Heat Exchange Using Underground Water System
In this disclosure, we have the following examples and teachings: A geothermal heating and or cooling system is introduced here which is deriving cooled or heated liquid via existing infrastructure of water pipe system in use for the houses and buildings, e.g. from the city water system or pipe network, or from the well water (or lake or river or sea or ocean or the like), piped or channeled to the buildings, through pipes or conduits or channels or closed enclosures. The system derives cooled liquid from existing underground infrastructure, including or for example, below-ground water pipes. The system gains a temperature advantage from the geothermal ground temperature, which remains roughly constant throughout the year in most regions. The system uses (e.g.) a storage tank to contain a working fluid and store thermal energy. In one example, multiple chambers and/or tanks are used for water heaters or coolers, with different connection and flow mechanisms. Other examples and designs are also discussed and shown here.
This invention relates to geothermal energy. Geothermal energy is a renewable environmental-friendly energy source, which can be used with a low set-up cost all year around (day or night, and all seasons). To maintain the current energy consumption on this planet, humans have to use different renewable and environmental-friendly energy sources.
Some prior art in this field are, as US patents or applications:
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20100301596 COUPLING FOR INTERCONNECTING AT LEAST TWO PIPES
20100300094 SYSTEM FOR POWER GENERATION BY MEANS OF A STEAM POWER UNIT, AND METHOD THEREFOR
20100300092 GEOTHERMAL ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION METHODS AND GEOTHERMAL ENERGY COLLECTION SYSTEMS
20100300091 GEOTHERMAL POWER GENERATION SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MAKING POWER USING THE SYSTEM
20100294456 GEOTHERMAL HEAT PUMP SYSTEM
20100288466 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY EXTRACTION SYSTEM AND METHOD
20100288465 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATION
20100278703 Method to neutralize hydrogen chloride in superheated geothermal steam without destroying superheat
20100276146 METHOD AND APPARATUS TO ENHANCE OIL RECOVERY IN WELLS
20100276115 System and method of maximizing heat transfer at the bottom of a well using heat conductive components and a predictive model
20100272515 METHOD OF DEVELOPING AND PRODUCING DEEP GEOTHERMAL RESERVOIRS
20100269501 Control system to manage and optimize a geothermal electric generation system from one or more wells that individually produce heat
20100263824 Geothermal Transfer System
20100258449 Self-sufficient hydrogen generator
20100258266 Modular, stackable, geothermal block heat exchange system with solar assist
20100258251 System integration to produce concentrated brine and electricity from geopressured-geothermal reservoirs
20100252229 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY SYSTEM
20100252228 Geothermal System
20100251710 SYSTEM FOR UTILIZING RENEWABLE GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
20100243017 SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR THE THERMAL MANAGEMENT OF BATTERY-BASED ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS
20100242517 Solar Photovoltaic Closed Fluid Loop Evaporative Tower
20100242474 MULTI-HEAT SOURCE POWER PLANT
20100236749 Modular, stackable, geothermal block system
20100236266 Geothermal Heating and Cooling System
20100230072 GEOTHERMAL SYSTEM FOR HEATING A HOME OR BUILDING
20100230071 Geothermal Water Heater
20100224408 EQUIPMENT FOR EXCAVATION OF DEEP BOREHOLES IN GEOLOGICAL FORMATION AND THE MANNER OF ENERGY AND MATERIAL TRANSPORT IN THE BOREHOLES
20100223171 Modular Geothermal Measurement System
20100212316 Thermodynamic power generation system
20100200191 GEOTHERMAL HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEM AND METHOD
20100199668 AIR POWER GENERATOR TOWER
20100193152 Sawyer-singleton geothermal energy tank
20100181044 Geothermal Air-Conditioner Device
However, our invention is different from all of these prior art, as shown below.
The classification of the sources for geothermal are usually done as follows:
High grade sources: above 400 degrees F., and can go as high as 1300 F. They are usually found in Western states of US and Hawaii (for US).
Medium grade sources: between 300-400 F, usually in southwestern US (for US).
Low grade sources: between 212 and 300 F, found anywhere.
To tap into deep wells, one should apply high strength pipes, to withstand the pressure and steam or high temperatures. The sediment coming up with water should be filtered or separated. Other elements (some toxic) may come, as well, for example: H2S, CO2, As, or mercury. The flow rate and pressure should be monitored and adjusted based on the demand level.
The dry steam power plants use dry (or direct) steam reservoirs with huge manifolds of very hot steam or water, at low pressure, or sometimes at high pressure. One can add turbine and generator to get electricity from the energy obtained. Flash steam (single or dual, which has a higher thermodynamics efficiency) power plants use liquid heat reserves. Binary cycle power plants have liquid sources below 360 F, with 2 independent closed loop systems, with lower efficiency, namely, injection well loop and the generator loop. Geothermal energy can be used directly, e.g. for heating fish farm, green houses, dried fruit, heating houses, heating sidewalks or walls, or similar locations or applications. The direct steam and binary hybrid can also be used.
The heat pumps can be used, as the one used in the conventional heating or cooling units for the houses and buildings, e.g. air-source heat pumps, as in the stand-alone HVAC systems, or ground-source heat pumps, using the earth as the heat exchange medium. The conventional heat pump has low efficiency for extreme hot and cold weather. But, the ground-source heat pump has more efficiency, because at about 6 ft depth, ground temperature stays around 50 F for all seasons, which is much higher than air temperature in winter, and for southern states, the ground can go as high as 70 F for most seasons.
One should consider the air emission impacts, surface-water impacts, and land-use impacts, as described in Proceedings of IEEE, Vol. 81, No. 3, March 1993, page 434, by Braun et al., as a good review paper.
Braun et al. teaches a typical direct steam plant, with cooling tower, power house turbine generator condenser, and wellhead equipment, with one set per well, with silencer and in-line particulate remover. It also shows a single flash plant, with wellhead flash tank separator (for reinjection), again having cooling tower, power house turbine generator condenser, and wellhead equipment, with one set per well.
It also shows a double flash plant, with HP (high pressure) separator/flash and LP (low pressure) flasher (as the separator-flasher unit, placed between power house and wellhead units), plus having cooling tower, power house turbine generator condenser, and wellhead equipment, with one set per well.
