intermediate stage of the multi-stage compressor via a control valve; and a bypass branch (130), which is joined to the evaporator from the downstream of the second throttling element and connected to the condenser via the first throttling element, and on which a second control valve (131) is arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Haiping Ding, Shaojuan Si, Xiangyuan Zhang, Michael A. Stark
  • Patent number: 11680733
    Abstract: A heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) system includes a heating fluid circuit, a cooling fluid circuit, and a storage fluid circuit. A thermal system of the HVACR system absorbs energy from the storage fluid circuit and rejects it to the heating fluid circuit. The storage fluid circuit includes thermal storage tanks containing thermal storage material that can provide energy for heating or absorb energy for cooling depending on the state of the thermal storage material. Heating can be provided using the heating fluid circuit and the heat provided by the thermal system. Cooling can be provided using the cooling fluid circuit by absorbing energy from the conditioned space using a cooling fluid and rejecting energy from the cooling fluid to the storage fluid circuit. The thermal storage tanks can have heat added to them using an air source heat pump system to support heating operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Mark Mitchell MacCracken, Susanna Staubly Hanson
  • Patent number: 11639808
    Abstract: An in-ground geothermal heat pump (GHP) closed loop optimization method is disclosed for designing, analyzing, optimizing, controlling, and simulating a detailed model and analysis of a building's in-ground geothermal heat pump system, including borehole length, number of boreholes, heat pump capacity, grid layout, total electric operating costs, efficiency ratios, and hybrid designs, among others. In one aspect of the disclosure described herein, the GHP optimization method can reliably and efficiently predict and optimized the fluctuations of the GHP equipment performance in very small increments which enable the determination of energy consumption and demand information on a specific and unique hourly schedule basis for the building design, including incorporating thermal load data for each individual zone of the building.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Inventor: Dennis J. Koop
  • Patent number: 11408645
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a thermosiphon system operable to consistently maintain the permafrost and active frost layer in a frozen condition to adequately support buildings and other structures. During cooler seasons, the thermosiphon system uses a passive refrigeration cycle to efficiently maintain the frozen layers using the cold air. When the air temperature rises during the warmer months, the system transitions into an active refrigeration mode that uses a refrigeration system to minimize thawing or degradation of the permafrost and active frost layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium
    Inventors: John A. Warren, William Fraser, Bailey Gamble
  • Patent number: 11268741
    Abstract: A refrigerant control system includes: a storage part which stores a first refrigerant; a first sub-pipe which is connected to an outlet side pipe of a first circulation flow path; a second sub-pipe which is connected to an inlet side pipe of the first circulation flow path; a third sub-pipe which is connected to the inlet side pipe and is formed so that heat of the third sub-pipe lower than heat of the outlet side pipe is able to be transferred to the first refrigerant in the storage part a first opening and closing valve which is provided in the first sub-pipe; a second opening and closing valve which is provided in the second sub-pipe; a third opening and closing valve which is provided in the third pipe; and an opening and closing control unit which performs opening and closing control of the first opening and closing valve, the second opening and closing valve, and the third opening and closing valve on the basis of a set temperature of a second refrigerant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: ATS Japan Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshimi Sato, Kazushige Shimizu, Yasuhiro Fukami, Tomoyuki Kariya
  • Patent number: 11226142
    Abstract: A hot water energy storage system (100) comprises a storage vessel (102); a pump (151); a heat exchanger (152) arranged to receive water from the storage vessel (102) and to output water to the storage vessel (102); a diverting valve (158) to divert a proportion of the water output from the heat exchanger (152) back to an inlet of the heat exchanger (152), bypassing the storage vessel (102); a temperature sensor (120a-c) to measure a temperature of water within the system (100); and a control system (130). The control system (130) controls the pump (151) and the diverting valve (158), based on a temperature measurement of the water and the desired quantity of heat to be transferred by the heat exchanger (152), so as to maintain the return temperature of water entering the storage vessel (102) within a specified range whilst transferring the desired quantity of heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: ESG POOL VENTILATION LIMITED
