SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CREATING AN OPEN LOOP WITH OPTIONAL CLOSED LOOP RIPARIAN GEOTHERMAL INFRASTRUCTURE
A system and method for creating a geothermal generation and distribution grid is presented. This system allows the average home to be tied into an existing geothermal “grid”. The user need not invest in the infrastructure necessary outside the home to enable a system inside the home. The user, instead, is responsible for creating the section that exists in the interior infrastructure. In one embodiment of the invention, the infrastructure comprises at least one distribution flow line having a forward line for a first phase and a return flow line for a circulatory second phase. The distribution flow line is coupled to any point along a main flow line. The main line is buried along a roadway and to a sufficient depth within an earthly body for converting the first and second phases. The main line may be configured to be an open loop with an optional closed loop infrastructure.
This application is a continuation in part application of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/747,061, entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CREATING A CLOSED-LOOP RIPARIAN GEOTHERMAL INFRASTRUCTURE”, filed on May 10, 2007, which is a continuation in part application of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/742,339, entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CREATING A GEOTHERMAL ROADWAY UTILITY”, filed on Apr. 30, 2007, which is a continuation in part application of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/645,109, entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CREATING A NETWORKED INFRASTRUCTURE DISTRIBUTION PLATFORM OF FIXED AND MOBILE SOLAR AND WIND GATHERING DEVICES”, filed on Dec. 22, 2006. The entire teachings of the above applications are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONIt is well known that geothermal systems transfer heat or cool to homes and buildings by a heat pump, which is a mechanical device that transfers heat from one source to another. Ground-source units pull heat from the earth and transfer it to homes or buildings. Heat pumps provide both heating and cooling. The cooling process is simply the reverse of the heating process: heat is taken out of a building and returned to the Earth.
Typical ground-source heat pumps transfer heat using a network of tubes, called “closed loops.” These loops are filled with either water; heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) based chemicals or an anti-freeze solution. They run through the ground in the vicinity of a building and the liquid absorbs the riparian's heat energy. Then, the warmed liquid is pumped back through the system into the building. The process provides heat to the building space (i.e. heat transfers from the warmed liquid to the building space and results in relatively cooled liquid). Once the fluid passes through the building and transfers its heat energy, it flows through the loop system back to the riparian body and the two phase process (warming of liquid and heat transfer cooling of the warm liquid) recommences.
In warm weather, these systems “reverse” into cooling mode. Technically, the system does not “run backwards.” Instead, a series of valves enables the system to switch the “hot” side and the “cold” side. The heat from the building is transferred to the liquid in the loop and the resulting warmed liquid is pumped back into the ground for cooling. When the ground source heat pump is in cooling mode, it usually has an excess of warmed liquid in the system. The warmed liquid can be used to heat water for the building and eliminate the use of a hot water heater to heat water for the building.
Currently, traditional heating systems rely on combustion (the burning of fuel) either on site or at the power plant. Fuel-powered heating units, such as gas and boiler systems, burn fuel at the site to produce heat energy. Electric-powered heating and cooling systems do not require combustion at the site of the furnace; instead, the combustion occurs at power plants. In 1998, approximately 80% of the electricity in the United States was produced by burning fossil fuels. The by-products produced by combustion systems contain harmful emissions. These emissions degrade air quality and negatively impact individuals' health and contribute to environmental problems (e.g., acid rain and the greenhouse effect). For the health of individuals and communities throughout the world, it makes sense to develop heating and cooling technologies that reduce or eliminate fossil fuel combustion.
Conventional models of geothermal energy systems address homes, businesses, individual areas and municipalities on an isolated implementation basis. Schools facing skyrocketing energy bills are searching for cost-effective alternatives. Geothermal systems represent a proven option. In addition, they utilize a renewable energy source, the Earth's naturally occurring heat energy. In Wisconsin, four school districts recently installed geothermal systems at area schools. District administrators were impressed by geothermal energy efficiency and its ability to yield long-term cost savings.
Existing conventional uses of geothermal energy systems have limitations in distribution and deployment. Each business or home owner digging his/her own underground coil, piping or closed loop system, has to pay the up front cost of work required in implementing a geothermal system. The costs may be insurmountable for many families, businesses, and municipalities. Some homes or businesses are precluded from digging the geothermal underground network system due to zoning, topographic, space or geologic factors that appear on potential geothermal system user's land sites.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides a solution to the problems of the prior art.