It also shows a binary plant, having cooling tower, power house turbine generator condenser, vapor generator, and production and reinjection wells. It also shows a geothermal preheat hybrid fossil/geothermal power plant, with low pressure turbine, reheater, intermediate pressure turbine, reheater, and high pressure turbine, plus steam generator, together with feedwater heaters, deaerator, condenser, and geothermal heat exchanger. It also shows a natural gas combined cycle/geothermal hybrid plant.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA geothermal heating and or cooling system is introduced here which is deriving cooled or heated liquid via existing infrastructure of water pipe system in use for the houses and buildings, e.g. from the city water system or pipe network, or from the well water (or lake or river or sea or ocean or the like), piped or channeled to the buildings, through pipes or conduits or channels or closed enclosures. The system derives cooled liquid from existing underground infrastructure, including or for example, below-ground water pipes. The system gains a temperature advantage from the geothermal ground temperature, which remains roughly constant throughout the year in most regions. The system uses (e.g.) a storage tank to contain a working fluid and store thermal energy. In one example, multiple chambers and/or tanks are used for water heaters or coolers, with different connection and flow mechanisms. Other examples and designs are also discussed and shown here.
The following figures are just some examples/embodiments, to explain better (with some figures having multiple variations and embodiments shown on the same drawing):
Here are some of the embodiments/examples of the current invention:
The source of the energy can be from the following sources, or through the following medium or phenomenon: dry steam hydrothermal, hot water hydrothermal, hot dry rock, geopressurized geothermal, magma, volcanic lava, activities, or chambers, hot springs, springs, water fountains, undercurrent rivers in ocean, underground water basins, rivers, or currents, high pressure steam or gasses trapped underground or in Earth cavities, cavities caused by oil, gas, or mineral explorations or mining, caverns or caves, cavities under rivers, ground, or seas, natural or human-made tunnels, gaps or structures caused by earthquakes on the surface or depth of the planet Earth, geysers (such as that in Yellowstone Park in US), waterfalls, rivers, wind, surface or ground water supplies, man-made water containers or reservoirs, flood-prevention reservoirs, agricultural reservoirs, fish or algae reservoir for fish farms or pools, natural lakes, man-made lakes, swimming pools, tide-related currents, or any exchange of the heat in either directions, or heat generated through chemical reactions, involving powder, liquid, fluid, solid, gas (e.g. pressurized gas or hot gas), hydrogen, helium, CO2, CO, natural gas, gasoline, heating oil, crude oil, spray, mist, humidity, or air, or combination thereof, or compounds, mixtures, or solutions (in stable, transitional, final, or unstable states (thermodynamically, chemically, atomically, or physically)).
To cool down, e.g. in Summer, for room/air or water, e.g. for living space (air) or bathing/shower (water), one can use the ice or snow deposits naturally-happening in many parts of the world, in a heat-exchange apparatus, medium, device, or setup.
The underground caves or underground floors (or basements) in the buildings are usually naturally kept at a very constant temperature range (in a small range of temperatures), throughout the year, making it easier or more comfortable for humans or animals survive or live in that environment or space. This makes the energy needed for cooling or heating the air or water for usage for humans or animals very minimal, if any at all. Thus, using Earth's heat capacity and natural condition, we can save a lot on energy usage for all usual living needs and applications, throughout the year.
To facilitate the exchange of heat, one can use pressurized or non-pressurized gas, fluid, liquid, gas mixture, oil, water, liquid mixture, hydrogen, nitrogen, air, powder, compounds, solutions, materials as heat sinks, a block of material with high heat capacity, polymers, or similar materials. This can be done using gravity, chain reactions, or chemical reactions (naturally, by itself). For example, the oil or water would heat up and cool down, as a cycle, to expand and contract, to change the density of the material, going up and down by gravity or difference or differential on density, or heated material or fluid rising to the top, by convection or natural cycling or movement.
Another way is to use an external force or device to facilitate the exchange of heat, for example, using a heat pump, pump, compressor, wheel (e.g. with spoons or buckets or blades to move the fluid(s) up or down), heat engine, pressurized device, compressed gas tanks or cylinders, liquid nitrogen or the like, or similar devices or methods, to speed up the heat exchange, or increase efficiency of the heat exchange.
Hot rocks or gaps close to the surface of the Earth or geothermal wells are some of the sources we can use. One can drill long wells, to reach thousands of feet down, to the hot rocks, to pump the water down and bring it back up again, through gaps and reservoirs down there, to produce hot water or steam, to spin a turbine or wheel to generate electricity, or generate mechanical energy to do some function (or charge a battery or moving a heavy flywheel or spring-loaded wheel, e.g. like winding the clock, as a potential energy storage, for future usage), for a house, factory, school, hospital, or the like.
This technology can be combined with the heat pumps, power plants, and exploration and mapping for rock fracturing and drilling. This technology can also be combined with thermoacoustic engines and refrigerators, in which researchers have harnessed acoustic processes in gases to make reliable inexpensive engines and cooling devices with no moving parts and a significant fraction of Carnot's efficiency (such as the work/overview described by Gregory Swift, from Los Alamos National Lab, in New Mexico, e.g. in the July 1995 issue of Physics Today). Swift describes a thermoacoustic engine that converts some heat from a high-temperature heat source into acoustic power, rejecting waste heat to a low temperature heat sink. It also describes a heat driven electrical generator in this setup.
The heat exchanger for this invention can also be combined with a solar hot water system, to increase efficiency or redundancies, e.g. as a backup system at home. Basically, we have a collector or heat exchanger unit, which gets the energy or exchanges heat in either directions, when needed, similar to a heat pump, or similar to solar hot water collectors on the roofs (using anti-freeze solutions in the rooftop solar collectors). We can have this collector in common to both systems, or as 2 units exchanging heat in a bigger system, or combined in a third exchange unit for synergy between 2 systems (i.e. solar hot water system and system of our current invention).
In one embodiment, the collector or collectors or heat-exchangers are connected to a controller and/or pump(s), which control the temperature and the flow/flow rate of the liquid through the system. The controller and pump combination is connected to a tank, having a lengthy pipe in it, to supply the shower and other user units, directly or indirectly. The tank is also connected to a backup system, such as solar system unit or electrical or gas/conventional heating unit, for a back up or increase the output, if needed. There is also a storage unit with huge capacity, with good insulation for heat, to store water or liquid for a long time at a constant temperature, connected to the tank or backup system, or both. We can also add a pressure safety valve at the manifold, for high pressure release, and an anti-scald valve, for hot water supply, for safety purposes.
