DUAL LOOP HEAT EXCHANGER USING GEOTHERMAL RESOURCE

A system includes a first grid having a first fluid and including a pump to circulate the first fluid through the first grid. The system includes a heat exchange system including a first heat exchanger. The first grid is in thermal connection with a second grid at the heat exchange system to provide thermal heat transfer between the first grid and the second grid. The heat exchange system is configured to provide thermal heat transfer capabilities while maintaining fluid isolation between the first grid and the second grid. The first heat exchanger may include a geothermal resource and provide thermal heat transfer between the first grid and the geothermal resource. The heat exchange system may also include a second heat exchanger to provide a peak load reduction to the first grid by enabling the second fluid to reduce a temperature of the first fluid by a first temperature range.

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Description
FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the field of thermal transfer systems. More particularly, for example, to a residential heating and cooling dual loop heat transfer system including a geothermal resource.

BACKGROUND

Typical residential heating and cooling systems depend on local power distribution grids for electrical power to operate. The consumption and demand of these systems can fluctuate, such as during peak load times, when demand on the power distribution grid is higher than normal. In addition to increased demand, ambient temperature also affects the operational efficiency of traditional HVAC equipment and the power (KW) consumption and demand increases as ambient temperatures increase. For example, traditional HVAC equipment will have a decreased cooling efficiency as ambient temperatures increase. Similarly, the heating efficiency of traditional HVAC equipment will have a decreased efficiency as ambient temperatures decrease.

Geothermal heat exchanger systems supplement or replace traditional heating and cooling systems. The heating and cooling system is connected to the geothermal heat exchanger system, which includes a geothermal resource that provides cooling and/or heating to the heating and cooling system through heat exchange with the geothermal resource. However, the heating and/or cooling that available geothermal heat exchanger systems provide can be limited and costly to implement.

SUMMARY

In some embodiments, a system includes a first grid having a first fluid, the first grid including a heat exchange system including, a first heat exchanger, and a pump. In some embodiments, the pump circulates the first fluid through the first grid. In some embodiments, the first grid is in thermal connection with a second grid at the heat exchange system to provide thermal heat transfer between the first grid and the second grid. In some embodiments, the heat exchange system is configured to provide thermal heat transfer capabilities while maintaining fluid isolation between the first grid and the second grid.

In some embodiments, the first heat exchanger includes a geothermal resource. In some embodiments, the first heat exchanger is configured to provide thermal heat transfer between the first grid and the geothermal resource.

In some embodiments, the first heat exchanger is a bore hole heat exchanger.

In some embodiments, the first heat exchanger further includes a first loop in fluid connection with the first grid, and a second loop in fluid connection with the second grid.

In some embodiments, the first loop and the second loop include a spiral-type configuration.

In some embodiments, the heat exchange system includes a second heat exchanger. In some embodiments, the second heat exchanger provides thermal heat transfer capabilities between the first grid and the second grid to provide a peak load reduction to the first grid by reducing a temperature of the first fluid by a first temperature range.

In some embodiments, the second heat exchanger is upstream of the first heat exchanger.

In some embodiments, the second heat exchanger includes a brazed plate heat exchanger.

In some embodiments, the heat pump circulates the first fluid from the heat exchange system to a physical space. In some embodiments, the first grid is configured to provide heating and cooling capabilities to the physical space.

In some embodiments, a system includes a first grid having a first fluid, the first grid including a pump, a second grid having a second fluid, the second fluid is supplied from an energy center to provide thermal heat transfer capabilities to the first grid, a heat exchange system including a first heat exchanger including a geothermal resource, and a second heat exchanger. In some embodiments, the first grid is in thermal connection with the second grid at the heat exchange system to provide thermal heat transfer between the first grid and the second grid. In some embodiments, the heat exchange system is configured to provide thermal heat transfer capabilities while maintaining fluid isolation between the first grid and the second grid. In some embodiments, the first grid is connected to a heating and cooling system associated with a physical space to provide geothermal heat transfer capabilities to the physical space.

In some embodiments, the pump is configured to circulate the first fluid through the first grid to provide heating and cooling capabilities to the physical space.

In some embodiments, the first heat exchanger includes a vertical bore hole heat exchanger.

In some embodiments, the first heat exchanger further includes a first loop in fluid connection with the first grid, and a second loop in fluid connection with the second grid.

In some embodiments, each of the first loop and the second loop further include a plurality of conduit loops.

In some embodiments, the first loop and the second loop further include a spiral configuration.

In some embodiments, the second heat exchanger further includes a first channel in fluid connection with the first grid, and a second channel in fluid connection with the second grid.

In some embodiments, the second heat exchanger includes a brazed plate heat exchanger.

In some embodiments, a flow rate of the first fluid in the first grid includes a range from 0.5 to 50 GPM. In some embodiments, a flow rate of the second fluid in the second grid includes a range from 0.5 to 25 GPM.

In some embodiments, a method for providing thermal heat transfer between a first grid and a second grid includes circulating a first fluid through a first grid by a pump to provide heating and cooling capabilities to a physical space; circulating a second fluid through a second grid in thermal connection with and in fluid isolation from the first grid; and circulating the first fluid and second fluid through a heat exchange system to provide thermal heat transfer capabilities between the first grid and the second grid. In some embodiments, the heat exchange system includes a first heat exchanger including a geothermal resource.

In some embodiments, the heat exchange system further includes a second heat exchanger. In some embodiments, the method further includes controlling the pump to cause the first fluid to flow in a direction from the second heat exchanger to the first heat exchanger. In some embodiments, the second heat exchanger is configured to provide a peak load reduction to the first grid by changing a temperature of the first fluid by a first parameter before entering the first heat exchanger.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some embodiments of the disclosure are herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. With specific reference now to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that the embodiments shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of embodiments of the disclosure. In this regard, the description taken with the drawings makes apparent to those skilled in the art how embodiments of the disclosure may be practiced.

FIG. 1 is a flow diagram of a system, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a second flow diagram of the system, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 3-6 are block diagrams of a system, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a grid connection module, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a method, according to some embodiments.

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Among those benefits and improvements that have been disclosed, other objects and advantages of this disclosure will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures. Detailed embodiments of the present disclosure are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely illustrative of the disclosure that may be embodied in various forms. In addition, each of the examples given regarding the various embodiments of the disclosure which are intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive.

Described herein are systems, devices, methods, apparatuses, computing devices and/or computer program products for providing thermal exchange capabilities for residential applications. The various embodiments described herein include a system capable of providing thermal exchange capabilities, such as heating and cooling capabilities, to a local grid. The local grid utilizes a geothermal exchange resource as a primary means of thermal exchange. In various embodiments, the system includes a district grid that provides additional and controlled thermal exchange between the district grid and the local grid. The system includes one or more heat exchangers to provide the thermal exchange. The one or more heat exchangers are fluidly connected to each of the local grid and the district grid while maintaining fluid isolation between the local grid and the district grid. Accordingly, the local grid is thermally coupled to the district grid while also being fluidly isolated from the district grid. The heat exchangers therefore prevent damage from occurring to the district grid and to the rest of the system in communication with the district grid due to a fault at the local grid or vice versa.

In various embodiments, the thermal exchange capabilities may include heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (“HVAC”) capabilities to a physical space. Accordingly, embodiments described herein can replace traditional HVAC systems. The embodiments described herein provide thermal exchange capabilities that reduce or offset the power demand on the electrical distribution power grid. The embodiments described herein also reduce carbon emissions and energy consumption by up to 70% compared to traditional systems. This results in increased cost savings, peak demand reduction by approximately 25%, improved environmental impact, and increased efficiency for HVAC systems. It is to be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that residential applications are exemplary and not intended to be limiting and may therefore include other similar applications, such as commercial applications, in accordance with this disclosure.