    Inventor: Anthony Robinson
  • Patent number: 11156374
    Abstract: A thermal-energy exchange and storage system has a borefield with a core zone and at least one capacity expansion zone. Each of the core zone and the at least one capacity expansion zone have a plurality of boreholes. The at least one capacity expansion zone is positioned outwards from and encircling the core zone and each additional capacity expansion zone is positioned outwards from and encircling the previous capacity expansion zone. A heat source is provided in fluid communication with a heat exchanger. An injection system circulates an operating fluid. The injection system has at least one U-tube installed within the plurality of boreholes and operating fluid is circulated between the at least one U-tube and the heat exchanger for transferring heat from the heat source. An extraction system is provided for extracting heat stored in the system for use in an infrastructure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Inventor: Michael Roppelt
  • Patent number: 11105568
    Abstract: A simple, cost effective system and method for flexibly managing heat pump source fluid is disclosed. The source fluid flow-manager significantly enhances heat pump efficiency by selectively coupling it to renewable energy resources via geothermal, solar, and ambient air thermal exchanges. The sophisticated interconnection of these thermal exchanges also reduces installation costs. A preferred embodiment of the source fluid flow-manager consists of three T-port valves, two pumps and a plurality of connection points, and operates in at least twelve modes. These modes selectively interconnect source fluid flow between fluid utilizing units, such as heat pumps, and a variety of thermal exchange and/or storage units, such as hot or cold underground thermal storage-and-exchange regions, dry coolers and solar thermal collectors. The valves and pumps are controlled by a programmed controller, guided by input from flow meters and thermometers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Inventor: Gaylord Olson
  • Patent number: 11086280
    Abstract: Method and system for storing natural gas and natural gas liquids via a variable volume flow splitter from a producing field. A method and system comprising storing natural gas and natural gas liquids while simultaneously selling natural gas and natural gas liquids from a single compressor in quantities as deemed desirable. In response to desired quantities to be injected into a storage reservoir or sold, the system provides a single action (e.g., a single action such as the click of a mouse button) that splits the gas stream into injection for storage and the sales pipeline for transportation to market by adjusting a flow splitter of a single value or valves in combination operated remotely or manually on the downstream side of the sales gas compressor that varies the volume to any combination and ratio from 0 to 100% of gas and entrained gas liquids to be sold or injected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Inventor: Jeffrey Carl Rekunyk
  • Patent number: 11067317
    Abstract: A heat source optimization system capable of alternating configurations between an air exchange system and a geothermal system and/or earth loop systems depending on an instantaneous need and/or desire for taking in or discharging heat, while simultaneously remaining operational and without reversing valving or changing the rotational direction of a refrigerant compressor. The system manages refrigerant, and, via a processor and/or controller system, determines where to obtain refrigerant and also the quantity of refrigerant to be obtained. Additionally, the system, via a processor and/or controller system, both determines the optimal location or locations from which to take in heat or to which heat is to be rejected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Inventor: Ralph Feria
  • Patent number: 10739024
    Abstract: Air conditioning systems and methods for cooling a space that include a chiller, a cooling coil, a heat sink, various water conduits, and a pump. Different modes of operation are used under different conditions and the water is routed differently in different modes. In a first mode, the chiller rejects heat to water returning from the cooling coil, and in a second mode, there are separate loops of chilled and heated water with separate pumps. In a third (economizer) mode of operation, the chiller is off and water from the heat sink is delivered to the cooling coil. Control valves, check valves, or both, are used to direct the flow of water, which are strategically placed in various water conduits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: SEMCO LLC