In one embodiment, the blackwater and greywater recycling for water can also be added to our system here, to separate or re-use the toilet water, toxic water, soap water, shower water, and similar water. The used water (pipes), which is usually hotter than the surroundings, can be used as a heat exchange, to get its energy, before recycling or dumping the water. This can be done by attaching or setting the pipes close to another pipe or heat sink, for transferring the energy from high-temperature pipe to the lower temperature item or object or pipe. The transfer can be improved using fan or pump for air around the pipe or fluid inside the pipe circulations, to improve the exchange efficiency.
In one embodiment, the spike and non-uniformity in water usage can be controlled or accommodated during the day or seasons, using the controller, which controls the speed of flow of water or liquid/fluid, for heat exchange, in the geothermal well or inside the house or tank, using a pump(s) and valve(s) to control the flow/speed/rate of flow/supply of water or fluid or oil, to ramp the rate(s) up during periods of high usage or extreme cold weather outside, as an example. A fuzzy logic unit can be added to the controller for smooth transitions and rate adjustments, with a neural network controller, to train the system according to the locality and the user's preferences, based on the past behavior or predictions, e.g. for weather forecasts and seasons adjustments.
In one embodiment, a storage unit can supply the needed water during the periods of high demands, e.g. kept at a very high temperature at one or more storage units, and mixed with a lower temperature water supply, to provide the right temperature for usage. In one embodiment, multiple storage units are used to keep the storage water at different temperatures, for different periods, with different insulation R-values, for insulating the storages against heat exchange (e.g. using vacuum jackets or multiple walls, for better insulations), for different purposes, in future. So, we will have an array of heat exchangers and water/fluid storages, for each application or temperature range, controlled by the controller or central processor or computer/server, centrally or locally or remotely.
In one embodiment, the fluid usage, such as oil or soap water, is intended, instead of water usage. The systems described here in this invention apply to any fluid other than water, as well, including gas and liquid, or mixtures or solutions.
In one embodiment, the variable size tanks are used, with different compartments opened during the high usage periods, with a valve, by a controller, from a central computer. The same thing can be done using a diaphragm or flap, e.g. made of metal, plastic, elastic, fabric, polymers, or the like, to separate or partition the spaces within the tank, for full or partial usages. The diaphragm (e.g.) can be elastic, flexible, rigid on a rail inside the tank, rigid on a spring inside a tank, flexible with a screw adjusting the bulge and its curvature (using a motor or manual adjustments, by a user or operator), or adjustable on a frame (and using screws or rails or rods, adjusting the position of the frame(s), with respect to the tank, to adjust the usable volume, manually or computer controlled). The diaphragm can be insulating in one embodiment, or heat conducting in another embodiment.
In one embodiment, the heat exchange is done through diaphragm or flap. In one embodiment, the heat exchange is done through contacting 2 surfaces, such as pipes or metal solid blocks or metal hollow containers. In one embodiment, the heat exchange is done through forced or free air or fluid between the two or more discrete or continuous surfaces, by convection. In one embodiment, the heat exchange is done through radiation through electromagnetic radiation or photons from 2 surfaces, or any combinations of the above, or chemical reactions caused by solutions or compounds, to generate or exchange heat or energy. In one embodiment, the heat exchange is done through actual direct contacts, and possible mixing, of 2 liquids or fluids. In one embodiment, the heat exchange is done through walled or containers containing 2 or more liquids or fluids, not mixing any of the fluids or liquids.
In one embodiment, the heat exchange is done through parallel or concentric pipes or elements or plates, non-parallel plates or arrays of pipes or elements, concentric shaped cylinders, cones, cubes, rectangles, frames, ovals, meshes, array of pipes, or spheres, or any geometrical shapes in 2 or 3 dimensional space/objects, with enough exposure of surfaces for exchanging heat between 2 or more objects, with any of the methods mentioned above. In one embodiment, the plates can be interleaved or mixed or sandwiched together. In one embodiment, the plates have grooved surface(s) for maximum heat exchange or efficiency.
The flow for fluid can be controlled by valve, switch, needle valve, manifold, diaphragms, or flaps, or combination of the above, as some examples.
Cooling costs compose a significant portion of electric bills in most southern states. Virtually all residential and commercial buildings use a condensing cycle to cool ambient air, running either an air conditioner or heat pump to cool. However, a very significant source of free geothermal cooling is readily available and already entering homes. The water pipes supplying our tap water are normally kept at depths of at least 3 feet to avoid freezing, so that they may benefit from the constant ground temperatures that geothermal heat pumps make use of. This water enters with a temperature in the mid-50's year round, varying by location. This innovative system can cool a building. For many instances, the cooling capacity of the cold water is sufficient to cover most, and often all, of a buildings cooling load. Employing these methods additionally reduces hot water heating bills, as a side effect, by raising cold water temperature.
Several challenges have prevented previous technology from using this great resource. The demand for water and the demand for household cooling vary drastically throughout the day, rarely acting in step. So, for a large building (e.g. office building) with many users, this averages out, and the spikes in usage will more or less flattens during the day. For smaller buildings, one can use a tank for storage, or multiple tanks, to store the water or liquid at different intermediate temperatures, to be used for various applications for different users, according to the users' specification or preference or appliance's spec or manufacturer's ratings.
A controller with a central computer, with local thermocouples or thermometers, plus valves on pumps on various lines, can redirect and adjust the flow of water and fluid in various parts of the building, to optimize the best usage of the resources or storage tanks and exchanger units, located throughout the pipe network in the building.
For one application, it is strongly desirable that the cold water temperature be raised no further. Therefore, it is desirable to use the cold water quickly, and keep it separate from warmer water until it has heated up. Therefore, water enters the building when cooling demand calls for it, instead of when tap water demand is giving. The moderately warmer cool water is then kept in a storage tank until cold water demand is given. Several embodiments of the design are shown here.