The system as described herein may include any of a plurality of other components or devices to enable fluids to circulate through the loops in the system and to isolate one or more sections in case of circumstances, such as a fault or maintenance, to prevent damage to the system. For example, in some embodiments, the system may include any of a plurality of pumps, valves, gauges, sensors, meters, other like components, or any combinations thereof, to enable fluid to circulate through the system to provide thermal exchange capabilities to a local grid and to provide protection through isolation from any failures, in accordance with this disclosure. The system as described herein controls the flow of fluid between one or more grid arteries and one or more district grids in fluid connection to provide heating and cooling capabilities to a local grid through the thermal transfer of energy in the form of heat.

In various embodiments, the system may include a computing device in electrically communicable connection with each grid in the system, and any components thereof, to control an operation of the system and to provide geothermal heat exchange services to each local grid in connection with the system. In various embodiments, the computing device may include one or more processors and non-transitory computer readable media. The computer readable media may have instructions stored thereon that are executable by the one or more processors to cause the computing device to perform various operations in accordance with the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the computing device may be in electrically communicable connection with components of the system (e.g., valves, gauges, sensors, pumps, etc.) to control the flow of fluid through the grids of the system and to provide heating and cooling capabilities to the lot grids. In some embodiments, the components may include, but are not limited to, pumps, valves, motors, sensors, heat exchangers, coolers, actuators, gauges, other electro-mechanical devices, or any combinations thereof capable of circulating fluid through the grids of the system in accordance with this disclosure. The computing device may receive signals from these components and control operation of the components to facilitate the circulation of fluids through the system and to enable the thermal transfer of energy between a fluid of the district grid and a fluid of the lot grid.

FIG. 1 is a flow diagram of a non-limiting example of a system 100, according to some embodiments. The system 100 includes a local grid 102 having a first fluid and a heat exchange system 104. The local grid 102 enable the first fluid to circulate from a physical space 108 to the heat exchange system 104 to provide heating and cooling capabilities to the physical space 108. The heat exchange system 104 enables the local grid 102 to be in thermal connection with a district grid 106 having a second fluid while also maintaining fluid isolation between the local grid 102 and the district grid 106.

The heat exchange system 104 includes heat exchanger 110. The heat exchange system 104 is configured to thermally couple the local grid 102 to the district grid 106 to provide thermal heat transfer capabilities between the local grid 102 and district grid 106, e.g., the first fluid and the second fluid. Additionally, the heat exchange system 104 is configured to maintain fluid isolation between local grid 102 and district grid 106, e.g., the first fluid and the second fluid. The local grid 102 is fluidly isolated from the district grid 106 to protect the local grid 102 or district grid 106 from fluid leaks that may occur in the other of the local grid 102 and district grid 106 or another grid or loop in fluid connection with district grid 106.

The physical space 108 includes a heating and cooling system (not shown). In some embodiments, the local grid 102 may be in fluid connection with the heating and cooling system associated with the physical space 108 to enable the heating and cooling system to provide heating and cooling capabilities to the physical space 108. For example, in some embodiments, the physical space 108 may include a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (“HVAC”) system.

In some embodiments, the district grid 106 is in fluid connection with an energy center 202. The energy center 202 supplies the second fluid to the district grid 106 to enable the thermal transfer of heat between the local grid 102 and the district grid 106 as will be further described herein.

In some embodiments, the local grid 102 may be referred to as a local heat exchange (“HEX”) grid. In other embodiments, the local grid 102 may be referred to as a first grid. In some embodiments, the district grid 106 may be referred to as a district HEX grid. In other embodiments, the district grid 106 may be referred to as a second grid. In some embodiments, the local grid 102 may also be referred to as a lot grid.

The local grid 102 includes the first fluid and the district grid 106 includes the second fluid. The first fluid and second fluid may include water. The first fluid and second fluid may also include additives to change the property of the fluid. In some embodiments, the first fluid and second fluid may include one or more additives that improve the thermal efficiency of the first fluid and second fluid. In some embodiments, the first fluid and second fluid may include one or more additives to prevent or reduce scaling, corrosion, or some other reaction. It is to be appreciated to those having ordinary skill in the art that the additives are intended to be non-limiting and may include any of a plurality of additives, solutions, compounds, other materials, or any combinations thereof, which can change the property of the fluid in the system 100. For example, in some embodiments, the first fluid and the second fluid may include glycol.

FIG. 2 is a second flow diagram of a non-limiting example of the system 100, according to some embodiments. The system 100, as shown in FIG. 2, includes a local grid 102 in thermal connection with a district grid 106, and a heat exchange system 104 that is configured to thermally couple the local grid 102 to the district grid 106.

The heat exchange system 104 includes heat exchanger 110 and heat exchanger 114. Heat exchanger 110 includes a geothermal resource 112 and the heat exchanger 110 is configured to enable thermal heat transfer between the local grid 102 and the geothermal resource 112, as will be further described herein. In some embodiments, the heat exchanger 110 may also thermally couple the district grid 106 to the geothermal resource 112 to enable thermal heat transfer between district grid 106 and the geothermal resource 112. Additionally, in some embodiments, the heat exchanger 110 may enable thermal heat transfer between the local grid 102 and the district grid 106, as will be further described herein.

In some embodiments, the heat exchange system 104 may also include heat exchanger 114. Heat exchanger 114 is configured to provide thermal heat transfer capabilities between the local grid 102 and the district grid 106. Additionally, heat exchanger 114 is also configured to maintain fluid isolation between local grid 102 and district grid 106. In some embodiments, the heat exchanger 114 may be located upstream of heat exchanger 110 and may also be configured to provide a peak load reduction to the local grid 102. In some embodiments, the heat exchanger 114 may provide a peak load reduction to the local grid 102 by reducing a temperature of the first fluid by a first temperature range prior to the first fluid flowing from the heat exchanger 114 to the heat exchanger 110. In some embodiments, the heat exchanger 114 may provide a peak load reduction to the first grid by enabling the second fluid to reduce a temperature of the first fluid by a first temperature range. Accordingly, in some embodiments, a direction of the first fluid may be controlled to flow from the heat exchanger 114 to the heat exchanger 110. In other embodiments, the direction of the first fluid may be controlled to flow from the heat exchanger 110 to the heat exchanger 114.

In some embodiments, the district grid 106 may be in fluid connection with an energy center 202. The energy center 202 may control a circulation of the second fluid as will be further described herein. In some embodiments, the district grid 106 may be in connection with the energy center 202 through an artery grid 204. Artery grid 204 arterially connects the district grid 106 with the energy center 202. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the artery grid 204 supplies the second fluid from the energy center 202 (or from another grid arterially connected to artery grid 204) to district grid 106 to provide thermal heat transfer capabilities to local grid 102. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the second fluid is supplied from artery grid 204 and flows through district grid 106 and through the heat exchange system 104 to enable thermal heat transfer between the local grid 102 and the district grid 106 at the heat exchange system 104. The second fluid flows through the district grid 106 and returns to artery grid 204, the district grid 106 thereby forming a conduit loop for the second fluid to provide thermal heat transfer to the local grid 102 and the first fluid. In this regard, district grid 106 provides thermal heat transfer capabilities to local grid 102 by exchanging energy in the form of heat between the first fluid of local grid 102 and the second fluid of district grid 106 at heat exchange system 104.