    Inventor: Thomas Rice
  • Patent number: 10648715
    Abstract: An outdoor heat exchanger includes a passage of a refrigerant that has a length varied depending on an operational mode. The outdoor heat exchanger is included in an air conditioner and configured to operate as a condenser in a cooling operation of the air conditioner and as an evaporator in a heating operation of the air conditioner. The outdoor heat exchanger includes a plurality of plates, a plurality of first refrigerant tubes, a plurality of second refrigerant tubes, and a plurality of third refrigerant tubes. In the cooling operation, a condensed refrigerant flows in the plurality of first refrigerant tubes, the plurality of second refrigerant tubes, and the plurality of third refrigerant tubes. In the heating operation, an evaporated refrigerant flows in the plurality of first refrigerant tubes and the plurality of third refrigerant tubes, but does not flow in the plurality of second refrigerant tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Hojong Jeong, Jeongseob Shin
  • Patent number: 10633836
    Abstract: An atmospheric water generation apparatus has an intake fan, a water mister, a cooling or evaporative coil, a water reservoir, a water pump, and a water valve. A method of generating water from the atmosphere involves inducing air into a chamber, misting the air with water while the air passes a cooling or evaporative coil, and collecting the resulting water therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Inventors: Wayne A. Provost, Jeffrey Stewart
  • Patent number: 10634411
    Abstract: A cooling and heating system may include a first heat exchange loop and a second heat exchange loop. The first heat exchange loop may include a first heat transfer fluid contained in a first pipe loop effective for passing the first heat transfer fluid between a set of functional elements remote from each other. The first pipe loop optionally includes an underground portion extending into the ground to a depth of at least 5 feet. The first heat exchange loop may also include a chiller effective for providing refrigerated air to a refrigerated space, with the first chiller using the first heat transfer fluid to cool air for the refrigerated space. The first heat exchange loop may also include a manifold for selectively directing heat transfer fluid from said the chiller to one or more remote functional elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Heartswork, LLC
    Inventor: Dennis Maq Crook
  • Patent number: 10612864
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a thermal conductive cylinder installed with U-type core piping and loop piping for being installed within natural thermal storage body or artificial thermal storage body; wherein the piping segments of fluid inlet terminal and/or outlet terminal of the U-type core piping and loop piping are directly made of thermal insulating material, or thermal insulating structure is installed between the inlet terminal and the outlet terminal; so as to prevent thermal energy loss between adjacent piping segments on the same side when thermal conductive fluid with temperature difference passing through.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Inventor: Tai-Her Yang
  • Patent number: 10598395
    Abstract: A climate-control system may include a working-fluid circuit and a cooling-fluid circuit. The working-fluid circuit may include a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, an expansion device, and an indoor heat exchanger. The compressor compresses a working fluid. The outdoor heat exchanger may receive compressed working fluid from the compressor. The expansion device may be disposed downstream of the outdoor heat exchanger. The indoor heat exchanger may be disposed downstream of the expansion device and upstream of the compressor. The cooling-fluid circuit may contain a cooling fluid in a heat transfer relationship with working fluid in the working-fluid circuit. The cooling-fluid circuit may include an underground heat exchanger conduit embedded in earth below an earth ground surface. The underground heat exchanger may selectively receive the cooling fluid such that heat from the cooling fluid is transferred to the earth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Babak Attari, Reza Khatami
  • Patent number: 10495358
    Abstract: A multi-mode, bi-directional cascade heat pump system, according to some examples, includes at least two chillers each being part of a unidirectional refrigerant circuit. The system includes heat exchangers each of which are dedicated to operate as just a condenser or as just an evaporator, regardless of the system's operating mode. In some modes, a secondary fluid transfers heat between the condenser of one chiller and the evaporator of another chiller before the fluid returns to a secondary fluid source such as, for example, a geothermal borefield or a conventional water source. In some embodiments, fluid is withdrawn from a borefield by way of a pump having a speed that varies to maintain a desired fluid temperature and/or a desired heat transfer rate at the borefield. The heat pump system includes means for minimizing flow through the borefield and for minimizing unnecessary mixing of relatively high and low temperature fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Lee R. Cline, Michael C. A. Schwedler, Susanna S. Hanson, Brian J. Fiegen