One embodiment of the present invention is a geothermal generation and distribution infrastructure. The infrastructure is an open loop with an optional closed loop riparian geothermal infrastructure. The geothermal generation and distribution infrastructure comprises at least one distribution flow line having a forward flow line for a first phase and a return flow line for a circulatory second phase. One of a first end and a second end of the at least one distribution flow line configured to couple to any point along a main flow line. The other one of the first end and second end of the distribution flow line configured to couple to a desired location. The main flow line is configured to be buried to a depth within a riparian body for converting the first and second phases.
At least one switching mechanism switches the main flow line from a closed position to an open position. In the open position, the main flow line (1) receives a fluid at one end of the main flow line, (2) circulates the fluid through the main flow line and the at least one distribution flow line, and (3) exists the fluid at another end of the main flow line. In the closed position, the main flow line is configured to re-circulate the fluid through the main flow line and the at least one distribution flow line. The infrastructure may further include anchors configured to secure the main flow line. The riparian body may be ocean, lakes, ponds, streams, rivers, aquifers, any portions thereof, or any combination thereof.
The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views.
The present invention provides a roadway system that can provide the basis for a national or global clean or renewable energy infrastructure, A geothermal heating and cooling system can be implemented along short or long stretches of riparian body for the purposes of creating power to meet both small and large power demands. The power generated by the geothermal system can be used to power both heating and cooling of homes, businesses or systems without connecting to existing grid systems.
A “road” (hereinafter also “roadway”) as used herein, is an identifiable route or path between two or more places on which vehicles can drive or otherwise use to move from one place to another. A road is typically smoothed, paved, or otherwise prepared to allow easy travel by the vehicles. Also, typically, a road may include one or more lanes, one or more breakdown lanes, one or more medians or center dividers, and one or more guardrails. For example, a road may be: a highway; turnpike; pike; toll road; state highway; freeway; clearway; expressway; parkway; causeway; throughway; interstate; speedway; autobahn; superhighway; street; track for railroad, monorail, magnetic levitation trains; track for subterranean, ground level, and elevated forms of public transit or mass transit; car race track; airplane runway; and the like.
A “vehicle” as used herein, is any device that is used at least partly for ground-based transportation, for example, of goods and/or humans. For example, a vehicle may be an automobile, a car, a bus, a truck, a tractor, a tank, a motorcycle, a train, an airplane or the like.
Preferably, a vehicle can be an automobile, a car, a bus, a truck, a tank, and a motorcycle. More preferably, a vehicle can be an automobile, a car, a bus, and a truck. Most preferably, a vehicle can be an automobile and a car.
“Wind” as used herein refers to both, wind created by the movement of vehicles (hereinafter also “dirty wind”) and atmospheric wind.
A “wind energy generating device” as used herein, is a device that converts wind energy into electrical energy. Typically, a wind energy generating device can include one or more “wind turbine generators.” A “wind turbine generator” (hereinafter also “wind turbine”) as referred to herein, is a device that includes a turbine and a generator, wherein the turbine gathers or captures wind by conversion of some of the wind energy into rotational energy of the turbine, and the generator generates electrical energy from the rotational energy of the turbine. These wind turbine generators can employ a turbine rotating around an axis oriented in any direction. For example, in a “horizontal axis turbine,” the turbine rotates around a horizontal axis, which is oriented, typically, more or less parallel to the ground. Furthermore, in a “vertical axis turbine,” the turbine rotates around a vertical axis, which is oriented, typically, more or less perpendicular to the ground. For example, a vertical axis turbine can be a Darrieus wind turbine, a Giromill-type Darrieus wind turbine, a Savonius wind turbine, a “helix-style turbine” and the like. In a “helix style turbine,” the turbine is helically shaped and rotates around a vertical axis. A Helix-style turbine can have a single-helix design or multi-helix design, for example, double-helix, triple-helix or quad-helix design. The “height” of a wind energy generating device or wind turbine generator as used herein, is the height measured perpendicularly from the ground adjacent to the device or generator to the highest point of the device or generator. Wind energy generating devices can have a height between about a few micrometers and several hundred feet. Wind energy generating devices that employ a plurality, for example, up to millions of small wind turbine generators in one device unit are also referred to herein as “wind turbine installation sheets”, “wind turbine installation placards.” Wind energy generation devices can be spatially positioned in any pattern or distribution that conforms to safety and other regulations. Generally the distribution can be optimized in view of the given road and road environment. For example, they can be positioned in a linear equidistant distribution, a linear non-equidistant distribution and a stratum configuration. Wind energy generating devices can optionally include solar energy generating devices as described below.