In some embodiments, the energy center 202 may include one or more pumps, valves, sensors, other components, or any combinations thereof to enable the second fluid to circulate from the energy center 202 to the district grid 106. In some embodiments, the artery grid 204 may also include one or more pumps, valves, sensors, other components, or any combinations thereof to enable the second fluid to circulate from the energy center 202 to the district grid 106 through the artery grid 204. In some embodiments, the district grid 106 may also include one or more pumps, valves, sensors, or any combinations thereof to control the flow of the second fluid through the district grid 106. Additionally, in some embodiments, the energy center 202 may include one or more computing devices such as, for example, one or more controllers, to control the operation of the pumps and valves to enable the second fluid to flow from the energy center 202 to the district grid 106.

In some embodiments, the system 100 may be configured to control the flow of the second fluid to district grid 106. To this end, in some embodiments, the system 100 may be configured to control the configuration of the artery grid 204 and the district grid 106 to enable the second fluid to flow from the energy center 202 to the district grid 106. In some embodiments, the system 100 may be configured to control the thermal transfer capabilities provided to the local grid 102 in accordance with this disclosure. For example, the flow rate of the first fluid may be increased due to increased demand at the physical space 108. In some embodiments, the system 100 may also be configured to control an operation of the artery grid 204 and the energy center 202 to provide thermal transfer capabilities to the local grid 102 in accordance with this disclosure.

In some embodiments, the system 100 may control the first fluid and the second fluid within specified parameters, as will be further described herein. In some embodiments, the specified parameters may include an operating temperature of the fluid. In some embodiments, the specified parameters may include a flow rate of the fluid. In other embodiments, the specified parameters may include a pressure of the fluid. For example, a controller may control one or more pumps at the energy center 202 to maintain a flow rate of the second fluid through the district grid 106 between 10-20 GPM.

In some embodiments, the system 100 may include one or more valves. The one or more valves may be configured to control the circulation of the second fluid from the energy center 202 to the district grid 106. In some embodiments, the one or more valves may be configured to control the circulation of fluid from the artery grid 204 to the district grid 106. In some embodiments, the one or more valves may be configured to connect or isolate the energy center 202, the artery grid 204, the district grid 106, other grids of the system 100, or any combinations thereof, to/from each other. In some embodiments, the system 100 may control the operation of the one or more valves to isolate the district grid 106, the artery grid 204, or both, in case of a fault. In some embodiments, the control of the one or more valves may occur at the energy center 202. To that end, in some embodiments, the system 100 may include a computing device or controller located at energy center 202 in electrically communicable connection with one or more valves to control a flow of the second fluid from the energy center 202 to the district grid 106 and to provide isolation protection in case of faults.

In various embodiments, the system 100 may include one or more pumps to drive the first fluid and/or the second fluid through the system 100. In some embodiments, the one or more pumps may drive the second fluid through the system 100. Additionally, in some embodiments, the system 100 may be configured to control the operation of the one or more pumps to drive the second fluid through the system 100. In some embodiments, the energy center 202 may operate the one or more pumps to distribute the second fluid through the artery grid 204 and the district grid 106. In some embodiments, the energy center 202 may include one or more pumps to control the circulation of the second fluid through the system 100 (e.g., the energy center 202, the artery grid 204, and the district grid 106). In some embodiments, the one or more pumps may also control the pressure of the second fluid in the system 100.

The operating temperature of the second fluid may be controlled based on a specified temperature range. The operating temperature of the second fluid may range from 5° F. to 180° F., or any range or subrange therebetween. In some embodiments, the operating temperature of the second fluid may range from 5° F. to 170° F., 5° F. to 160° F., 5° F. to 150° F., 5° F. to 140° F., 5° F. to 130° F., 5° F. to 120° F., 5° F. to 110° F., 5° F. to 100° F., 10° F. to 180° F., 10° F. to 170° F., 10° F. to 160° F., 10° F. to 150° F., 10° F. to 140° F., 10° F. to 130° F., 10° F. to 120° F., 10° F. to 110° F., 10° F. to 100° F., 20° F. to 180° F., 20° F. to 170° F., 20° F. to 160° F., 20° F. to 150° F., 20° F. to 140° F., 20 F to 130° F., 20° F. to 120° F., 20° F. to 110° F., 20° F. to 100° F., 30° F. to 180° F., 30° F. to 170° F., 30° F. to 160° F., 30° F. to 150° F., 30° F. to 140° F., 30° F. to 130° F., 30° F. to 120° F., 30° F. to 110° F., 30° F. to 100° F., 40° F. to 180° F., 40° F. to 170° F., 40° F. to 160° F., 40° F. to 150° F., 40° F. to 140° F., 40° F. to 140° F., 40° F. to 120° F., 40° F. to 110° F., 40° F. to 100° F., or any combinations thereof. It is to be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art that the first fluid and the second fluid may include additives and/or solutions that enable the first fluid or the second fluid to operate at a temperature below 32° F.

In various embodiments, the system 100 may include the energy center 202. The energy center 202 is in fluid connection with the artery grid 204. Additionally, the artery grid 204 arterially connect the energy center 202 to the one or more of the district grid 106 in fluid connection with the artery grid 204. In some embodiments, the energy center 202 controls the circulation of the second fluid from the energy center 202 to the artery grid 204 and to the district grid 106. In this regard, in some embodiments, the energy center 202, or the components thereof, may drive the circulation of the second fluid.

Accordingly, in some embodiments, the energy center 202 may include one or more pumps to drive the flow of the second fluid. The one or more pumps of the energy center 202 enables the second fluid to flow through the system 100. In various embodiments, the flow rate of the second fluid may be based on a specified parameter. In some embodiments, the specified parameter may include a flow rate range. In some embodiments, the flow rate of the second fluid through the district grid 106, and system 100, may include a range from 0.5 to 25 gallons per minute (“GPM”), or any range or any subrange therebetween. In some embodiments, the flow rate of the second fluid through the system 100 may range from 0.5 to 25 GPM, 0.5 to 20 GPM, 0.5 to 15 GPM, 0.5 to 10 GPM, 0.5 to 5 GPM, 1 to 25 GPM, 1 to 20 GPM, 1 to 15 GPM, 1 to 10 GPM, 1 to 5 GPM, 2 to 25 GPM, 2 to 20 GPM, 2 to 15 GPM, 2 to 10 GPM, 2 to 5 GPM, 5 to 25 GPM, 5 to 20 GPM, 5 to 15 GPM, 5 to 10 GPM, 10 to 25 GPM, 10 to 20 GPM, 10 to 15 GPM, 15 to 25 GPM, 15 to 20 GPM, or any combination thereof. It is to be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art that the flow rate range of the second fluid in the district grid 106 is not intended to be limiting and the flow rate of the second fluid in the rest of the system 100 such as, for example, artery grid 204, may be higher than the flow rate in the district grid 106. For example, the flow rate of the second fluid in the artery grid 204 may range from between 0.5 to 3000 GPM, and the flow rate may be reduced at a junction between the artery grid 204 and district grid 106.

In some embodiments, the energy center 202 may include a thermal transfer loop. The thermal transfer loop provides thermal exchange between the second fluid and one or more district heat exchangers. In some embodiments, the district heat exchanger may be a cooling tower. The energy center 202 may include one or more cooling towers to provide thermal transfer capabilities between the second fluid and the atmosphere. In some embodiments, the thermal transfer loop includes a third fluid. The third fluid is thermally coupled to the second fluid to provide thermal transfer of energy in the form of heat between the second fluid and the one or more district heat exchangers. In some embodiments, the third fluid in the thermal transfer loop may be fluidly isolated from the second fluid. The thermal transfer loop is connected to the cooling tower and thermally coupled to the second fluid to enable the thermal transfer of energy between the second fluid and with the atmosphere.