  • Patent number: 10443909
    Abstract: At least one of a DX geothermal refrigeration system design, a reverse-cycle DX geothermal heat pump system design, a DX geothermal cooling mode only system design, and a DX geothermal heating mode only system design, which utilize the sub-surface geology with a grouted well as a heat sink in the cooling/refrigeration mode, and as a heat source in the heating mode; with an optional air-source high level heat sink for use in the refrigeration mode; with optional multiple sub-surface larger sized vapor refrigerant lines, as well as with a super-efficient vacuum insulation design for relevant sub-surface refrigerant transport tubing, and with an optional specially designed electronic expansion valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Inventor: B. Ryland Wiggs
  • Patent number: 9964343
    Abstract: A flow rate of circulating water to a water heat exchanger is determined by multiplying, by a rated water flow rate, a ratio of an absolute value of a difference between a total operation capacity of each of indoor side heat exchangers serving as a heating load and a total operation capacity of each of indoor side heat exchangers serving as a cooling load to a total operation capacity of the water heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kensaku Hatanaka, Kosuke Tanaka, Koji Azuma
  • Patent number: 9909792
    Abstract: A refrigeration cycle apparatus includes a compressor, a water-refrigerant heat exchanger, pressure reducing devices which reduce the pressure of a refrigerant, an air-side heat exchanger, an outdoor fan which delivers air to the air-side heat exchanger, a geothermal-side heat exchanger, a switching device which switches a flow passage so that the air-side heat exchanger or the geothermal-side heat exchanger functions as an evaporator, and a controller. The controller controls the switching device so that, when the geothermal-side heat exchanger functions as an evaporator, the air-side heat exchanger and the water-refrigerant heat exchanger are connected in parallel, and stops the outdoor fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Ryo Oya
  • Patent number: 9889404
    Abstract: Capturing at least one heavy metal, from mercury and arsenic, contained in a moist gas comprising water vapor, by the following steps: a) heating the moist gas by heat exchange with a compressed heat transfer fluid obtained in step e) in order to obtain a condensed heat transfer fluid and a gas reheated to a temperature Tc; b) bringing the reheated gas into contact with a heavy metal capture mass in order to obtain a gas depleted in heavy metal; c) decompressing the cooled heat transfer fluid; d) cooling the gas depleted in heavy metal by heat exchange with the heat transfer fluid produced in step c) in order to obtain a cooled gas at a temperature Tf, the heat transfer fluid being vaporized; e) compressing the vaporized heat transfer fluid in a manner such as to obtain a compressed heat transfer fluid, the compressed heat transfer fluid being recycled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: IFP ENERGIES NOUVELLES
    Inventors: Florent Guillou, Fabien Porcheron, Karin Barthelet, Arnaud Baudot, Yann Lepine, Clotilde Jubin
  • Patent number: 9874376
    Abstract: Disclosed is a solar water-heating-and-cooling system (20) that included a collector array panel (32, 36) having thermosyphon coaxial heating/cooling tubes (52). The disclosed system (20) avoids damaging the collector array panel (32, 36) by filling the tubes (52): 1. only when environmental conditions ensure that damage won't occur,—and/or 2. using a filling method that ensures that damage won't occur. Thermosyphon coaxial heating/cooling tubes (52) disclosed herein may be open both at their upper and lower ends. Tubes (52) that are open at their, lower end enables capturing radiative cooling of liquid present within the tubes (52). A cold water storage tank (46) and cold radiator array (48) included in the water-heating-and-cooling system (20) permits preserving and using the radiative 'cooling. Also disclosed are coaxial tubes (104, 106) that enable simpler and easier installation of the system (20), and also provide a less architecturally intrusive system (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Inventor: Siang Teik Teoh
  • Patent number: 9791188
