Abstract: A method of and apparatus for transferring heat energy between a heat exchanging subsystem installed above the surface of the Earth, and material beneath the surface of the Earth, by installing one or more coaxial-flow heat exchanging structures in the material beneath the surface of the Earth. Each coaxial-flow heat exchanging structure has inner and out flow channels along which aqueous-based heat transfer fluid is circulated. Turbulence is generated in the aqueous-based heat transfer fluid flowing along the outer flow channel, to increase the rate of heat energy transfer between the aqueous-based heat transfer fluid and material beneath the surface of the Earth along the length of the outer flow channel.

Abstract: An coaxial-flow heat exchanging structure having a proximal end and a distal end for exchanging heat between a source of fluid at a first temperature and the environment (e.g. air, ground, water, slurry etc.) at a second temperature. The coaxial-flow heat transfer structure comprises: a thermally conductive outer tube section, and an inner tube section having an inner flow channel and being coaxially arranged within the outer tube section. An outer flow channel is formed between the inner and outer tube sections, and helically-extending turbulence generator is provided along the outer flow channel, so as to create turbulence along the flow of heat exchanging fluid flowing between the inner and outer flow channels, and thereby increasing the heat transfer through the walls of the outer tube section to the ambient environment.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for transferring heat energy between a heat exchanging subsystem installed above the surface of the Earth, and material beneath the surface of the Earth, by installing one or more coaxial-flow heat exchanging structures in the material beneath the surface of the Earth. Each coaxial-flow heat exchanging structure has inner and out flow channels along which aqueous-based heat transfer fluid is circulated. Turbulence is generated in the aqueous-based heat transfer fluid flowing along the outer flow channel, to increase the rate of heat energy transfer between the aqueous-based heat transfer fluid and material beneath the surface of the Earth along the length of the outer flow channel. This in turn increases the rate of heat energy transfer between the heat exchanging subsystem installed above the surface of the Earth and material beneath the surface of the Earth.

Abstract: A thermally-regulated building structure including a foundation for supporting the thermally-regulated building structure on the surface of the Earth, and one or more coaxial-flow heat exchanging structures installed in the Earth, for facilitating the transfer of heat energy between (i) an heat energy exchanging system maintained within the thermally-regulated building structure and (ii) the Earth environment. Each coaxial-flow heat exchanging structure includes an inner tube section being substantially straight and having an outer wall surface extending between the proximal and distal ends, and a thermally conductive outer tube section, disposed coaxially around the inner tube section, and having an inner wall surface extending between the proximal and distal ends. An outer flow channel is provided between the outer wall surface of the inner tube section and the inner wall surface of the outer tube section.

Abstract: An enthalpy-based ground heat exchanger (GHE) performance test instrumentation system for connection to a ground heat exchanger (GHE) installed in a deep Earth environment during performance testing operations. The enthalpy-based GHE performance test instrumentation system includes a fluid pumping module for pumping, at controlled rate, aqueous-based heat transfer fluid through a test ground loop in which a GHE installation is installed, for performance testing. The GHE installation includes inlet and outlet ports for connection to the enthalpy-based GHE performance test instrumentation system. A fluid heating module heats the aqueous-based heat transfer fluid while being pumped through the test ground loop including the GHE installation, so as to control the temperature of aqueous-based heat transfer fluid entering the GHE installation during performance test operations.

Abstract: Apparatus and process for monitoring incremental changes in the inlet water temperature into and HTR across a GLHE subsystem, and in response thereto, automatically increasing or decreasing the flow rate of water flowing through into and out of the GLHE subsystem, so as to minimize the electrical energy consumption of electronically-controlled ground loop pumps employed to pump water through the GLHE subsystem.

Abstract: Methods for designing and constructing geothermal ground loop subsystems, and also improved methods and apparatus for in situ measuring the capacity of a ground heat exchanger installation to transfer heat energy with its surrounding deep Earth environment, during cooling and heating modes of operation of the ground source heat pumps and other geothermal systems to which such ground heat exchangers are operably connected.