The system 100 may include a geothermal resource 112 and the heat exchanger 110 may thermally couple the local grid 102, the district grid 106, or both, to the geothermal resource 112. In some embodiments, the geothermal resource 112 may be the ground. The system 100 utilizes the geothermal resource 112 as an exchange medium (e.g., a heat source and/or heat sink) to thermally transfer heat between the geothermal resource 112, the local grid 102, the district grid 106, or any combinations thereof. The geothermal resource 112 is in thermal connection with the local grid 102, the heat exchange system 104, or both at the heat exchanger 110.

In some embodiments, the heat exchanger 110 may include conduit loops in fluid connection with the local grid 102 and district grid 106 respectively. The heat exchanger 110 enables the fluids from local grid 102 and district grid 106 to circulate through conduit loops of heat exchanger 110 that are in thermal connection with the geothermal resource 112 as will be further described herein. In this regard, heat exchanger 110 provides thermal transfer capabilities between the first fluid from local grid 102 and the second fluid district grid 106 that circulate through the respective conduit loops of the heat exchanger 110 and the geothermal resource 112. Accordingly, heat exchanger 110 enables the local grid 102 and the district grid 106 to thermally transfer heat with the geothermal resource 112. In some embodiments, the geothermal resource 112 may be thermally coupled to each loop in the heat exchanger 110 to provide thermal heat transfer capabilities between the geothermal resource 112 and the fluids circulating through each loop in the heat exchanger 110. In some embodiments, heat exchanger 110 may also enable thermal heat transfer between the first fluid of the local grid 102 and the second fluid of district grid 106.

In some embodiments, the system 100 may include junction connection 116. The junction connection 116 may be located between district grid 106 and artery grid 204 and may be configured to isolate district grid 106 from artery grid 204. In some embodiments, the junction connection 116 may include one or more valves such as, for example, one or more isolation valves. The one or more valves may enable the heat exchange system 104 to be isolated (e.g., fluid isolation) from the artery grid 204 or another part of the grid. For example, junction connection 116 may isolate district grid 106 from the rest of the arterial grid system in case of a leak to prevent damage to other parts of the system in fluid connection with the second fluid. In another example, junction connection 116 may isolate the district grid 106 for maintenance purposes.

In some embodiments, junction connection 116 may include one or more flow valves to regulate a flow rate of the second fluid. In this regard, in some embodiments, the flow rate of the fluid passing through the flow valve may be controlled by adjusting a valve position of the one or more flow valves. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the flow valve may control a flow rate of the fluid at the district grid 106. It is to be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art that the components in the junction connection 116 are intended to be non-limiting and may further include any of a plurality of other components including, but not limited to, sensors, gauges, meters, vents, other valves, other like components, or any combinations thereof, capable of controlling the flow of fluid between district grid 106 and artery grid 204 in accordance with this disclosure.

In some embodiments, the system 100 may include one or more of the local grid 102, where each local grid 102 may be in thermal connection with a district grid 106. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the system 100 may include one or more of district grid 106 thermally connected with a local grid 102. For example, the system 100 may include first district grid 106a and second district grid 106b, the first district grid 106a is in thermal connection with a first local grid 102a and the second district grid 106b is in thermal connection with a second local grid 102b. In other embodiments, a district grid 106 may be thermally coupled with one or more of the local grid 102. For example, in some embodiments, the district grid 106 may be thermally coupled to a first local grid 102a, a second local grid 102b, a third local grid 102c. It is to be appreciated that the number of local grid 102 and/or district grid 106 in a system is not intended to be limiting any may include a plurality of local grid 102, district grid 106, artery grid 204, or any combinations thereof.

In some embodiments, the system 100 may further include artery grid 204 in fluid connection with the district grid 106. In some embodiments, the artery grid 204 may also be in fluid connection with one or more other grids. For example, an artery grid 204 may be in fluid connection with a first district grid 106a, a second district grid 106b, and a third district grid 106c to form an arterially connected grid network having the second fluid. It is to be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art that the number of district grid 106 in connection with the artery grid 204 is not intended to be limiting and may include any number of district grid 106 in connection with an artery grid 204 in accordance with this disclosure. For example, twenty or more of the district grid 106 may be in fluid connection with an artery grid 204. In another example, the system 100 may include ten of the artery grid 204, each artery grid 204 in connection with a plurality of the district grid 106.

FIGS. 3-6 are block diagrams of the system 100, according to some embodiments. Unless specified otherwise, FIGS. 3-6 will be referenced collectively.

The system 100 includes a local grid 102 having a first fluid and thermally coupled to a district grid 106 having a second fluid. Referring to FIG. 3, the system 100 also includes a heat exchange system 104 including a heat exchanger 110 including a geothermal resource 112 and heat exchanger 114. The heat exchange system 104 enables the local grid 102 to be thermally coupled to the district grid 106 while maintaining fluid isolation between the local grid 102 and the district grid 106. For example, the district grid 106 may draw heat from the first fluid in the local grid 102 during a cooling operation due to thermal exchange at the heat exchanger 110 and the heat exchanger 114.

The local grid 102 includes a pump 138. The pump 138 drives circulation of the first fluid through the local grid 102. In some embodiments, the pump 138 may be located in physical space 108. For example, in some embodiments, the pump 138 may be a ground source heat pump (“GSHP”). In other embodiments, the pump 138 may be located external to the physical space 108. In some embodiments, the physical space 108 may include an HVAC system and the pump 138 may drive the first fluid through the local grid 102 to enable the first fluid to provide heating and cooling capabilities to the HVAC system of the physical space 108. In some embodiments, the local grid 102 and the first fluid may also provide thermal exchange capabilities to a water heating system.

In some embodiments, the local grid 102 may be in connection with the HVAC system of the physical space 108. In other embodiments, the local grid 102 may be in fluid connection with the HVAC system. In some embodiments, the system 100 may control one or more operational parameters of the HVAC system. For example, in some embodiments, the system 100 may control an operation of the pump 138 to control the flow rate of the first fluid through the local grid 102. In this regard, the local grid 102 provides an energy efficient solution for providing heating and cooling capabilities to the physical space 108 by providing heat transfer capabilities to the physical space 108 by utilizing geothermal resources and a district grid 106.

The heat exchanger 110 and heat exchanger 114 enable the thermal transfer of heat between the local grid 102 and the district grid 106. The heat exchanger 110 and the heat exchanger 114 also maintain fluid isolation between the local grid 102 and the district grid 106. Accordingly, the first fluid of the local grid 102 is not in fluid connection with the second fluid of the district grid 106. Instead, the first fluid and the second fluid are fluidically isolated from the other system to reduce a probability of a fault in one grid from affecting the operation of the other grid.

The heat exchanger 110 provides for thermal coupling between the geothermal resource 112 and each of the local grid 102 and the district grid 106. Accordingly, the heat exchanger 110 enables the thermal transfer of energy between the geothermal resource 112 and each of the district grid 106 and the local grid 102. In some embodiments, the heat exchanger 110 may also thermally couple the local grid 102 to the district grid 106 to enable the further thermal transfer of energy between the local grid 102 and the district grid 106.