A “stratum configuration” as used herein, is a distribution of wind energy generation devices, in which wind energy generation devices that are further away from the nearest lane of a road, are higher. For example, a stratum configuration of wind energy generation devices results from positioning the smallest wind energy generation devices nearest to a road and successively larger wind energy generation devices successively further from the road.
Typically, the average distance between any two closest ground-based wind energy generating devices is in the range between about 5 micrometer and about 200 meters.
Wind energy generating devices can be “vehicle-based,” that is, they are affixed to any part of the surface of a vehicle that allows normal and safe operation of the vehicle. Vehicle-based wind energy generating devices can be permanently affixed or mounted to the car, for example, during the vehicle manufacturing process or overlay bracing, or they can be removable affixed using, for example, one or a combination of snap on clips, adhesive magnetic bonding, a locking screw mounting system, Thule-type locking and the like. A vehicle and a vehicle-based wind energy generating device can also include directional spoilers or wings that are positioned to thereby decrease air resistance of a moving vehicle and increase wind energy generation. A vehicle and a vehicle-based wind energy generating device can also include a device for measuring the direction of the atmospheric wind at or near the positions of one or more vehicle-based wind energy generating devices and movable directional spoilers or wings that are moved based on the measured wind direction information to thereby decrease air resistance of a moving vehicle and increase wind energy generation. Vehicle-based wind energy generating devices can generate energy while a vehicle is parked or moving. Typically, vehicle-based wind energy generating devices have a height of between about a few micrometers and about a few feet.
Any wind energy generating device that is not affixed to a vehicle or a non-stationary (portable, moveable) host or carrier is hereinafter referred to as “ground-based.” Typically, a ground-based wind energy generating device can be positioned on part of a road on which its presence does not hinder the flow of traffic or pose a safety risk, near to a road, and on any road object on or near to a road. Examples of road objects are traffic signs, for example, traffic lights, guardrails, buildings and the like. Ground-based wind energy generating devices can be permanently affixed or mounted into the ground multiples of feet deep and sometimes set into a foundation, or they can be affixed such that they are easily removed using, for example, one or a combination of snap on clips, adhesive magnetic bonding, a locking screw mounting system, magnets, braces and ties to metal structures, Thule-type locking and the like.
The phrase “near” a road as used herein, refers to the distance of a given ground-based wind energy generating device from a given road that allows the ground-based wind energy generating device to capture wind from passing vehicles (hereinafter also “dirty wind”) to generate energy. This distance can be determined in view of the height of the turbine and the average velocity of an average vehicle passing the wind energy generating device. Typically, this distance can be up to about 40 feet. For example, for a helical axis turbine of 10 feet height, positioned along a road on which vehicle travel with an average velocity of 55 miles per hour, the distance can be up to about 20 feet and for one of 5 feet height, the distance can be up to about 25 feet.
A “wind turbine array” as used herein is a plurality of wind energy generating devices.
A “roadway system electricity grid” as used herein, refers to any network of electrical connections that allows electrical energy to be transported or transmitted. Typically, a roadway system electricity grid can include energy storage systems, systems for inverting energy, single power source changing units, electricity meters and backup power systems.
An “utility grid” (hereinafter also “grid”) as used herein, refers to the existing electrical lines and power boxes, such as Edison and NStar systems.
A “direct power load” is any system, that is directly electrically connected to the roadway system electricity grid, that is, without electrical energy being transmitted via a utility grid, and has a demand for electrical energy, for examples, any business or home.
An “energy storage system” as used herein is any device that can store electrical energy. Typically, these systems transform the electrical energy that is to be stored in some other form of energy, for example, chemical and thermal. For example, an energy storage system can be a system that stores hydrogen, which for example, is obtained via hydrogen conversion electrolysis. It can also be any rechargeable battery. “Ground-based energy storage systems” can be positioned below or above the ground. “Vehicle-based energy storage systems” can be permanently affixed or mounted in or on the car, for example, during the vehicle manufacturing process, or they can be removable affixed using, for example, one or a combination of snap on clips, adhesive magnetic bonding, a locking screw mounting system, Thule-type locking and the like.
The phrase “connected to the roadway system electricity grid” as used herein, refers to any direct or indirect electrical connection of a solar or wind energy generating device to the roadway system electricity grid that allows energy to be transferred from the energy generating device to the grid.