Abstract: A geothermal system including geothermal equipment (GTE) for transferring heat energy in a building. A ground loop heat exchanging (GLHE) subsystem is interfaced with the GTE, and a plate heat exchanger (PHE) for interfacing the GTE and the GLHE subsystem. The PHE establishes a first hydraulic loop between the GTE, and the PHE. The PHE established a second hydraulic loop between the GLHE subsystem and the PHE. The volumetric flow rate within the second hydraulic loop is greater or less than the volumetric flow rate within the first hydraulic loop. The PHE exchanges heat energy between the first and second hydraulic loops so that the GLHE subsystem is operated at inlet water temperatures that enable maximum heat transfer rate (HTR) performance when the GTE is fully loaded.

Abstract: A mobile-wireless GPS-tracking ground heat exchanger (GHE) performance test instrumentation network supporting a plurality of wireless portable GPS-based enthalpy-based GHE performance test instrumentation systems, each being connectable to a ground heat exchanger (GHE) installation, and capable of collecting GPS-indexed performance data relating to the heat transfer rate (HTR), flow work rate (FWR), energy efficiency ration (EER)/coefficient of performance (COP), and heat transfer efficiency (HTE) of a ground heat exchanger (GHE) installation under performance testing.

Abstract: An coaxial-flow heat exchanging structure having a proximal end and a distal end for exchanging heat between a source of fluid at a first temperature and the environment (e.g. air, ground, water, slurry etc.) at a second temperature. The coaxial-flow heat transfer structure comprises: a thermally conductive outer tube section, and an inner tube section having an inner flow channel and being coaxially arranged within the outer tube section. An outer flow channel is formed between the inner and outer tube sections, and helically-extending turbulence generator is provided along the outer flow channel, so as to create turbulence along the flow of heat exchanging fluid flowing between the inner and outer flow channels, and thereby increasing the heat transfer through the walls of the outer tube section to the ambient environment.

Abstract: A method of transferring heat energy between a heat exchanging subsystem installed above the surface of the Earth, and material beneath the surface of the Earth, by installing one or more coaxial-flow heat exchanging structures in the material beneath the surface of the Earth. Each coaxial-flow heat exchanging structure has inner and out flow channels along which aqueous-based heat transfer fluid is circulated. Turbulance is generated in the aqueous-based heat transfer fluid flowing along the outer flow channel, to increase the rate of heat energy transfer between the aqueous-based heat transfer fluid and material beneath the surface of the Earth along the length of the outer flow channel. This in turn increases the rate of heat energy transfer between the heat exchanging subsystem installed above the surface of the Earth and material beneath the surface of the Earth.

Abstract: An coaxial-flow-flow heat exchanging structure having a proximal end and a distal end for exchanging heat between a source of fluid at a first temperature and the environment (e.g. ground, water, slurry) at a second temperature. The coaxial-flow-flow heat exchanging structure comprises a thermally-conductive flowguide tube having a hollow conduit extending from said proximal end to said distal end. A helically-finned tubing is disposed within the hollow conduit of said thermally-conductive flowguide tube, and has a central conduit for conducting a heat exchanging fluid, from said proximal end, along the central conduit towards the distal end, and returning back to the proximal end along a spiral annular flow channel formed between the thermally-conductive flowguide tube and the helically-finned tubing.

Abstract: A method of transferring heat energy between a heat exchanging subsystem installed above the surface of the Earth, and material beneath the surface of the Earth, by installing one or more coaxial-flow heat exchanging structures in the material beneath the surface of the Earth. Each coaxial-flow heat exchanging structure has inner and out flow channels along which aqueous-based heat transfer fluid is circulated. Turbulence is generated in the aqueous-based heat transfer fluid flowing along the outer flow channel, thereby improving the transfer of heat energy between the aqueous-based heat transfer fluid and material beneath the surface of the Earth along the length of the outer flow channel.

Abstract: A natural gas dehydration and condensate separation system facilitating the transfer of heat energy between a heat energy exchanging subsystem in said system and the Earth. One or more coaxial-flow heat exchanging structures are installed in the Earth, for facilitating the transfer of heat energy in a natural gas stream between (i) the heat energy exchanging subsystem and (ii) the Earth. Each said coaxial-flow heat exchanging structure includes an inner tube section having an outer wall surface extending between the proximal and distal ends, and a thermally conductive outer tube section, disposed coaxially around the inner tube section, and having an inner wall surface extending between the proximal and distal ends. An outer flow channel is provided between the outer wall surface of the inner tube section and the inner wall surface of the outer tube section.