Referring to FIG. 3, the heat exchanger 110 includes loop 160 and loop 162. The loop 160 and the loop 162 are formed by conduit loops that are each in fluid connection an inlet and an outlet of heat exchanger 110. Therefore, each loop extends from an inlet, through an interior cylindrical portion of the heat exchanger 110, and loops back to a respective outlet of the heat exchanger 110. Accordingly, in some embodiments, each loop may include a u-bend configuration (e.g., double u-bend configuration), where the loops connect an inlet and an outlet. For example, the heat exchanger 110 may include a first inlet and a first outlet in connection with loop 160 and a second inlet and a second outlet in connection with loop 162.

The local grid 102 is connected to the loop 160 and the district grid 106 is connected to the loop 162. In some embodiments, the local grid 102 may be connected to the loop 162 and the district grid 106 may be in connection with the loop 160. In some embodiments, each of the loop 160 and the loop 162 may include a single conduit to enable the fluid of the local grid 102 or the district grid 106 to flow through the heat exchanger 110. In some embodiments, each of the loop 160 and the loop 162 may include one or more conduits. In other embodiments, each of the loop 160 and the loop 162 may include a plurality of conduits to enable the fluid of the local grid 102 or the district grid 106 to flow through the heat exchanger 110. The plurality of loops improves the efficiency of the heat transfer between the first fluid and the second fluid and the resource or the other fluid. In some embodiments, each of the loop 160 and the loop 162 may include a plurality of conduits that extend through the heat exchanger 110 and where the plurality of conduits is connected to a common inlet and a common outlet of the heat exchanger 110. For example, the loop 160 and the loop 162 may each contain 4 conduit tubes that are connected to common terminal ends, but it is to be understood by those having ordinary skill in the art that the number of conduits at each loop is intended to be non-limiting and may include any number of loops.

In some embodiments, the heat exchanger 110 includes two loops. In other embodiments, the heat exchanger 110 may include four conduit loops. For example, the four loops of the heat exchanger 110 may include four inlets and four outlets and the local grid 102 may be connected to two inlets and outlets and the district grid 106 may be connected to the other two inlets and outlets, but it is to be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art that the number of loops is intended to be non-limiting and the heat exchanger 110 may include any of a plurality of loops extending therethrough in any of a plurality of configurations. In some embodiments, the heat exchanger 110 may further include a connector having a junction which enables the fluid from the local grid 102 or the district grid 106 to circulate through the loop 160 and the loop 162, respectively, in the heat exchanger 110 and return to the local grid 102 or the district grid 106.

In some embodiments, the heat exchanger 110 may be in a spiral configuration. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the loop 160 and the loop 162 may be in a spiral configuration. In some embodiments, the loops in the heat exchanger 110 may be in a twister configuration. In the twister type configuration, the conduit loops helically extend around a central longitudinal axis extending through the length of the heat exchanger 110. The twister type configuration leverages the available bore space to improve thermal conductivity with the geothermal resource 112 by maximizing the surface area of the conduit loops in thermal connection with the geothermal resource 112, thereby providing optimal thermal efficiency.

In some embodiments, the heat exchanger 110 may further include a thermally conductive material. The thermally conductive material fills a substantial portion of an interior of the heat exchanger 110 between the loops of the heat exchanger 110 and the sidewall and/or the geothermal resource. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the thermally conductive material contacts the loops and a thermally conductive surface of the heat exchanger 110 to enable the thermal transfer of energy between the loops and the geothermal resource 112. In some embodiments, the thermally conductive material may be poured into the interior portion of the heat exchanger 110 to fill the interior space while in a liquid state and the thermally conductive material may then cure or dry to a specified hardness. In some embodiments, the thermally conductive material may include a grout material. In some embodiments, the thermally conductive material may be a thermally conductive grout material. In other embodiments, the thermally conductive material may include a thermally conductive grout.

In some embodiments, the heat exchanger 110 may be a geothermal loop heat exchanger. In some embodiments, the heat exchanger 110 may be a bore hole ground loop heat exchanger. In some embodiments, the heat exchanger 110 may be a vertical bore hole ground loop heat exchanger. In this regard, the heat exchanger 110 may include a bore hole which extends vertically downward into geothermal resource 112 (e.g., ground). In other embodiments, the heat exchanger 110 may be a horizontal loop field. Accordingly, in a horizontal loop field, the loops of the heat exchanger 110 may be in substantially horizontally aligned to thermally transfer heat between the geothermal resource and the first fluid and between the geothermal resource and the second fluid. It is to be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art that heat exchanger 110 is configured to provide thermal heat exchange between the first fluid and the second fluid and the geothermal resource and that the geothermal design of heat exchanger 110 is not intended to be limiting and may include any of a plurality of designs in accordance with this disclosure.

In some embodiments, the thermal transfer of energy between geothermal resource 112 and local grid 102 at heat exchanger 110 may change the temperature of the first fluid in local grid 102 by a first temperature. In some embodiments, heat exchanger 110 may also enable the thermal transfer of energy between local grid 102 and district grid 106 at heat exchanger 110 to further provide thermal exchange capabilities. For example, to enable the district grid 106 to provide an additional stage of thermal transfer between the local grid 102 and the district grid 106 in addition to the thermal transfer at the heat exchanger 114 as will be further described herein. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the thermal transfer of energy between the local grid 102 and the district grid 106 at the heat exchanger 110 may change the temperature of the first fluid in the local grid 102 by a second temperature. For example, the district grid 106 may reduce the temperature of the fluid in the local grid 102 by 5.9° F.

The system 100 may also heat exchanger 114. The heat exchanger 114 fluidly connects to the local grid 102 and the district grid 106 to thermally couple the local grid 102 to the district grid 106 to enable the thermal transfer of heat between the local grid 102 and the district grid 106 while also maintaining fluid isolation between the local grid 102 and the district grid 106. In some embodiments, when a direction of circulation in the local grid 102 directs the first fluid from heat exchanger 114 to heat exchanger 110, the heat exchanger 114 provides peak load reduction to the fluid (e.g., first fluid) in local grid 102 before the first fluid circulates to heat exchanger 110. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the first fluid and the local grid 102 may perform a first thermal transfer as heat exchanger 114 prior to the first fluid entering the heat exchanger 110. In some embodiments, when the first fluid circulates in a direction where the first fluid goes from heat exchanger 110 to heat exchanger 114, heat exchanger 110 may provide peak load reduction to the first fluid in the local grid 102 before the first fluid circulates to heat exchanger 114.

The heat exchanger 114 may include a first channel 164 and a second channel 166 extending therethrough. Each of the first channel 164 and the first channel 164 are in fluid connection with an inlet and an outlet of the heat exchanger 114. Therefore, in some embodiments, the heat exchanger 114 may include two inlet ports and two outlet ports associated with the first channel 164 and the second channel 166.

The local grid 102 is in fluid connection with first channel 164. Additionally, the district grid 106 is in fluid connection with the second channel 166. Therefore, the first fluid may flow through the first channel 164 and the second fluid may flow through the second channel 166 to enable the thermal transfer of energy between the first fluid and the second fluid at the heat exchanger 114. In some embodiments, the inlet and the outlet of the first channel 164 may be a first inlet and a first outlet and the inlet and the outlet of the second channel 166 may be a second inlet and a second outlet.

In some embodiments, the first channel 164 or the second channel 166 may be an outer tube and the other of the first channel 164 and the second channel 166 may be an inner tube extending substantially therethrough the outer tube. The first fluid and the second fluid flows through the respective one of the first channel 164 and the second channel 166 and thermally transfers energy between the respective one of the local grid 102 and the district grid 106 in the heat exchanger 114. In some embodiments, the heat exchanger 114 may be a brazed plate heat exchanger. In some embodiments, the heat exchanger 114 may be a tube heat exchanger. In some embodiments, the heat exchanger 114 may be a coaxial heat exchanger.