    Abstract: A refrigeration system has: (a) a fluid tight circulation loop including a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator, the evaporator having at least three evaporator zones, each evaporator zone having an inlet port, the circulation loop being further configured to measure the condition of the refrigerant with a refrigerant condition sensor disposed within the evaporator upstream of the evaporator outlet port; and control the flow of refrigerant to the evaporator based upon the measured condition of the refrigerant within the evaporator, and (b) a controller for controlling the flow rate of refrigerant to the evaporator based upon the measured condition of the refrigerant within the evaporator upstream of the evaporator outlet port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: PDX Technologies LLC
    Inventor: John S. Scherer
  • Patent number: 9708885
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for efficiently extracting geothermal energy from a subterranean thermal reservoir through a wellbore where the heat exchange fluid is introduced at a slower velocity than the velocity at which the fluid is extracted. The method and apparatus further comprises a region void of cement between the outer wall of a casing and the inner wall of the wellbore, such that thermally conductive material can be injected therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: INNERGEO LLC
    Inventors: Ronald Lee Loveday, J. Paul Mueller, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9581361
    Abstract: A heat pump system includes a heat source unit, a discharge refrigerant communication tube, a liquid refrigerant communication tube, a gas refrigerant communication tube, a first usage unit and a second usage unit. The first usage unit has a first usage-side heat exchanger capable of functioning as a radiator of the heat-source-side refrigerant introduced from the discharge refrigerant communication tube. The first usage unit is capable of performing operation in which an aqueous medium is heated by radiation of the heat-source-side refrigerant in the first usage-side heat exchanger. The second usage unit has a second usage-side heat exchanger capable of functioning as an evaporator of the heat-source-side refrigerant introduced from the liquid refrigerant communication tube. The second usage unit is capable of performing operation in which an air medium is cooled by evaporation of the heat-source-side refrigerant in the second usage-side heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiro Honda
  • Patent number: 9435571
    Abstract: A method and system for efficiently cooling a fluid is provided. A cooling system includes a first chamber containing a first fluid, and a second chamber connected to the first chamber and containing a second fluid. The cooling system further includes one or more thermoelectric devices for cooling the second fluid in the second chamber, and a first body that acts as a thermal diode. The first body enables unidirectional transfer of heat from the thermoelectric devices to the first fluid. Further, the cooling system can be installed with one or more phase change materials or heat pipes that enhance the cooling efficiency of the cooling system. The thermoelectric devices are switched on for a certain time period, after which they are switched off and on repeatedly in cycles, depending on the temperature of the second fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Sheetak Inc.
    Inventors: Uttam Ghoshal, Ayan Guha, James Borak
  • Patent number: 9394807
    Abstract: Systems and methods for storing and retrieving thermo-mechanical energy are disclosed. The systems and methods generally include a thermodynamic loop or cycle (e.g., a reversible transcritical, trilateral, or Rankine/vapor compression cycle) that works as a heat pump in a charging mode and as a heat engine in a discharging mode. The thermodynamic loop or cycle includes a gas pressure changing device, a liquid pressure changing device, and a working fluid. The system further includes one or more heat storage devices with solid heat storage material(s). Heat is transferred between the working fluid and the solid heat storage material(s) in the high and low pressure sides of the thermodynamic cycle, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Inventor: Sten Kreuger
  • Patent number: 9360236
    Abstract: A thermal energy system includes a first thermal energy system, a closed loop geothermal energy system, an intermediate heat pump thermally coupling the first thermal energy system with the geothermal energy system, and a second thermal energy system thermally connected to the geothermal energy system. The first and second thermal energy systems have opposite net thermal energy demands from the geothermal system. The geothermal energy system has first and second groups of borehole heat exchangers and each borehole heat exchanger contains a working fluid. Each borehole heat exchanger includes an elongated tube having a closed bottom end and first and second adjacent elongated conduits interconnected at the bottom end. Each group of borehole heat exchanger is selectively and alternatively connectable to the intermediate heat pump. The first thermal energy system may be a refrigeration system having condensers and the closed loop geothermal energy system may provide cooling of the condensers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: GREENFIELD MASTER IPCO LIMITED