Abstract: A thermally-regulated building structure including a foundation for supporting the thermally-regulated building structure on the surface of the Earth, and one or more coaxial-flow heat exchanging structures installed in the Earth, for facilitating the transfer of heat energy between (i) an heat energy exchanging system maintained within the thermally-regulated building structure and (ii) the Earth. Each said coaxial-flow heat exchanging structure includes an inner tube section having an outer wall surface extending between the proximal and distal ends, and a thermally conductive outer tube section, disposed coaxially around the inner tube section, and having an inner wall surface extending between the proximal and distal ends. An outer flow channel is provided between the outer wall surface of the inner tube section and the inner wall surface of the outer tube section.

Abstract: A heat exchanging system facilitating the transfer of heat energy between (i) a heat energy exchanging subsystem employed in the system, and (ii) the ambient environment. One or more coaxial-flow heat exchanging structures are installed in the ambient environment, for facilitating the transfer of heat energy in a heat conducting stream between (i) the heat energy exchanging subsystem and (ii) the ambient environment. Each said coaxial-flow heat exchanging structure includes an inner tube section having an outer wall surface extending between the proximal and distal ends, and a thermally conductive outer tube section, disposed coaxially around the inner tube section, and having an inner wall surface extending between the proximal and distal ends. An outer flow channel is provided between the outer wall surface of the inner tube section and the inner wall surface of the outer tube section.

Abstract: The coaxial-flow heat exchanging structures installed in the Earth, for facilitating the transfer of heat energy in the aqueous-based heat transfer fluid, between the aqueous-based heat transfer fluid and material beneath the surface of the Earth. Each coaxial-flow heat exchanging structure includes an inner tube section, a thermally conductive outer tube section, and outer flow channel between the inner tube section and the outer tube section. A turbulence generating structure is disposed along a portion of the length of the outer flow channel so as to introduce turbulence into the flow of the aqueous-based heat transfer fluid flowing along the outer flow channel, while its cross-sectional characteristics produce fluid flows therealong having optimal vortex characteristics that optimize heat transfer with the Earth.

Abstract: A geothermal heat exchanging system including a heat exchanging subsystem installed above the surface of Earth, and one or more coaxial-flow heat exchanging structures installed in the Earth. The coaxial-flow heat exchanging structures installed in the Earth, facilitate the transfer of heat energy in the aqueous-based heat transfer fluid, between the aqueous-based heat transfer fluid and material beneath the surface of the Earth. Each coaxial-flow heat exchanging structure includes an inner tube section, a thermally conductive outer tube section, and outer flow channel between the inner tube section and the outer tube section. A turbulence generating structure is disposed along a portion of the length of the outer flow channel so as to introduce turbulence into the flow of the aqueous-based heat transfer fluid flowing along the outer flow channel, thereby improving the transfer of heat energy between the aqueous-based heat transfer fluid and the Earth along the length of the outer flow channel.

Abstract: A geothermal heat exchanging system including a heat exchanging subsystem installed above the surface of Earth, and one or more coaxial-flow heat exchanging structures installed in the Earth. The coaxial-flow heat exchanging structures installed in the Earth, facilitate the transfer of heat energy in the aqueous-based heat transfer fluid, between the aqueous-based heat transfer fluid and material beneath the surface of the Earth. Each coaxial-flow heat exchanging structure includes an inner tube section, a thermally conductive outer tube section, and outer flow channel between the inner tube section and the outer tube section. A turbulence generating structure is disposed along a portion of the length of the outer flow channel so as to introduce turbulence into the flow of the aqueous-based heat transfer fluid flowing along the outer flow channel, thereby improving the transfer of heat energy between the aqueous-based heat transfer fluid and the Earth along the length of the outer flow channel.

Abstract: An electromagnetic signal transmission/reception tower and accompanying base station housing sensitive electronic equipment within an environment that is thermally controlled by a system employing a plurality of coaxial-flow heat exchanging structures installed in a plurality of well bores, using thermally conductive material. Each coaxial-flow heat exchanging structure includes: a helically-extending turbulence generator arranged along the outer flow channel formed between its inner and outer tube sections, so as to create turbulence along the flow of heat exchanging fluid flowing along the outer flow channel, and thereby increasing the heat transfer through the walls of the outer tube section to the Earth.