Referring to FIG. 4, the local grid 102 may include a conduit 122 and a conduit 124. The conduit 122 and the conduit 124 circulates the first fluid through the local grid 102 to provide heating and cooling capabilities to the physical space 108. The conduit 122 supplies the first fluid from the heat exchanger 114 to the physical space 108 and the conduit 124 returns the first fluid from the physical space 108 to the heat exchanger 114. In this regard, in some embodiments, the conduit 122 may be a first supply conduit and the conduit 124 may be a first return conduit. It is to be understood that the direction of fluid flow through the conduit 122 and the conduit 124 is not intended to be limiting and therefore the conduit 122 or the conduit 124 may be a first supply conduit to supply the first fluid while the other of the conduit 122 and the conduit 124 may be the first return conduit to return the first fluid to the physical space 108.

In some embodiments, the conduit 122 may include a segment 126 and a segment 128. The segment 126 may fluidly connect the heat exchanger 110 with the heat exchanger 114. The segment 128 may then fluidly connect the heat exchanger 110 with the physical space 108. In some embodiments, the segment 126 may be a first segment and the segment 128 may be a second segment.

The district grid 106 may include a conduit 130 and a conduit 132. The conduit 130 and the conduit 132 circulate the second fluid received from artery grid 204 through the district grid 106 to provide thermal exchange capabilities to the local grid 102. The conduit 130 supplies the second fluid from the artery grid 204 and the conduit 132 returns the second fluid back to the artery grid 204. In this regard, in some embodiments, the conduit 130 may be a second supply conduit and the conduit 132 may be a second return conduit.

The district grid 106 is also connected to the heat exchanger 110 to circulate the second fluid through the heat exchanger 110. The conduit 130 fluidly connects the main conduit 118 to the heat exchanger 110. The conduit 130 further connects the heat exchanger 110 to the heat exchanger 114. In some embodiments, the conduit 130 may include a segment 134 and a segment 136. The segment 134 may fluidly connect the main conduit 118 of the artery grid 204 with the heat exchanger 110. The segment 136 may fluidly connect the heat exchanger 110 with the heat exchanger 114 at the district grid 106. In some embodiments, the segment 134 may be referred to as a third segment and the segment 136 may be referred to as a fourth segment.

The conduit 132 fluidly connects the heat exchanger 114 with a main conduit 120 of the artery grid 204. Accordingly, the second fluid circulates from the conduit 130 to the conduit 132 and to the main conduit 120. For example, the second fluid may circulate from the main conduit 118 and through the heat exchanger 110 and the heat exchanger 114 and return to main conduit 120 through conduit 132. It is to be understood that the direction of fluid flow through the conduit 130 and the conduit 132 is not intended to be limiting and therefore the conduit 130 or the conduit 132 may be the second supply conduit to supply the second fluid while the other of the conduit 130 and the conduit 132 may be the second return conduit to return the second fluid to the artery grid 204 and the energy center 202.

The artery grid 204 includes a main conduit 118 and a main conduit 120. The main conduit 118 and the main conduit 120 arterially connects the energy center 202 to one or more of the district grid 106 to enable the second fluid to circulate (e.g., flow) between the energy center 202 and each of the one or more of the district grid 106 connected through the artery grid 204. In some embodiments, the main conduit 118 may be a supply conduit that supplies the second fluid to the district grid 106 from the energy center 202 fluidly connected with the artery grid 204. In some embodiments, the main conduit 118 may be a return conduit that returns the second fluid to the energy center 202 fluidly connected with the artery grid 204. In some embodiments, the main conduit 118 may be a main supply conduit and the main conduit 120 may be a main return conduit. It is to be understood that the direction of fluid flow through the main conduit 118 and the main conduit 120 is not intended to be limiting and therefore the main conduit 118 or the main conduit 120 may be the main supply conduit to supply the second fluid to the district grid 106 while the other of the main conduit 118 and the main conduit 120 may be the main return conduit to return the second fluid to the artery grid 204 and the energy center 202.

Additionally, the local grid 102 further includes a pump 138. The pump 138 circulates the first fluid through the local grid 102. Furthermore, when fluidly connected with the heat exchanger 110 and the heat exchanger 114, the pump 138 circulates the first fluid through the heat exchanger 110 and the heat exchanger 114. In some embodiments, the pump 138 may be a heat pump. In other embodiments, the pump 138 may be a ground source heat pump. In some embodiments, the physical space 108 may include the pump 138.

In some embodiments, the pump 138 may be in electrically communicable connection with the computing device of the energy center 202. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the computing device may control the operation of the pump 138 to control the circulation of the first fluid through the local grid 102. In some embodiments, the pump 138 may be in electrically communicable connection with a controller associated with the physical space 108 (e.g., GSHP) and the controller may control the operation of the pump 138 to control the circulation of the first fluid through the local grid 102. In some embodiments, the controller may also be in electrically communicable connection with the computing device of the energy center 202 to receive any of a plurality of signals corresponding to sensors or operation of the components connected thereto and to enable the computing device to control the operation of the GSHP and/or the pump 138.

In some embodiments, the flow rate of the first fluid through the local grid 102 may include a range from 0.5 to 50 gallons per minute (“GPM”), or any range or subrange therebetween. In some embodiments, the flow rate of the second fluid through the system 100 may range from 0.5 to 50 GPM, 0.5 to 45 GPM, 0.5 to 40 GPM, 0.5 to 30 GPM, 0.5 to 20 GPM, 0.5 to 10 GPM, 0.5 to 5 GPM, 1 to 50 GPM, 1 to 45 GPM, 1 to 40 GPM, 1 to 30 GPM, 1 to 20 GPM, 1 to 10 GPM, 1 to 5 GPM, 5 to 50 GPM, 5 to 45 GPM, 5 to 40 GPM, 5 to 30 GPM, 5 to 20 GPM, 5 to 10 GPM, 10 to 50 GPM, 10 to 45 GPM, 10 to 40 GPM, 10 to 30 GPM, 10 to 20 GPM, 20 to 50 GPM, 20 to 45 GPM, 20 to 40 GPM, 20 to 30 GPM, 30 to 50 GPM, 30 to 45 GPM, 30 to 40 GPM, or any combination thereof. For example, in some embodiments, the flow rate in the local loop may range from 1 to 18 GPM.

In various embodiments, the system 100 may further include a grid connection module 140. In some embodiments, the grid connection module 140 may serve as a connection point (e.g., junction) for local grid 102, district grid 106, heat exchanger 110, heat exchanger 114, or any combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the grid connection module 140 may include a housing and the connections for the local grid 102, district grid 106, heat exchanger 110, heat exchanger 114, or any combinations thereof may be located within the housing.

The local grid 102 and the district grid 106 may extend into the grid connection module 140 and the grid connection module 140 may include connection points for the local grid 102 and/or the district grid 106, thereby locating the connection points (e.g., connectors) in a common location. In some embodiments, the grid connection module 140 may be a housing configured to be secured to limit access to unauthorized users, such as to prevent tampering with the local grid 102 or the district grid 106. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the grid connection module 140 may provide a secured location for housing the connections of the local grid 102 and the district grid 106. The grid connection module 140 may be installed at a location adjacent the local grid 102 such as, for example, in the ground near the physical space 108, to enable an operator to be able to access the grid connection module 140 and any portions of the local grid 102 and district grid 106 located within the grid connection module 140.