For one application/example, the municipal tap water entering the house is used to also provide cooling for a building. In traditional systems, tap water is sent throughout the building either as is or is heated up for warmer applications including showers, dish washing, warm sink water, etc. Water pipes, situated underground, experience an approximately constant temperature year-round, when situated adequately underground. This placement at depth is a municipal tap water system commonality, originally designed to prevent winter freezing by putting pipes at similar depth as for instance geothermal heat pump systems. For instance, the geothermal temperature and thus approximate tap water temperature in an area in Maryland may be near 58 degrees Fahrenheit year-round. Most of this water in typical residences will be heated for various applications, which is a waste of energy as the cooling ability is not only unused, but additional energy is used to heat the tap water up. The cooling capacity of the average annual tap water use is comparable in magnitude to residence needed cooling capacity, adequate to supplement or replace current cooling systems. The system therefore significantly reduces energy spent in cooling, with the added bonus of reduced water heating energy.
In several embodiments of the invention, the method of cooling capacity delivery can be a single or combination of forced air (i.e. an air blower and ductwork), radiant cooling, or conjunction with a heat pump or other device. A heat exchanger can take fluid from the system of our invention and transfer it to another medium. For instance, a heat exchanger could transfer heat from the pipes into the air in a forced air or ductwork system, which then could be delivered to rooms of a building or another location with cooling demand. An intermediary working fluid could be used, taking heat from the tap water and exchanging it into another medium, including a forced air system. Another alternative is exchanging heat with a fluid that will treat a needed cooling or heating load. For instance, thermal properties could be transferred to a fluid that would use radiant heating or cooling to control the temperature of a room or device. Radiant cooling would delivery cooling or heating capacity typically without a forced-air system, although airflow can be used at times to improve heat transfer. Again, an intermediary working fluid may be used.
In a radiant system, the radiant heat energy is exchanged with that which needs to be heated or cooled via an exposed radiator or panels with significant pipe length to enable radiation. In some applications where a large mass must be heated or cooled, conduction may be used to transfer heat. In materials with poor conduction coefficients, metal plates, metal bars, and other shapes may be place in contact or embedded in the medium to experience temperature change to enhance heat transfer. An intermediary for all these variations is the inclusion of a heat pump. A heat pump is advantageous as it uses a condensing cycle to move heat by taking advantage of the vapor cycle of a working fluid and how a fluid changes temperature when forced to experience changes in pressure. A heat pump as the intermediary between the cold or hot water source and the place it must be delivered, allows for a larger temperature difference than without it, allowing for more rapid heat transfer, and the ability to treat heating or cooling loads that could otherwise not be done effectively with the system.
Heat exchange by radiation, convection, conduction, or their combination can be used, as taught by various prior art, and used for tanks or heat exchangers for this purpose. An additional method of cooling delivery would be with the conjunction of a heat pump into the system. The heat pump could move fluid to or away from the main working fluid.
The system must be properly controlled to ensure intelligent use of source fluid heating or cooling capacity. The controls of the system in one embodiment is computer controlled via software, in another, it is controlled by a thermostat, and in another embodiment, a single or multiple control modules dictate the actions of the system. In some embodiments, automatic mechanical control of the system can be actuated by mechanical devices that change state based on pressure or flow rate, such as a floating balloon actuating a component, or pressure-dependent valves. Various measurements are necessary to monitor the system, although like most heating and cooling systems, a wide variety of sensor inputs can be set up to get circumstantially equivalent information. Measurements to be taken include a subset of temperature, pressure, flow rate, humidity, fluid level, fluid demand, or fluid height level in tank. These measurements are taken at a subset of locations which include the geothermal source itself, the source fluid, different levels in any tanks, pipes in the system, indoor and outdoor air, and fluid exits.
The system will have valves for shutting on and off the flow of water. It also is necessary to have shut off valves for emergency and maintenance, to stop flow for servicing, repair, system modification, or component replacement. Other (optional) components are computer controlled valves, flow meter, automatic monitors, pressure dependent valves, temperature triggered valves, water level dependent valves, floating switches or valves, or devices monitoring the demand for tap water, to control the flow of fluid(s) and heat transfer or exchange.
Embodiments of this invention are applicable to an array of sources with advantageous thermal properties. The geothermal temperature properties of the source fluid is generated from either municipal or other tap water, a deep or shallow, a geyser or hot spring, a natural or manmade body of water including a lake, pond, river, a rain collection system, ocean sourced, an above or below ground storage tank, tidal water, empty mine flooded, tidal, sewer, any pipes carrying any fluid or chemical (oil pipeline, gas pipeline), swimming pool, ice or frozen substances (e.g. permafrost), compost pile heating, nuclear waste, power plant waste heat, or heat exchange with a solid mass such as a buried object or through ground itself. In another embodiment, a composite of any of the above sources is used, which can include multiple of the same source, i.e. multiple pipes.
To have the maximum heat exchange, we need more surface area, with respect to a given volume of fluid. So, we need more pipes, with small thickness, but lengthy, and snake-like, so that they fold and fold, to have more exposure or surface for heat exchange.
In one embodiment of the design, the system uses a tank to store a fluid for use in heating and cooling. The fluid, referred to as the source fluid, has advantageous geothermal temperature properties to heat or cool. In several embodiments, the temperature of the tank may be intentionally stratified, meaning differentiated by temperature in different regions in the tank. A temperature stratification may be highly advantageous in heating or cooling, allowing for the working fluid drawn from the tank to have a larger temperature difference from that of the device or region the cooling is being delivered, providing superior heating or cooling capacity. Additionally, in embodiments where the water is being delivered back into the tank after providing heating or cooling capacity for future use as tap water, separating the unused and used fluid prevents temperature mixing that would cause a disadvantageous temperature differential.
Multiple chambers or tanks may be used to further stratify the water. In one embodiment, the fluid that has not yet been used is stored in a separate tank from the fluid whose temperature and humidity properties have already been taken advantage of There may also be a tank system with tanks running in conjunction and parallel to one another.
The system can be used to heat and cool for multiple situations. One application or use is household heating and cooling loads. The system, however, can be applied with a combination of household use, refrigeration use, municipal water treatment, and household water heating.
The system requires heat exchanges, and in multiple places, depending on the application or use. In an application with a forced air or ducted system, a water-to-air heat exchanger is necessary. Such a heat exchanger must maximize surface area contact between working fluid and air, typically by a tight coil or a winding back and forth of a significant length of pipe. Metal or other highly conductive material would ideally be used in the pipes. Fins, or conductive flanges (similar to home heating radiators), may be used to increase surface area and thus improve heat transfer. In applications where liquids must exchange heat, a similar heat exchanger may be used, for instance, a coil of pipe within a tank.