A “solar energy generating device” as used herein, is any device that converts solar energy into electricity. For example, a solar energy generating device can be a single solar or photovoltaic cell, a plurality of interconnected solar cells, that is, a “photovoltaic module”, or a linked collection of photovoltaic modules, that is, a “photovoltaic array” or “solar panel.” A “solar or photovoltaic cell” (hereinafter also “photovoltaic material”) as used herein, is a device or a bank of devices that use the photovoltaic effect to generate electricity directly from sunlight. For example, a solar or photovoltaic cell can be a silicon wafer solar cell, a thin-film solar cell employing materials such as amorphous silicon, poly-crystalline silicon, micro-crystalline silicon, cadmium telluride, or copper indium selenide/sulfide, photoelectrochemical cells, nanocrystal solar cells and polymer or plastic solar cells. Plastic solar cells are known in the art to be paintable, sprayable or printable roll-to-roll like newspapers.
A “solar energy generating device” can be ground-based or vehicle based. A vehicle-based solar energy generating device can be permanently affixed or mounted to the car, for example, during the vehicle manufacturing process or overlay bracing, or they can be removable affixed using, for example, one or a combination of snap on clips, adhesive magnetic bonding, a locking screw mounting system, Thule-type locking and the like.
A ground-based solar energy generating device can be attached to any surface that allows collection of solar energy and where its installation does not pose a safety risk or is not permitted by regulations. For example, it can be positioned on part of a road on which its presence does not hinder the flow of traffic or pose a safety risk, near to a road, and on any road object on or near to a road. Examples of road objects are traffic signs, for example, traffic lights, guardrails, buildings and the like. Ground-based wind energy generating devices can be permanently affixed or mounted into the ground multiples of feet deep and sometimes set into a foundation, or they can be affixed such that they are easily removed using, for example, one or a combination of snap on clips, adhesive magnetic bonding, a locking screw mounting system, magnets, braces and ties to metal structures, Thule-type locking and the like.
A “heat exchanger” as used herein, is a device designed to transfer heat between two physically separated fluids or mediums of different temperatures.
A “geothermal heat pump” as used herein, is a heat pump that uses the earth, lakes, oceans, aquifers, ponds, or rivers as a heat source and heat sink.
A “condenser” as used herein, is a heat exchanger in which hot, pressurized (gaseous) refrigerant is condensed by transferring heat to cooler surrounding air, water or earth.
A “compressor” as used herein, is the central part of a heat pump system. The compressor increases the pressure and temperature of the refrigerant and simultaneously reduces its volume while causing the refrigerant to move through the system.
A “riparian body” as used herein, is relating to the ocean, rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, aquifers, sea, salt water body, fresh water body or any combination thereof.
A description of example embodiments of the invention follows.
The present invention, in accordance with one embodiment relates to the creation of a geothermal heating and cooling system where the geothermal heating and cooling system is implemented along short or long stretches of the riparian body, such as ocean, rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, aquifers, or any combination thereof for the purposes of creating power to meet both small and large power demands of varying degrees. The power generated by the geothermal system may be used to provide heating and cooling of homes, businesses or municipalities without connecting to existing grid systems. This system may fill the need for the average home, business, and municipality to tie into an existing geothermal “grid” constructed along, adjacent to or underneath a nearby riparian body. By so doing, the user needs not invest a large sum in the geothermal infrastructure necessary outside the home to enable a geothermal system inside the home. The user instead is only responsible for creating the interior portion of the geothermal system infrastructure of the geothermal heating and cooling system. The costly exterior of the system is provided by the closed loop riparian geothermal infrastructure.
In a closed loop geothermal system, a fluid is circulated through a continuous buried pipe. In contrast, in an open loop, a fluid is drawn from one end of a pipe, passes through a heat exchanger, and is discharged to a second end of the pipe at a distance from the first end. An advantage of an open loop system with the capability of being in a closed loop position is that the system can continue to operate independent of the condition of a riparian body. In the open loop position, fluid may be drawn from the riparian body. During the winter, for example, the riparian body may be frozen due to the cold temperature. In this situation, the open loop system can be in a closed position for the fluid to circulate through a continuous pipe. Thus the system can continue to operate because fluid will not be drawn from the frozen riparian body. It would be useful to have a geothermal system that not only can have the flexibility of being in a closed and open position, but such a system as discussed above, may relieve the user from investing a large sum of money in the geothermal infrastructure necessary outside the home to enable a geothermal system inside the home.