    Inventors: James J. Stewart, Dmitriy I. Zaynulin, Grahame Newton
  • Patent number: 9334719
    Abstract: An explosive pellet for characterizing a fracture in a subterranean formation is provided. The pellet can include a casing having a detonation material and an explosive material disposed within the casing. The pellet can also include a nonexplosive material moveably disposed within the casing. Movement of the nonexplosive material can generate a predetermined amount of energy in the form of friction-generated heat sufficient to detonate the explosive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Gary L. Rytlewski, Jorge Lopez De Cardenas, Raymond Dickes, Philip Kneisl, Timothy A. Andrzejak
  • Patent number: 9310103
    Abstract: Method and device for storing thermal energy in, and recapturing thermal energy from, respectively, an underground energy storage (1), having at least four holes (2), through which a heat carrier is transported and therewith heating or cooling the ground (3), respectively. The holes (2) are arranged essentially along at least two concentric circles (10, 11, 12). A control gear is arranged to control a valve system, which is arranged to direct the heat carrier to holes that are arranged along one circle and thereby heating or cooling, respectively, the ground along the circle. When the temperature of the heat carrier is higher than that of the surrounding ground (3), inner circles are heated before outer circles, and when the temperature of the heat carrier is lower than that of the surrounding ground (3), outer circles are cooled before inner circles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: SCANDINAVIAN ENERGY EFFICIENCY CO. SEEC AB
    Inventors: Thomas Wildig, Björn Giertz
  • Patent number: 9310106
    Abstract: A heat pump system includes a refrigerant circuit and a controller. The refrigerant circuit has usage units connected to a heat source unit. The usage units have first usage-side heat exchangers and second usage-side heat exchangers. The heat source unit has heat-source-side heat exchanger and a compressor. The controller causes the heat-source-side heat exchanger to function as an evaporator or as a radiator in accordance with an overall heat load of the usage units when the heating operation or the cooling operation has been set for each of the usage units. The aqueous medium is heated by heat radiation of the refrigerant in the first usage-side heat exchangers in the heating operating, and is cooled by evaporation of the heat-source-side refrigerant in the second usage-side heat exchangers in the cooling operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignees: Daikin Industries, Ltd., Daikin Europe N.V.
    Inventor: Masahiro Honda
  • Patent number: 9291286
    Abstract: A drill rod combination for creating a closed loop geothermal hole in the ground. A combination hollow drill rod and slurry dispenser is connected to a slurry pump and direct slurry through the rod and dispenser while within the geothermal hole. The slurry exits the dispenser surrounding a heat exchange tube removably mounted to the dispenser and left in the hole when the drill rod and dispenser are withdrawn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: WCA Group LLC
    Inventors: Joseph A. Huck, Terry R. Biggs
  • Patent number: 9271571
    Abstract: A closet or enclosure 100 (closet) fit into an attic. A panel (110) forms the bottom of the closet. The panel can be lowered to the living space below manually or by using a return spring or electrical means. The panel holds a cabinet, box, or other storage item (105 or 2225). Air space (150) around the cabinet or items insulates it from thermal contact with the walls. Alternatively a cabinet is hung from a restraining member (145), or arm (1105), so it can be raised for storage and lowered for access. In this aspect, the panel is secured to the bottom of the cabinet. Optional vents (155) and fan (160) urge circulation between the air space and the living space, reducing temperature extremes in the air space and hence the cabinet. In other aspects, air treatment units (HVAC, dehumidifier, etc.) condition the air within the closet or enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: DeLorean, LLC
    Inventors: Jack Z. DeLorean, Mark Carpenter
  • Patent number: 9271429
    Abstract: A cooling system for a data center is provided, in which a plurality of servers having exothermic electronic components is installed in a housing. The cooling system includes: a cooling circuit, a main cooling device to cool a cooling medium heated by electronic components, and an auxiliary cooling device to assist the main cooling device in cooling the cooling medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: FUJIKURA LTD.