In some embodiments, the grid connection module 140, such as is shown in FIG. 4, may be a container having one or more sides and including any of a plurality of dimensions suitable for enabling components to be connected with and/or to extend through the sides of the grid connection module 140. In some embodiments, the grid connection module 140 may include a top portion. For example, in some embodiments, the top portion may be a lid, hatch, cover, access, door, other types of covers, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the top portion may be removed to provide an operator with access to an interior compartment of the grid connection module 140. In some embodiments, the top portion may include a hinge and the top portion may be attached to the grid connection module 140 by the hinge. Therefore, in some embodiments, the top portion may be an access cover that is opened by its hinge to enable the operator to access the interior space of the grid connection module 140.

In some embodiments, the housing of the grid connection module 140 may include a plurality of connectors and the local grid 102 and the district grid 106 may be in connection with the connectors. Furthermore, the grid connection module 140 may include a plurality of conduits that connect to the local grid 102 and the district grid 106, respectively. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the grid connection module 140 may serve as a junction and the plurality of conduits may fluidly connect with the district grid 106 and the local grid 102, such as is shown in FIG. 4.

In some embodiments, heat exchanger 114 may be located in the grid connection module 140. In some embodiments, the heat exchanger 114 may further be mounted onto an inner surface of the one or more sides of the grid connection module 140. Moreover, in some embodiments, the grid connection module 140 may include one or more apertures extending through the one or more sides. In some embodiments, the one or more apertures may include any of a plurality of dimensions. In some embodiments, the dimensions of the one or more apertures may substantially correspond to a diameter of each of the conduits extending therethrough to enable the conduits of the local grid 102 and the district grid 106 to extend through the one or more sides. In this regard, in some embodiments, the heat exchanger 114 may be connected to the local grid 102 and the district grid 106 within the grid connection module 140.

Referring to FIG. 5, in some embodiments, conduit 122 may further include a segment 146 and a segment 148 and the local grid 102 may further include connector 150 connecting the segment 146 and the segment 148 within the grid connection module 140. In some embodiments, the segment 146 and the segment 148 may extend through the one or more sides of the grid connection module 140 and connects to the connector 150. In some embodiments, the connector 150 places the segment 146 in fluid connection with the segment 148 to enable the flow of the first fluid through the local grid 102. In some embodiments, the conduit 130 may further include segment 152 and segment 154 and the district grid 106 may further include connector 156 connecting the segment 152 and the segment 154 within the grid connection module 140. In some embodiments, the segment 152 and the segment 154 may extend through the one or more sides of the grid connection module 140 and connects to the connector 156. In some embodiments, the connector 156 places the segment 152 in fluid connection with the segment 154 to enable the flow of the second fluid through the district grid 106.

In some embodiments, the grid connection module 140 may include an access. For example, the access may be a cover or lid. In some embodiments, the access may be attached to the grid connection module 140, such as with a hinge, and the access may be configured to be secured to the grid connection module 140 to limit access to the components within the grid connection module 140 and to protect the internal components from debris, water, or the like.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a grid connection module 140, according to some embodiments. The grid connection module 140 includes a balance valve 180. The balance valve 180 is configured to provide a flow control capability to regulate flow at the district grid 106. In some embodiments, the balance valve 180 may provide fluidic isolation between the district grid 106 and the artery grid 204 in case of a leak or other fault. The grid connection module 140 includes a first shutoff valve 182 and a second shutoff valve 184. The first shutoff valve 182 is configured to provide hydraulic and fluidic isolation at the conduit 124 between the physical space 108 and the heat exchanger 114. The second shutoff valve 184 is configured to provide hydraulic and fluidic isolation at the conduit 122 between the heat exchanger 114 and the heat exchanger 110. The grid connection module 140 includes a valve 186. The valve 186 is configured to provide fluidic and hydraulic isolation of the second fluid at the conduit 130 from the main conduit 118.

In some embodiments, the grid connection module 140 may further include one or more of the strainer 188. In some embodiments, the one or more of the strainer 188 may be connected in line with the local grid 102 and/or the district grid 106. The one or more of the strainer 188 provide for straining and removal of debris from the local grid 102 and the district grid 106 that can inhibit the flow of the fluid through the local grid 102 and the district grid 106. In some embodiments, the grid connection module 140 may include one or more of the flush port 190. The one or more of the flush port 190 allow for removal of debris that may build up in the local grid 102 to ensure adequate flow through the local grid 102. For example, the flush port 190 can be operated to remove sediment that may have collected in the conduit from corrosion buildup and that may have been disturbed due to a stoppage of fluid flow in the local grid 102. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the district grid 106 includes strainer 188 located between the heat exchanger 114 and the valve 186 and the conduit 124 includes flush port 190 at the heat exchanger 114 inlet.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a method 300, according to some embodiments. At 302, the method 300 includes circulating a first fluid through a local grid 102 by a pump 138 to provide heating and cooling capabilities to a physical space 108. The pump 138 may pump the first fluid through local grid 102.

At 304, the method 300 includes circulating a second fluid through a district grid 106 in thermal connection with, and in fluid isolation from, the local grid 102. In some embodiments, the local grid 102 may be thermally connected to the district grid 106 by a heat exchange system 104. In some embodiments, the heat exchange system 104 may also enable the fluid isolation between local grid 102 and district grid 106 while also providing the ability to thermally couple the local grid 102 and the district grid 106 to enable the thermal transfer of heat between the two grids.

At 306, the method 300 includes circulating the first fluid and second fluid through a heat exchange system 104 to provide thermal heat transfer capabilities between the local grid 102 and the district grid 106. In some embodiments, the heat exchange system 104 includes a heat exchanger 110 including a geothermal resource 112. In some embodiments, the heat exchange system 104 further includes a heat exchanger 114 and the method further includes controlling the pump 138 to cause the first fluid to flow in a direction from the heat exchanger 114 to the heat exchanger 110. In some embodiments, the heat exchanger 114 is configured to provide a peak load reduction to the local grid 102 by changing a temperature of the first fluid by a first parameter before entering the heat exchanger 110.

The local grid 102 and the district grid 106 each form conduit loops that are thermally coupled at heat exchanger 110 and the heat exchanger 114 to enable the thermal transfer of energy in the form of heat through conduction between the local grid 102 and the district grid 106. The local grid 102 and the district grid 106 are also fluidly isolated from the other of the local grid 102 and the district grid 106.

The heat exchanger 110 includes one or more loops. The local grid 102 and the district grid 106 may be fluidly connected to a respective one of the one or more loops to circulate the first fluid and the second fluid through the heat exchanger 110 to enable the thermal transfer of heat between the local grid 102 and the district grid 106. In some embodiments, the heat exchanger 110 may be a geothermal heat exchanger. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the heat exchanger 110 may also enable the thermal transfer of energy between the local grid 102, the district grid 106, the geothermal resource 112, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the heat exchanger 110 may be a ground loop heat exchanger. In other embodiments, the heat exchanger 110 may be a vertical bore hole heat exchanger. Accordingly, the exchange medium may be the ground that acts as a heat source and a heat sink. In some embodiments, the heat exchanger 110 may include a conductive filler material that fills an interior portion of the heat exchanger 110 between the one or more loops and an inner surface of the heat exchanger 110 and which enables the one or more loops in the heat exchanger 110 to thermally transfer energy in the form of heat between the one or more loops and the exchange medium.