The electrical energy of a ground-based energy storage system stores energy generated, for example, from one or more of the wind energy generating devices. The energy storage system may be, for example, a battery or battery array. This stored electrical energy can be fed to an inverter and then passed through a power meter as the power generated, for example, by the wind turbine generators is either delivered into a utility grid system, directly distributed to a home or business, or stored for later use. The later uses may be, for example, at peak energy demand times, by either larger battery arrays, or via the use of the wind energy to convert to hydrogen and then conversion of the hydrogen back to energy using a hydrogen fuel cell technology for vehicles or grid power usage (See
Wind energy generating devices may also be covered with solar energy generating devices, that is, they may be covered with solar gathering materials such as thin films or spray on solar power cells (“solar paint”) that may be molded to parts of the device that do not interfere with the turbines fundamental operation (Item 107). Thin film solar panels may also be combined with small, for example, micrometer sized wind energy generating devices (Item 108). The solar energy that is gathered can either (i) be used to power the wind energy generating device, for example, the helix-type wind turbine generator directly when wind power is not available or to make the turbine of the helix-type wind turbine generator spin faster when wind is available, or (ii) the gathered solar power is fed to the central rod and carried down the base of the turbine where it is channeled, via wiring typical to the industry, into a battery pack or battery array deployment (Item 33), then to an inverter (Item 34), meter (Item 35) and then distributed as discussed above.
The wind system is part of a complimentary installation where designed areas are allotted for both wind and solar power systems implementation along roadways. The solar system alongside the wind system is comprised of one or more solar gathering devices such as solar panels, solar films with backing and solar spray on power cells are installed along a roadway in a contiguous or semi-contiguous configuration. The solar energy generating devices are then networked via wiring and input and output connections to efficiently take advantage of batteries and battery arrays as are standard in the solar energy gathering industry (Item 33).
The fixed wind and solar roadway systems illustrates a flow chart where both wind and solar energy gathering devices as described previously transfer their energy to batteries (Item 33) then to inverters (Item 34) then registering the amount of energy via the meters (Item 35) before being distributed (Item 8) to the utility grid (Item 81), vehicles (Item 82), direct distribution of homes (Item 83) and businesses or utilized as stored energy via large battery arrays or via conversion to hydrogen to be held in compressed tanks via the creation of hydrogen via electrolysis (Item 84).
The other end of the distribution line (Items 355a, 355b, 355c, . . . , 355n) is connected to a desired location, such as an energy exchanger (Items 360a, 360b, 360c, . . . , 360n) in a house (Item 345). The desired location may also be an office building or geothermal power plant. The distribution line (Items 355a, 355b, 355c, . . . , 355n) has a forward flow line (Items 366a, 366b, 366c, . . . , 366n) and a return flow line (Items 367a, 367b, 367c, . . . , 367n) for circulating a loop fluid (not shown) to homes (Items 345a, 345b, 345c, . . . , 345n). The forward flow line (Items 366a, 366b, 366c, . . . , 366n) takes fluid from the main flow line (Item 365) to the homes (Items 345a, 345b, 345c, . . . , 345n) via distribution lines (Items 355a, 355b, 355c, . . . , 355n). The return flow line (Items 367a, 367b, 367c, . . . , 367n) takes fluid exiting the homes (Items 345a, 345b, 345c, . . . , 345n) via distribution lines (Items 355a, 355b, 355c, . . . , 355n) and re-circulates it into the main flow line (Item 365).
The internal inflow and external outflow hookups to the system (Item 3500) may be a single pipe (Items 355a, 355b, 355c, . . . , 355n) or tube or may be a grid like structure of pipes and/or tubes depending on the configuration. Fluid is forced through the system (Item 3500) using both gravity configurations wherever possible as well as an energy exchanger system (Items 360a, 360b, 360c, . . . , 360n) to force the fluid to circulate throughout the external infrastructure as well as the infrastructure inside the home (Items 345a, 345b, 345c, . . . , 345n) or business. The infrastructure outside the home may be dug, tunneled or snaked and piping laid in various configurations along, under and/or adjacent to a riparian body (Item 351). Some main flow lines (Item 365), headers (not shown) and distribution lines (Items 355a, 355b, 355c, . . . , 355n) that are submerged in the riparian body (Item 351) may be anchored to docks (not shown) or piers (not shown) at or near the bottom. The main flow line (Item 365) may be made of steel, polyethylene, polybutylene, or any combination thereof.
A good loop fluid is vital to the operation of a geothermal energy exchanger (Items 360a, 360b, 360c, . . . , 360n), such as a heat pump. Typical loop fluids may be a corrosion-inhibited antifreeze solution with a freezing point of 10 degrees or more below the minimum expected temperature. The antifreeze solutions are biodegradable, non-toxic, non-corrosive and have properties that will minimize pumping power needed. Some examples of loop fluids are glycols and alcohol and water mixtures. Glycols, specifically ethylene or propylene, are relatively safe and generally non-corrosive, have fair heat transfer and medium cost. Alcohol and water mixtures, including methyl (methanol), isopropyl or ethyl (ethanol), are relatively non-corrosive, have fair heat transfer and medium cost. Ordinary water can be used in warmer climates where the ground temperature stays warm and the heat pump's heat exchanger refrigerant temperature does not drop below freezing.