    Inventors: Koichi Mashiko, Randeep Singh, Masataka Mochizuki, Gerald Cabusao, Thang Nguyen
  • Patent number: 9038408
    Abstract: A wastewater geothermal heat system is supplied with processed wastewater through a drip field in proximity to a thermal array part of a geothermal heat pump system. The wastewater treatment system portion provides a periodic source of treated wastewater. Several sensors and a control system regulate a pump that discharges wastewater from the treatment system and enters a drip field where it is released into the surrounding soil. The dampened soil provides an efficient vehicle to transfer heat into or out of a thermal array which is positioned adjacent to the drip field such that it is in contact with the soil that is dampened by the discharged wastewater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: AK Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen A Sabo
  • Publication number: 20150135744
    Abstract: A combination air and ground source heating and/or cooling system. The system includes an indoor unit, an outdoor unit and an in-ground unit, each of which has a coil, an inlet line and an outlet line. The system also comprises a flow connector, a coupling and a controller. The controller is configured to control the flow connector and coupling so that the system is selectively operable in three different modes. In the first mode, refrigerant bypasses the coil of the outdoor unit, while, in the second mode, refrigerant bypasses the coil of the in-ground unit. In the third mode, refrigerant flows through the coils of the in-ground and outdoor units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: ATLAS L.C. HEATING & A/C
    Inventor: Robert Gault
  • Patent number: 9027634
    Abstract: ‘Underground Thermal Battery Storage System’ using a battery structure of one or more underground thermally insulated cells, where each cell comprised of a waterproof thermal insulation shell, one or more fluid storage tanks and earth matrix. The thermal storage cell's fluid storage tanks are interconnected using a thermal fluid transport system with control valves, circulating pumps, and managed by a programmable controller. The programmable controller uses the cell sensors to determine cell status, control cell interconnections, and to manage the thermal charging and discharging by exterior heating or cooling devices. A moisture injection system is provided to control the thermal conductivity within the cell's earth matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Inventor: John R. Yatchak
  • Patent number: 9003818
    Abstract: A heat pump-type hot water supply apparatus may be provided that includes: a refrigeration cycle circuit (including a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, expansion devices, and an indoor heat exchanger); a hot water supply heat exchanger connected to the refrigeration cycle circuit to use the first refrigerant discharged from the compressor for a hot water supply; a cascade heat exchanger connected to the refrigeration cycle circuit to allow the first refrigerant passing through the hot water supply heat exchanger to evaporate a second refrigerant and thereafter, to be condensed, expanded, and evaporated in the refrigeration cycle circuit; a heat storage compressor compressing the second refrigerant evaporated in the cascade heat exchanger, a heat storage tank to heat water using the second refrigerant compressed by the heat storage compressor, and a heat storage expansion device to expand the second refrigerant condensed in the heat storage tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hwanjong Choi, Noma Park, Heewoong Park
  • Patent number: 8991482
    Abstract: A temperature equalization system, including an installation, a heat equalizer disposed in a natural heat carrier and being made of a material of heat conduction to exchange heat with the natural heat carrier, a fluid transmission duct disposed between the heat equalizer and the installation and having a fluid contained therein for heat transmission, a pump connected in series with the fluid transmission duct for pumping the fluid, and a control means controlling an operation of temperature equalization system. The control means controls the pump to pump the fluid through the fluid transmission duct and an interior of the installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Inventor: Tai-Her Yang
  • Patent number: 8985199
    Abstract: A temperature equalization system, including an installation, a heat equalizer disposed in a natural heat carrier and being made of a material of heat conduction to exchange heat with the natural heat carrier, a fluid transmission duct disposed between the heat equalizer and the installation and having a fluid contained therein for heat transmission, a pump connected in series with the fluid transmission duct for pumping the fluid, and a control means controlling an operation of temperature equalization system. The control means controls the pump to pump the fluid through the fluid transmission duct and an interior of the installation with a periodical change of flowing direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Inventor: Tai-Her Yang
  • Patent number: 8966912
    Abstract: A heat exchanging system is provided for conditioning indoor temperature of a building. The heat exchanging system includes a magnetic refrigerator, an indoor heat exchanger and an outdoor heat exchanger. The indoor heat exchanger is thermally connected to the magnetic refrigerator. The outdoor heat exchanger is thermally connected to the magnetic refrigerator. The outdoor heat exchanger includes a geothermal heat exchanging unit, wherein the geothermal heat exchanging unit is embedded under the ground of a building.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Yasumi Irino, Sheng-Fan Hsieh, Min-Chia Wang, Tiao-Yuan Wu, Chieh-Shih Chang
  • Patent number: 8955348