Other heat exchangers include pipes coiled around one another, alternating pipes enclosed in a conductive structure, and parallel plates of alternating liquids. Such a system may be aided by a pump in various applications, or designed to operate without one. Concentric cylinders of alternating liquids may also be used as a heat exchanger. Pads with arrays or pipes in 2 or 3 dimensional space (or objects), or as array of parallel planes, or planes or arrays interleaved between two exchanging surfaces, at every other plane or array, to increase the contact and exposure, can be used, as well. This can be combined with forced air, fluid, gel, solid, powder, or liquid, between the planes or arrays, to improve the exchange, in parallel or perpendicular directions (or mixed directions). Any combination of the aforementioned heat exchanges are used in various embodiments of the invention.
Several material choices must be made, including those for the pipes, valves, insulation, and any tanks or other components in the system. The material choices for the pipes may be fairly flexible, with options including plastic, metal, PVC, elastic, hose, or ceramic materials. Copper is an especially ideal material for pipes, as it is easy to assemble via sweating, and parts are readily available. The tank may be made out of plastic, metal, ceramic, or PVC, but because a tank needs to be sturdy and able to support a significant amount of weight and pressure, metal is recommended, with steel being of primary consideration. Other material or design in prior art are also included here.
Various embodiments of the system may use different fluids, which refers to any of a gas, liquid, nano-liquid, liquefied gas, or molten salt. Gases in consideration include hydrogen, various inert glasses, such as Helium, Argon, Nitrogen, or Carbon Dioxide, and also steam, possibly with concentrations of other fluids.
The primary liquid in consideration for the system is water or a water with diluted chemicals (e.g. salts or solutions). These chemicals include antifreeze and other substances to increase the operating range of the system by depressing the freezing point and/or increasing the boiling point. Chemicals that decrease viscosity or other types of internal friction are also desired, as well as chemicals that reduce corrosion. Choice options include ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, propylene glycol, Polyalkylene Glycol, or similar chemicals, which significantly increase the operating temperature range of the system. Other diluted components may be alumina, metal oxides including those of copper and titanium, and silica or carbon. Various oils may be used as a fluid in the system, as well, including Mineral Oils, Silicone Oils, and Fluorocarbon oils. Typically, oils have the advantage of being usable in different temperature ranges than liquid water, and may have lower viscosity and pumping resistance, making them ideal in some embodiments of the invention. Other chemicals including refrigerants may be used.
In some applications of the device, liquid salts or liquid metals may be used as a fluid, including combinations of Sodium, Lithium, Potassium, Beryllium, Boron, Chloride, and Fluoride. Liquid metals include combinations of mercury, the above listed metals, as well as bismuth, lead, and other metals.
In other embodiments, liquefied gases, or molecules typically gas at room temperature, but made to be liquid through a combination of raised pressure and decreased temperature, may be employed.
For some situations and conditions, one can use the Dittus-Boelter heat transfer correlation for fluids (in turbulent flow), for calculations for the forced convection mode of heat transfer.
For the conduction heat transfer, one can use the formula:
Q=λ((T2−T1/L)St
Where Q is the quantity of heat transferred through a layer of substance of thickness L, with cross sectional area S, with temperature difference (T2−T1) and during time t, with thermal conductivity of λ. The thermal conductivity is expressed as, e.g., (KiloCal/(m·hr·degree)) or (Cal/(cm·sec·degree)) unit.
With some approximations, for some ranges of operations, the wall heat transfer coefficient for a pipe, h, can (approximately) be calculated using the following expression:
h=2k/(di ln(do/di))
where di and do are the inner and outer diameters of the pipe, respectively, and k is the effective thermal conductivity of the wall material.
For combining heat transfer coefficients, for two or more heat transfer processes acting in parallel, heat transfer coefficients will add up:
h=h1+h2+h3+
For two or more heat transfer processes in series, heat transfer coefficients will inversely add up:
(1/h)=(1/h1)+(1/h2)+(1/h3)+
Systems with an alternative means of heating or cooling may be much more flexible when combined with the current invention. If the heating or cooling load may be treated by other means, as well, the invention can be used to increase the efficiency of the system, or may be applied in simpler ways in combination with this invention. For instance, if a heat pump is being used, an alternative piping setup may allow it to transfer heat to and from the source fluid, which in the instance of cooling a building, via dumping heat in tap water, may also aid in heating that water for residential hot water use. In other variation, it may divide the cold and hot water (as separate), or actively designate the system's water as hot water or regular tap water, via a control system. In applications, when used in the conjunction of another device that may supplement cooling loads, or when the water demand (and thus, water heat capacity) greatly exceed thermal demand, a tank may not be necessary for the system, which can then operate solely via valves and a control system, or operate passively, by just freely flowing through heat exchanges.
In one embodiment, a very large heat exchanger may serve as a storage tank, in that its thermal mass is significant enough to contain a large amount of thermal energy. For instance, a very lengthy amount of pipe with significant fluid storage may serve as the thermal energy storage device for the system.
In one embodiment, tank operates on natural differentiation of temperature levels, or stratification, organized in layers, layer over layer. In one embodiment, water is taken out of the main municipal pipe, and then put right back into it. In one embodiment, water can also be deliberately cooled further via a geothermal well.
In one embodiment, a diaphragm partitions the tank. In one embodiment, two tanks or more tanks are used to partition or separate the water. In one embodiment, a plate or series of plates is used to separate water of different temperatures.
In one embodiment, when the valve is open, gravity makes the plate fall slowly to the bottom of the tank. The water displaced by the plate's downward motion is pushed through the bypass.
In one embodiment, the specific density of diaphragm is similar to that of the water, e.g. made of foam and metal, sandwiched together in layers, of high density and low density items, with an overall average of about the specific density of the water, so that the diaphragm or floating unit stays at the same location within the depth of the tank, in the water, without sinking to the depth or surfacing to the top, in the tank, in a semi-equilibrium situation. In one embodiment, layers for water resistant or waterproof materials can be used. For example, a metal sandwiched over foam or plastic object, or a hollow object, can be used. See for example
See also
In one embodiment, to avoid tilting of the diaphragm (or floating unit or plate or shutter or flap or cap or separator or disc or regulator or needle valve) in the water or fluid tank, one can use rails to keep it straight, or grooves on the sides of the tank to keep it straight (or flat or horizontal position). In one embodiment, to avoid tilting of the diaphragm (or floating unit or plate) in the water or fluid tank, one can use a proper weight distribution of plate to keep it straight (or flat or horizontal position). For example, it can be like a pendulum, with the center of mass below the point of rotation, causing a state of equilibrium in that position. In one embodiment, to bring the diaphragm back in the place, one can use a motor, or pressure difference, or draw of water from the tank (for the demand side, causing water to drop).