The main line (Item 365) may be buried to a sufficient depth within a riparian body (Item 351) for converting the loop fluid from a first phase to a second phase. For example, the first and second phases of the loop fluid may be in a gas, liquid, or steam phase. The geothermal piping or tubing (Item 365) is laid usually at least 4-5 feet below the riparian's surface, which may vary depending on specific geologic and topographic conditions, to the area that is clearly below the permafrost/frost level. At such depths, one may take advantage of subterranean level conditions of a fairly constant 55 degree Fahrenheit temperature range. In particular, the loop fluid from the geothermal infrastructure can be warmed or cooled based upon the incoming condition of the fluid then warmed or cooled via the buried infrastructure and re-circulated through connected homes (Items 345a, 345b, 345c, . . . , 345n), businesses (not shown) or municipal structures (not shown). The buried system infrastructure (Item 365) may run for less than a mile or for more than a thousand miles allowing for multiple homes (Items 345a, 345b, 345c, . . . , 345n) and businesses to connect to the geothermal roadway system (Item 3500). The system (Item 3500) built along the riparian body (Item 351), may eventually be used to reduce the fossil fuel power demands of millions of homes, municipal structures and businesses. The main flow line (Item 365) may be buried vertically, horizontally, or any combination thereof. The main flow line (Item 365) may be in the form of a spiraling or spiral shaped coil.
Rates for use of the system may include an installation fee and usage fees based upon the size and usage parameters of the residential (Items 345a, 345b, 345c, . . . , 345n), commercial (not shown) or industrial system (not shown) user. Specific equipment may be used to gauge the volume of usage by specific customers measuring inflow and outflow volume as well as pump usage depending on how the pumps (Items 360a, 360b, 360c, . . . , 360n) for the system (Item 3500) are configured.
Pumps (Items 360a, 360b, 360c, . . . , 360n) may be operated by the system infrastructure to pump fluid for the underground infrastructure as well as, in some cases, the internal customer infrastructure. Pumps (Items 360a, 360b, 360c, . . . , 360n) may be powered by grid energy or may be powered by alternative energy sources directly as described above. Additional billing to customers may be initiated by the geothermal system based upon the powering of the pumps (Items 360a, 360b, 360c, . . . , 360n) from grid based or alternative energy direct powering sources.
Pressure pumps (Items 369a, 369b, 369c, . . . , 369e) may be coupled to the main flow line (Item 365) to move fluid above the riparian level (Item 351) and/or re-circulate the fluid in the main flow line (Item 365). The pumps (Items 369a, 369b, 369c, . . . , 369e) are selected for processes not only to raise and transfer fluids, but also to meet other criteria such as constant flowrate or constant pressure. Pumps (Items 369a, 369b, 369c, . . . , 369e) may be dynamic pumps and positive displacement pumps. The dynamic pumps may be centrifugal or axial pumps. Positive displacement pumps may be reciprocating, metering, and rotary pumps.
In
The refrigerant moves into the compressor (Item 3610), which is a pump that raises the pressure so the refrigerant will move through the system. The increased pressure from the compressor (Item 3610) causes the refrigerant to heat to roughly 120 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. This generates hot vapor. The hot vapor now moves into contact with the condenser coil (Item 365) (the underground loops), where the refrigerant gives up its heat to the cooler ground loop, and as a result condenses back into liquid.
As the refrigerant leaves the compressor (Item 3610), it is still under high pressure. It reaches the expansion valve (Item 3620), where the pressure is reduced. The cycle is complete as the cool liquid refrigerant re-enters the evaporator (Item 3605) to pick up room heat.
During the cold weather, the reversing valve (Item 3620) switches the indoor coil (Item 3605) to function as the condenser, and the underground piping (Item 365) acts as the evaporator.
According to the present invention, applicants combine the geothermal roadway system of
In
The geothermal generation and distribution system (Item 3500) may switch the main flow line (Item 365) from a closed position to an open position (at 3723). In the open position, the main flow line (Item 365) receives a fluid at one end of the main flow line (Item 365) and circulates the fluid through the main flow line (Item 365) and the at least one distribution flow line (Items 355a, 355b, 355c, . . . , 355n). The fluid exits at another end of the main flow line (Item 365). In the closed position, the main flow line (Item 365) re-circulates the fluid through the main flow line (Item 365) and the at least one distribution flow line (Items 355a, 355b, 355c, . . . , 355n).