    Abstract: A ground source heat pump device and system includes a supply line for removing groundwater from an underground water source, a return line for returning the groundwater to the underground water source, and a heat pump that is able to utilize the supplied groundwater as a medium for transferring thermal energy between the groundwater and a refrigerant. In one embodiment, the heat pump can further include a circulation pump for circulating the groundwater through the system, and a vacuum unit for removing air from the system and filling the supply line, return line, heat exchanger and circulation pump with the groundwater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Inventor: Mark Ryan
  • Patent number: 8950203
    Abstract: A device for heating and cooling, respectively, includes a heat pump (1), a first heat exchanger (2) arranged at a first side of the heat pump (1), which first heat exchanger (2) is thermally connected to a first heat carrier being circulated in a first loop (10), and a second heat exchanger (3) arranged at a second side of the heat pump (1), which second heat exchanger (3) is arranged to transfer thermal energy to or from a second heat carrier which is circulated in a second loop (20). The first (10) and the second (20) loops are interconnected by a conduit (4) so that the first loop (10), the second loop (20) and the conduit (4) together form a connected system, in which connected system one and the same heat carrier is arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Scandinavian Energy Efficiency Co. Seec AB
    Inventor: Björn Giertz
  • Patent number: 8939197
    Abstract: A temperature equalization system, including an installation, a heat equalizer disposed in a natural heat carrier and being made of a material of heat conduction, a relay heat equalizer, a first fluid transmission duct disposed between the relay heat equalizer and the installation and having a first fluid contained therein for heat transmission, a second fluid transmission duct disposed between the heat equalizer and the relay heat equalizer and having a second fluid contained therein for heat transmission, a pump and a relay pump respectively connected in series with the first and second fluid transmission ducts for pumping the first and second fluid, and a control means controlling the pump to pump the first fluid through the relay heat equalizer, the fluid transmission duct and an interior of the installation, and to pump the second fluid through the relay heat equalizer, the second fluid transmission duct and the heat equalizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Inventor: Tai-Her Yang
  • Publication number: 20150013370
    Abstract: A direct exchange geothermal heating and cooling system has a vacuum insulation layer surrounding the liquid phase working fluid transport line in the system's ground loop, as well as optional multiple vapor phase working fluid transport lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventor: B. Ryland Wiggs
  • Patent number: 8931295
    Abstract: A direct exchange heating/cooling system with at least one of a reduced compressor size, with a 500 psi high pressure cut-off switch, with a 98% efficient oil separator, with extra oil, operating at a higher pressure than an R-22 system, with receiver design parameters for efficiency and fox capacity, with geothermal heat exchange line set design parameters, with special heating/cooling expansion device sizing and design, with a specially sized air handler, and with a vapor line pre-heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Earth to Air Systems, LLC
    Inventor: B. Ryland Wiggs
  • Patent number: 8925621
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a telecom utility cabinet and an air-based geothermal cooling system for the telecom utility cabinet. The system also includes a leak detector for the air-based geothermal cooling system. In another embodiment, a method includes detecting a leak in an air-based geothermal cooling system. The method also includes activating a liquid pump for the air-based geothermal cooling system in response to the leak detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Futurewei Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Pedro Fernandez, Shanjiu Chi, Amit Kulkarni, Liqian Zhai, Kelly C. Johnson, Yong Lu, Mahmoud Elkenaney
  • Publication number: 20150000319
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for cooling of electronic equipment, for example a computer system, in a subsurface environment including a containment vessel in at least partial contact with subsurface liquid or solid material. The containment vessel may be disposed in a variety of subsurface environments, including boreholes, man-made excavations, subterranean caves, as well as ponds, lakes, reservoirs, oceans, or other bodies of water. The containment vessel may be installed with a subsurface configuration allowing for human access for maintenance and modification. Geothermal cooling is achieved by one or more fluids circulating inside and/or outside the containment vessel, with a variety of configurations of electronic devices disposed within the containment vessel. The circulating fluid(s) may be cooled in place by thermal conduction or by active transfer of the fluid(s) out of the containment vessel to an external, possibly geothermal, heat exchange mechanism, then back into the containment vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventor: David SMITH
  • Patent number: 8915098
    Abstract: Cooling of downhole components is effected using an expendable refrigerant, such as water. Refrigerant, in thermal communication with a component to be cooled, is evaporated in an evaporator. Vapor is removed from the evaporator and released into a borehole, in order to cool the component. A pump may be used to remove the vapor from the evaporator and force the vapor into the borehole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventor: Rocco DiFoggio