In one embodiment, the tank plate moves up and down with the aid of a motor. Small actuators open and close holes or valves in the plate, to allow or prevent the flow of water. In one embodiment, cold water can be taken in, based upon the cooling demand of the house, and the cold water is stored in a volume-changing tank. In one embodiment, the heat exchange is with another fluid. In one embodiment, the heat exchange is with the same type of fluid. In one embodiment, the heat exchange is with intermixing and/or direct contact of the fluids. In one embodiment, the heat exchange is without intermixing and/or direct contact of the fluids. In one embodiment, the heat exchange is done with multiple chambers or multiple tanks, e.g. to begin filling other tanks with auxiliary tanks, in series or in parallel, e.g. with different shapes. The tanks or chambers are selected and operated on, using computer or remote or central controller, or alternatively, using manual operations by a user, to monitor parameters and control valves and other functions in the water tank or exchanger.
In one embodiment, the water tank or exchanger is any conventional one used in the prior art. Multiple pipes, e.g. same or different pipes, in terms of shape or material, can be used. In one embodiment, we can do the opposite, in a different environment, i.e. cooling tap water.
In one embodiment, the fluid movement is done by (force of) gravity, pressure differential, pump, motor, heat (e.g. expansion, or lower or differential viscosity, or lower or differential relative density or specific gravity, to move the fluid in one direction), tidal or wave movement, mechanical sources, or the like.
In one embodiment, the water pipe system from the city symbolizes an open system, as it brings new supply of water in to the system (pipes), and the water is used by the user(s), continuously (and the new supply replaces the used portion). The system of our invention can be placed both before or after the water meter, installed by the water company. During the cold months, if it goes below 0 C, to avoid freezing, the surface pipes, if any, are drained and closed, until the weather gets warmer.
In one embodiment, we are using a diaphragm or floating unit or flap in the tank (e.g. as a separator, in a water tank or exchanger unit), similar to the concept used in a typical water expansion tank for conventional water heater. An expansion tank or expansion vessel is a small tank used in closed water heating systems and domestic hot water systems to absorb excess water pressure, which can be caused by thermal expansion as water is heated, or by water hammer. The vessel itself is a small container divided in two by a rubber diaphragm. One side is connected to the pipe work of the heating system, and therefore, contains water. The other, the dry side, contains air under pressure, and also, normally a car-tire type valve stem, for checking pressure and adding air. When the heating system is empty, or at the low end of the normal range of working pressure, the diaphragm will be pushed against the water inlet. As the water pressure increases, the diaphragm moves, compressing the air on its other side. The compressibility of the air cushions the pressure shock, and relieves pressure in the system, that could otherwise damage the plumbing system.
When expansion tanks are used in domestic hot water systems, the tank and the diaphragm must conform to drinking water regulations, and must be capable of accommodating the required volume of water, as explained in great details in Wikipedia site, for this technology, expansion tanks, as a good reference and review article.
As an example, consider a system or tank with diaphragm, with water on top enclosure and air or nitrogen cushion at the bottom enclosure, with diaphragm separating the 2 enclosures. When system is filled, the water does not come to the tank, when cushion and water pressure are in equilibrium. Then, as temperature increases, the diaphragm moves to accept expanded water. Then, when water rises to the maximum, we get to the full expansion state. The same diaphragm concept is used in one embodiment of our invention.
In addition, for a multi-chamber tank, one can use multiple diaphragms (or flaps) (e.g. solid and rigid, or flexible) to separate each section from others. In one embodiment, we are using a diaphragm which is air tight and solid, with no holes, and no mixing. In one embodiment, we are using a diaphragm which has small holes, for slight passage of the fluid or water, to be able to mix the water slightly, but in a very limited fashion (for proper heat exchange), and still have a gradual water flow through the tank.
For Post-Use Heat Recovery: After use of tap water, the new thermal properties acquired through use can be taken advantage of in this system, prior to its disposal as wastewater. Direct reuse of said water may be hazardous due to waste, so specialized heat exchangers using this water may be processed differently. Namely, greywater and blackwater heat exchangers have different limitations, with blackwater waste causing risk of material clogging, and thus requiring heat exchangers with minimal bending.
Waste water that has not significantly exchanged thermal properties with ambient temperatures can be used interchangeably with the aforementioned systems, as a source for geothermal heating or cooling. Such processes will be effective, if adequately small time combined with adequate thermal resistance provides for an adequate temperature change.
Different applications for the invention are also possible with wastewater whose temperature has been modified, including cooled and especially heated water. Heated waste water exiting boilers, showers, or heating appliances (including dishwashers and clothes washers, etc) can be recovered and exchanged with thermal hot water tanks, to the tanks directly, or to heat up incoming water to the hot water tanks
Heat recovery of wastewater that has achieved ambient or near ambient temperatures can also be highly beneficial. Such waste water can pre-treat water entering use, including that entering thermal reservoirs, and also can be exchanged near areas with large cooling or heating loads, to reduce those loads. Advantageous locations include building exteriors, facades, and other high HVAC load regions, as well as kitchens, data centers, regions with equipment-caused heat, and regions or locations with large cooling loads for lighting, and other applications.
For smart system, for sensing temperature and exchanging heat: An intelligent sensory system measures and analyzes temperature and other properties of outgoing wastewater to exchange heat to thermal reservoirs. Sensor measurements of flow rate and temperature can combine with a logic “brain”, to decide when to use a combination of valves, pumps, or thermal contact heat exchangers to move heat to and from the thermal reservoirs.
In other embodiment, more simplistic models use fewer sensors. Applications with consistent temperatures may remove some or all temperature sensors, and many applications can remove use of direct flow rate, with timers and logic controls.
Multiple heat exchangers at different points in a system can be employed, some before the combination of different waste water streams. For example, hot body high-use-only applications, such as boilers, showers, dishwashers, and similar items, can have separate heat exchanger systems, to exchange favorable thermal properties, before rejection as wastewater.