The system (Item 3500) may distribute the geothermal generated energy using the roadway system electricity grid (at 3725). A plurality of energy exchangers (Items 360a, 360b, 360c, . . . , 360n), along one or more roads, form a network of geothermal energy for distribution. Each, or substantially all, of the plurality of energy exchangers (Items 360a, 360b, 360c, . . . , 360n) is electrically connected to the roadway system electricity grid and positioned on part of one of the roads or near to the one or more roads.
Before ending at 3735, the main flow line (Item 365) may be securely anchored to the bottom of the riparian body, docks, or piers or similar structure (at 3730).
In
Conversely, the system (Item 3900) is in an open loop position when valve (Item 368c) is in a closed position and valves (Items 368a and 368b) are in an open position. In the open loop, the substance is drawn from an intake (Item 372a) of the main line (Item 365), passes through the plurality of energy exchangers (
There are many benefits of having a system (3900) with the ability to be in the open or closed position. For example, during the winter time, the riparian body (Item 351) may freeze due to cold temperature. In such a situation, the system (Item 3900) may operate in a closed position. Therefore, the system (Item 3900) may continue to provide geothermal energy regardless of the season or weather condition.
In the closed position, the technician may add different types of solution to obtain a good loop fluid, such as softening, hardening or non corrosive solution. Moreover, the technician may replace or mix the riparian fluid with another fluid, such as an antifreeze solution that is biodegradable, non-toxic, and non-corrosive, by draining the main line (Item 365).
While this invention has been particularly shown and described with references to example embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention encompassed by the appended claims.
Claims
1. A method for generating and distributing geothermal energy from a riparian source, comprising:
- providing a circulation process for generating geothermal energy using at least one distribution flow line having a forward flow line for a first phase and a return flow line for a circulatory second phase;
- coupling one of a first end and second end of the at least one distribution flow line to any point along a main flow line, the other one of the first end and second end of the at least one distribution flow line coupling to a desired location;
- burying the main flow line for converting the first and second phases, the burying of the main flow line being to a depth of a riparian body;
- switching the main flow line from a closed position to an open position, in the open position, the main flow line receiving a fluid at one end of the main flow line; circulating the fluid through the main flow line and the at least one distribution flow line; and exiting the fluid at another end of the main flow line;
- in the closed position, the main flow line re-circulating the fluid through the main flow line and the at least one distribution flow line; and
- distributing the geothermal generated energy.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein generating geothermal energy further includes using a plurality of energy exchangers forming a riparian network of geothermal energy.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein for each distribution flow line, there being a respective energy exchanger; and
- wherein distributing the geothermal generated energy includes each of substantially all of the energy exchangers is electrically connected to a roadway system electricity grid.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the depth is deep enough within the riparian body to sufficiently cause the first phase to be in a gas, liquid, or steam phase.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the depth is deep enough within the riparian body to sufficiently cause the second phase to be in a gas, liquid, or steam phase.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein providing the circulation process is set in motion by at least one energy exchanger.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein providing the circulation process is set in motion by pressure.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the desired location is a home, office building, geothermal power plant, or at least one energy exchanger.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the at least one energy exchanger is a heat pump.
10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
- installing the main flow line vertically, horizontally, or any combination thereof;
- regulating a substance in the main flow line to the at least one distribution flow line; and
- switching the main flow line from the open position to the closed position.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein installing the main flow line is using at least one spiral, straight, or any combination thereof coil.
12. A geothermal generation and distribution infrastructure, comprising:
- at least one distribution flow line having a forward flow line for a first phase and a return flow line for a circulatory second phase;
- one of a first end and a second end of the at least one distribution flow line configured to couple to any point along a main flow line, the other one of the first end and second end of the at least one distribution flow line configured to couple to a desired location;
- the main flow line configured to be buried to a depth within a riparian body for converting the first and second phases;
- at least one switching mechanism configured to switch the main flow line from a closed position to an open position, in the open position, the main flow line is configured to: receive a fluid at one end of the main flow line; circulate the fluid through the main flow line and the at least one distribution flow line; and exit the fluid at another end of the main flow line;
- in the closed position, the main flow line is configured to re-circulate the fluid through the main flow line and the at least one distribution flow line; and
- anchors configured to secure the main flow line.
13. The infrastructure of claim 12 further comprising:
- a plurality of energy exchangers forming a roadway network of geothermal energy, wherein each of substantially all of the plurality of energy exchangers is electrically connected to a roadway system electricity grid and positioned on part of or near to the one or more roads;
- at least one first valve configured to regulate the flow of a fluid in the main flow line to the at least one distribution flow line; and
- at least one pressure pump configured to transfer the fluid in the main flow line.
14. The infrastructure of claim 12 wherein the depth is deep enough within the riparian body to sufficiently cause the first phase to be in a gas, liquid, or steam phase.
15. The infrastructure of claim 12 wherein the depth is deep enough within the riparian body to sufficiently cause the second phase to be in a gas, liquid, or steam phase.
16. The infrastructure of claim 12 further comprising at least one energy exchanger configured to provide circulatory flow in the at least one distribution flow line.
17. The infrastructure of claim 16 wherein the circulatory flow is set in motion by pressure.
18. The infrastructure of claim 12 wherein the desired location is a home, office building, geothermal power plant, or at least one energy exchanger.
19. The infrastructure of claim 18 wherein the at least one energy exchanger is a heat pump.
20. The infrastructure of claim 19 wherein the heat pump includes:
- at least one evaporator having a series of piping configured to connect to an air handler, the air handler configured to blow air and thereby the at least one evaporator absorbing heat from the air;
- at least one condenser configured to condense the first phase to the second phase by transferring heat to cooler surrounding air, water, or earth;
- at least one second valve in communications with the at least one evaporator and the at least one condenser, the at least one second valve configured to control a flow of the fluid; and
- at least one compressor configured to increase pressure and temperature of the fluid, thereby causing the fluid to flow.
21. The infrastructure of claim 20 wherein the fluid is a refrigerant.
22. The infrastructure of claim 20 wherein the fluid is from a riparian body.
23. The infrastructure of claim 13 wherein the main line is configured to be installed vertically, horizontally, or any combination thereof.
24. The infrastructure of claim 13 wherein the main line is installed using at least one spiral, straight, or any combination thereof coil.
25. A riparian geothermal generation and distribution infrastructure comprising:
- means for generating geothermal energy using at least one distribution flow line having a forward flow line for a first phase and a return flow line for a circulatory second phase;
- means for coupling one of a first and second end of the at least one distribution flow line to any point along a main flow line, the other one of the first and second end of the at least one distribution flow line coupling to a desired location;
- means for burying the main flow line to a depth of a riparian body, the depth being sufficient for converting the first and second phases;
- means for anchoring the main flow line;
- means for regulating a substance in the main flow line to the at least one distribution flow line;
- means for switching the main flow line from a closed position to an open position, in the open position, the main flow line means for receiving a fluid at one end of the main flow line; means for circulating the fluid through the main flow line and the at least one distribution flow line; and means for exiting the fluid at another end of the main flow line;
- in the closed position, the main flow line means for circulating the substance through the main flow line and the at least one distribution flow line; and
- means for distributing the geothermal generated energy.
26. The infrastructure of claim 25 wherein the means for generating geothermal energy uses a plurality of energy exchangers forming a roadway network of geothermal energy.
27. The infrastructure of claim 25 wherein the means for distributing the geothermal generated energy includes each of substantially all of a plurality of energy exchangers is electrically connected to a roadway system electricity grid.
28. The infrastructure of claim 25 wherein the depth is deep enough within the riparian body to sufficiently cause the first phase to be in a gas, liquid, or steam phase.
29. The infrastructure of claim 25 wherein the depth is deep enough within the riparian body to sufficiently cause the second phase to be in a gas, liquid, or steam phase.
30. The infrastructure of claim 25 wherein the means for providing the circulation process is set in motion by at least one energy exchanger.
31. The infrastructure of claim 25 wherein the means for providing the circulation process is set in motion by pressure.
32. The infrastructure of claim 25 wherein the desired location is a home, office building, geothermal power plant, or at least one energy exchanger.
33. The infrastructure of claim 26 wherein the at least one energy exchanger is a heat pump.
34. The infrastructure of claim 25 further comprising:
- means for installing the main flow line vertically, horizontally, or any combination thereof; and
- means for switching the main flow line from the open position to the closed position.
35. The infrastructure of claim 34 wherein the means for installing the main flow line is using at least one spiral, straight, or any combination thereof coil.
36. The infrastructure of claim 25 wherein the means for circulating the fluid is using at least one pressure pump.
37. The infrastructure of claim 25 wherein the fluid is in solution with an agent for softening, hardening or non corrosive.
38. The infrastructure of claim 25 wherein the riparian body includes antifreeze solution.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 20, 2007
Publication Date: Jun 26, 2008
Inventors: Gene S. Fein (Lenox, MA), Edward Merritt (Lenox, MA)
Application Number: 11/765,812