In one embodiment of the invention, there is no tank at all, i.e. a tankless system, with no reservoir or storage. For example, the city water pipe system directly exchanges heat with the application or room or apparatus, e.g. with the room, heat pump, or cooling tower, e.g. to cool down the room in Summer or hot season. More variations are shown below, in the following figures and corresponding descriptions.
The figures show some examples, for better understandings:
In another embodiment, both liquids go in the same direction, with respect to each other, e.g. both starting or entering chamber 1, first.
The locations of connection of pipes between chambers are not fixed, in another example. For example, they are on a sliding rail, with flexible or extendable pipes, e.g. elastic or plastic (e.g. similar to those used for shower, with moveable shower head or shower handle, used in the bath room), to be able to move up and down, along the wall or side of the chambers, to change the pattern of movement of the second fluid, between the chambers, for optimization of the heat exchange, depending on delta or difference of temperature between the 2 fluids, at the entrance and exit for each chamber, for higher efficiency for exchange.
In one embodiment, one can close off some or parts of the screen or holes between chambers (e.g. using a shutter, rotating shutter around a hinge, cap, partial cap, plate, parallel plate to the screen plane, sliding plate, rotating plate, a block on an arm, or similar devices), so that the flow increases or decreases, between chambers, for different exchange rate, for efficiency, depending on the temperature of chambers and pipes recorded and analyzed by a processor, using sensors and detectors for temperature and flow meter, for monitoring, as some examples.
For the big commercial buildings, the usage is so large that at any given minute, there is one user using the water for some purpose. Thus, statistically, there is always a user, and the flow and usage or rate can be plotted and estimated for future, with a good degree of certainty. Thus, our system can predict and adjust the flow and temperatures more accurately and uniformly, with more efficiency. Generally speaking, the larger the building and more number of users and usages or applications, the better the statistics and prediction will be (e.g. a Normal Distribution with a Gaussian shape), for higher efficiency and uniform service throughout the building, with proper size tanks, storages, and exchangers for all hours of operations.
Any spike or anomalies will produce shortages or causes overdesigning the resources, causing general inefficiencies in either direction. Thus, to make the usage uniform and design proper (not too much or too little), one has to have a big system of users, e.g. big building (with a distributed usage with good statistical accuracy), or use storages with good insulations, to keep the liquid or water as a constant temperature at different temperatures, separately, as a heat or energy storages (or cold water for cold water usage or cooling living space, for summer, as an example), at different locations in the ground or throughout the building, for immediate or future usages, to uniformly distribute the resources or break the spike usages.
Thermal Plate isolates new entering cooled water in a region with a heat exchanger that connects to the cooling load, to be treated. The moving plate helps to reduce the intermixing of the old water and the new incoming water, while allowing for the continuous flow of the water through the system.
As an example, in
Now, in
-
- Technique or Solution or Method 1: a pipe connects the 2 sections, as shown on the left side of the tank in
FIG. 8 d. That pipe can have an optional valve and an optional pump (added to the pipe), to control the flow rate in that pipe, to connect and mix the fluids in 2 sections (flow rate control, controlled by a controller or central or remote processor). - Method 2: a cap or flap or opening door on a hinge, connecting the 2 sections, when needed, controlled by the controller, using a rod, cable, string, chain, belt, magnet, or the like, to open or close the cap.
- Method 3: a small connector opening, at the edge of the tank, as shown on the right side of the tank in
FIG. 8 d. The opening can have a flap, door, or cap, as well, as optional, with similar mechanism as described in Method 2 above.
- Technique or Solution or Method 1: a pipe connects the 2 sections, as shown on the left side of the tank in
As shown in
As the time passes, with no more usage of water (no water flow), as shown in
The IN and OUT pipes have optional valves and pumps, as well, controlled by the controller, centrally, to close off or control the flow rate, by a user or by a computer.
To repeat the full cycle, one has to go back to the situation shown at
As one embodiment, thermal plate has a lower density than the water (or fluid) in the tank, and the step of plate moving up in the tank is automatic, as time passes (with no external drive or forces needed, unless one wants to speed up the process). As another embodiment, thermal plate has a higher density than the water (or fluid) in the tank, and the step of plate moving down in the tank is automatic, as time passes. As another embodiment, thermal plate has a very similar density (average as a whole), compared to the water (or fluid) in the tank, and the step of plate moving up or down in the tank is not automatic, as time passes. Thus, either motor, magnet, rod, chain, or similar actions are needed, as external forces, as explained elsewhere in this disclosure, as well, or water motion pushing in or out of the pipes (IN or OUT) provides the force needed for such a motion (the step of plate moving up or down in the tank).
Note that the cycle described above can be done while the consumption of the water is small, and the thermal plate does not fully swing up and down, as its full range of movement in the tank being limited. However, the concept and steps are exactly the same as above.
The temperatures of different locations (e.g. at locations: exit, entry, up, down, in, out (for exchanger), mid, different pipes, and plate), TC, are measured and sent to the controller and database, for comparison, storage, analysis, neural network trainings, predictions, and decisions. The holder can be a mechanical (such as a pin or bar or stopper) or magnetic holder (e.g. permanent or electrically activated magnet), to hold the plate at the specific height(s) (e.g. at the top, for example, when the thermal plate is heavier than the water in the tank, and thus, normally will sink in the tank, toward bottom, if there is no force or object holding that up, at a specific location(s)).
The valve and the pipe on the left side of
Thermal plate can be of homogenous material, e.g. of the same material. Or, it can be of different materials as combination or mixture. For example,
In addition, if the center of gravity is below the geometrical center of the thermal plate, then the plate has the tendency to swing back to its middle position, for better stability in the tank, while floating or going up or down, as shown in
To show the self-stratifying tank, as an example, we can compare
To show a Semi-closed system, we refer to
Several example cases or variations: One can use a perforated pipe to bring the incoming (portion of) water to the exchanger, if the exchanger allows the flow, as in
Note the direction of the fluids or water for shell and tube in each configuration.
Referring to
Note that the above variations correspond to parallel flows and counter flows for pipe and container (or tank). One can mix them up, with multiple pipes and containers, having both “REVERSE” direction situation and “SAME” direction situation, in the system, as a mixed solution or system.
Referring to
Referring to
Note that, instead of rail, one can use corrugated metal, lip, tongue, niche, slot, recess, groove, hook, loop, or the like, to attach one object to the other, to hold the plate in a position in the tank. One can also use a step motor and/or a latch to make the direction of the movement of the plate in only one specific direction, or keep or move the plate in/to a fixed position.
In another embodiment, one uses flaps with different shapes and cross sections, e.g. circular, curved, airplane wing curved, flaps with strainer or holes, or the like, to redirect the flow direction in the tank, and change the speed or flow rate, for liquid or water in the tank, for better and more efficient or more time for heat exchange.
Note that each chamber, tank, storage, reservoir, or exchanger, described here, can have its own internal structure, such as twisted pipe or snake-like pipe, as described elsewhere in this disclosure. One can use an array of plates, pipes, tubes, wings, extensions, or fins, for better exchange and larger area of exposure.
In one embodiment, one uses one or more controllers, processors, chambers, tanks, storages, reservoirs, or exchangers, as modularized units, that can be stacked or connected or synchronized together, as a large system. The modular tanks or exchangers can increase the capacity of the system in a building, very easily and fast, with minimal disruption and delay in installation and integration. The integration can be parallel or in series or mixed combination, for the individual chambers, tanks, storages, reservoirs, or exchangers, shown above. For example, in series, for tanks, one tank feeds anther tank. And, in parallel, one tank feeds multiple tanks at the same time, connecting the output of the first tank to the input of the next multiple tanks
Any variations of the above teaching are also intended to be covered by this patent application.
Claims
1. A system for heat or energy exchange with an underground water supply, said system comprising:
- a heat exchanger unit or section; and
- a tank or container;
- wherein said tank or container exchanges heat or energy with said underground water supply, through said heat exchanger unit or section;
- wherein said tank or container comprises two or more compartments or chambers;
- wherein said underground water supply is a city or public water pipe network.
2. The system for heat or energy exchange with an underground water supply as recited in claim 1, wherein said two or more compartments or chambers are connected serially, with a first compartment or chamber supplying a second compartment or chamber.
3. The system for heat or energy exchange with an underground water supply as recited in claim 1, wherein said two or more compartments or chambers are connected in parallel, with a first compartment or chamber supplying a second compartment or chamber and a third compartment or chamber simultaneously.
4. The system for heat or energy exchange with an underground water supply as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said two or more compartments or chambers has an energy exchanging unit or section.
5. The system for heat or energy exchange with an underground water supply as recited in claim 1, wherein said heat exchanger unit or section comprises one or more of following: a coiled pipe, twisted pipe, zig-zag pipe, snake-shaped pipe, array of pipes, matrix of pipes, pipe structure, pipes-in-parallel, plate, array of plates, plates-in-parallel, radiator-structure, spiral-structure, concentric structure, cylindrical structure, rectangular structure, cubical structure, spherical structure, elliptical structure, sinusoidal structure, corrugated structure, curved structure, multi-layered structure, shell structure, jacket structure, or multi-shell structure.
6. The system for heat or energy exchange with an underground water supply as recited in claim 1, wherein said system comprises matrix or array of holes, screen, mesh structure, or strainer structure.
7. The system for heat or energy exchange with an underground water supply as recited in claim 1, wherein said system is placed in or attached to a HVAC system, water heater, heat pump, or building water supply.
8. The system for heat or energy exchange with an underground water supply as recited in claim 1, wherein said two or more compartments or chambers have variable volume or size.
9. The system for heat or energy exchange with an underground water supply as recited in claim 1, wherein said two or more compartments or chambers are separated by a diaphragm, elastic material, plastic material, balloon, separator, thermal plate, plate, moveable plate, sliding plate, plate-on-rail, disc, partitioning device, shield, floater, or slider.
10. The system for heat or energy exchange with an underground water supply as recited in claim 1, wherein said two or more compartments or chambers are separated by a fixed or rigid object.
11. The system for heat or energy exchange with an underground water supply as recited in claim 1, wherein said two or more compartments or chambers are separated by a moveable or flexible object.
12. The system for heat or energy exchange with an underground water supply as recited in claim 1, wherein said system is controlled by a server, central controller, controller, computer, processor, microprocessor, central processor, remote processor, automated controller, user, command unit, analyzing unit, multiple processors, computer network, Internet, remote access, or distributed processors.
13. The system for heat or energy exchange with an underground water supply as recited in claim 1, wherein said two or more compartments or chambers are separated by a multi-component separator, thermal plate, plate, disc, floater, or slider.
14. The system for heat or energy exchange with an underground water supply as recited in claim 13, wherein said multi-component separator, thermal plate, plate, disc, floater, or slider has at least a part with different or non-uniform relative density or specific gravity, with respect to other parts of said multi-component separator, thermal plate, plate, disc, floater, or slider.
15. The system for heat or energy exchange with an underground water supply as recited in claim 13, wherein said multi-component separator, thermal plate, plate, disc, floater, or slider has its center of gravity positioned higher than its geometrical center.
16. The system for heat or energy exchange with an underground water supply as recited in claim 13, wherein said multi-component separator, thermal plate, plate, disc, floater, or slider has its center of gravity positioned lower than its geometrical center.
17. The system for heat or energy exchange with an underground water supply as recited in claim 13, wherein relative density or specific gravity of said multi-component separator, thermal plate, plate, disc, floater, or slider is higher than relative density or specific gravity of water or fluid in said tank or container.
18. The system for heat or energy exchange with an underground water supply as recited in claim 13, wherein relative density or specific gravity of said multi-component separator, thermal plate, plate, disc, floater, or slider is lower than relative density or specific gravity of water or fluid in said tank or container.
19. The system for heat or energy exchange with an underground water supply as recited in claim 13, wherein relative density or specific gravity of said multi-component separator, thermal plate, plate, disc, floater, or slider is the same as the relative density or specific gravity of water or fluid in said tank or container.
20. The system for heat or energy exchange with an underground water supply as recited in claim 1, wherein said system comprises baffle, flow diverter, flow blocker, nozzle, funnel, or pipe reducer, for fluid flow diversion, slow-down, or reduction.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 5, 2011
Publication Date: Oct 11, 2012
Inventors: Saied Tadayon (Potomac, MD), Bijan Tadayon (Potomac, MD), David Martin (Potomac, MD)
Application Number: 13/079,841
International Classification: F28D 20/00 (20060101);