The system 100 includes a heat exchanger 114. The heat exchanger 114 enables the thermal transfer of energy in the form of heat between the local grid 102 and the district grid 106. In some embodiments, the thermal heat transfer may be through conduction. The heat exchanger 110 includes a first channel 164 and a second channel 166. The local grid 102 is fluidly connected to the heat exchanger 110 at the first channel 164 and the district grid 106 is fluidly connected to the heat exchanger 110 at the second channel 166. In some embodiments, the method 300 further includes circulating the first fluid and the second fluid through the heat exchanger 114. In some embodiments, the method 300 includes circulating the first fluid and the second fluid through each of the heat exchanger 110 and the heat exchanger 114. In some embodiments, the heat exchanger 114 may be a tube heat exchanger. In some embodiments, the heat exchanger 114 may be a coaxial heat exchanger. In some embodiments, the heat exchanger 114 may be a brazed plate heat exchanger.

In some embodiments, the method 300 includes controlling a flow rate of the first fluid through the local grid 102 to increase a peak load reduction at the local grid 102. In some embodiments, the method includes controlling pump 138 that pumps the first fluid through the local grid 102 to increase the flow rate of the first fluid to increase the peak load reduction. In some embodiments, a controller may control the operation of the pump 138. In some embodiments, the local grid 102 may include the controller that controls the operation of the pump 138. In other embodiments, the physical space 108 may include the controller. In other embodiments, the grid connection module 140 may include the controller. In some embodiments, the energy center 202 may include the controller that controls the circulation of the first fluid through the local grid 102 by controlling the operation of the pump 138. In some embodiments, the energy center 202 may include a computing device in communicable connection with the pump 138 controller to drive the circulation of the first fluid through the local grid 102. For example, the computing device may send control signals to a controller in the grid connection module 140 to control the circulation of the first fluid through the local grid 102.

In some embodiments, the method 300 includes controlling a flow rate of the second fluid to increase the peak load reduction at the local grid 102. In some embodiments, the flow rate through the district grid 106 may be driven by one or more pumps and one or more controllers controlling the operation of the one or more pumps. In some embodiments, the method 300 may further include controlling, by the controller, the one or more of the pumps associated with the district grid 106 to drive the flow rate of the second fluid through the district grid 106.

In some embodiments, controlling the flow rate of the second fluid may include controlling one or more valves to control the flow rate of the second fluid through the district grid 106. In some embodiments, the district grid 106 may include a valve located at a conduit of the district grid 106 to control the flow rate of the second fluid through the district grid 106. In some embodiments, the valve may be a flow valve. In some embodiments, the valve may include any of a plurality of valve types including, but not limited to, ball valves, check valves, butterfly valves, gate valves, balance valves, globe valves, needle valves, directional flow valves, disk valves, pressure control valves, pinch valves, diaphragm valves, other valve types, or any combinations thereof. It is to be understood that the flow valve type is exemplary and is not intended to be limiting. Therefore, the district grid 106 may include any of a plurality of components or devices that may control the flow rate of the fluid in the district grid 106.

In some embodiments, controlling the flow rate of the second fluid through the district grid 106 may include controlling an operation of artery grid 204. In some embodiments, the district grid 106 may be fluidly connected to the artery grid 204. The artery grid 204 may include one or more pumps and one or more valves to drive the circulation of the second fluid through the district grid 106. The one or more pumps and one or more valves may be in electrically communicable connection with the controller that controls the operation of the pumps and valves to drive the flow of the second fluid. Accordingly, the controller may control the one or more pumps and/or control a position of the one or more valves to control the circulation of the second fluid through the artery grid 204 and to the district grid 106.

In some embodiments, the energy center 202 may control the circulation of the second fluid. In some embodiments, the artery grid 204 and the district grid 106 may be fluidly connected to the energy center 202. In this regard, the district grid 106, artery grid 204, energy center 202, or any combinations thereof, may include the one or more pumps that may be operable to circulate the second fluid through the district grid 106. For example, the energy center 202 may include one or more pumps and controls the operation of those pumps to drive the circulation of the second fluid from the energy center 202 to the district grid 106 through the respective the artery grid 204. In some embodiments, the energy center 202 may include a computing device in communicable control with one or more controllers associated with the one or more pumps to drive the circulation of the second fluid through the district grid 106.

In some embodiments, the first fluid may circulate in the local grid 102 in a first direction and the second fluid may circulate in the district grid 106 in a second direction. In some embodiments, the first direction and the second direction may be a similar direction. In some embodiments, the first direction and the second direction may be opposite directions (e.g., clockwise and counter-clockwise).

In some embodiments, the system 100 may further include a computing device. In some embodiments, the computing device may be configured to control the circulation of the first fluid through the local grid 102 and the second fluid through the district grid 106. To that end, in some embodiments, the computing device may be in communicable connection with the local grid 102 and the district grid 106 to control the circulation of the first fluid and the second fluid through the local grid 102 and the district grid 106, respectively. In some embodiments, the computing device may be in communicable connection with one or more controllers controlling the operation of the pumps associated with the local grid 102 and the district grid 106. In some embodiments, the computing device may control the operation of the pump 138. In some embodiments, the computing device may control the operation of the one or more pumps associated with the district grid 106.

All prior patents and publications referenced herein are incorporated by reference in their entireties.

Throughout the specification and claims, the following terms take the meanings explicitly associated herein, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and “in some embodiments” as used herein do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment(s), though it may. Furthermore, the phrases “in another embodiment” and “in some other embodiments” as used herein do not necessarily refer to a different embodiment, although it may. All embodiments of the disclosure are intended to be combinable without departing from the scope or spirit of the disclosure.

As used herein, the term “based on” is not exclusive and allows for being based on additional factors not described, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In addition, throughout the specification, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references. The meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on.”

As used herein, the term “between” does not necessarily require being disposed directly next to other elements. Generally, this term means a configuration where something is sandwiched by two or more other things. At the same time, the term “between” can describe something that is directly next to two opposing things. Accordingly, in any one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein, a particular structural component being disposed between two other structural elements can be:

    • disposed directly between both of the two other structural elements such that the particular structural component is in direct contact with both of the two other structural elements;
    • disposed directly next to only one of the two other structural elements such that the particular structural component is in direct contact with only one of the two other structural elements;
    • disposed indirectly next to only one of the two other structural elements such that the particular structural component is not in direct contact with only one of the two other structural elements, and there is another element which juxtaposes the particular structural component and the one of the two other structural elements;
    • disposed indirectly between both of the two other structural elements such that the particular structural component is not in direct contact with both of the two other structural elements, and other features can be disposed therebetween; or
    • any combination(s) thereof.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a first grid having a first fluid, the first grid comprising: a heat exchange system comprising, a first heat exchanger, and a pump, wherein the pump circulates the first fluid through the first grid; and
wherein the first grid is in thermal connection with a second grid at the heat exchange system to provide thermal heat transfer between the first grid and the second grid;
wherein the heat exchange system is configured to provide thermal heat transfer capabilities while maintaining fluid isolation between the first grid and the second grid.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first heat exchanger comprises a geothermal resource;

wherein the first heat exchanger is configured to provide thermal heat transfer between the first grid and the geothermal resource.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first heat exchanger is a bore hole heat exchanger.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the first heat exchanger further comprises:

a first loop in fluid connection with the first grid, and
a second loop in fluid connection with the second grid.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the first loop and the second loop comprise a spiral-type configuration.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the heat exchange system comprises:

a second heat exchanger,
wherein the second heat exchanger provides thermal heat transfer capabilities between the first grid and the second grid to provide a peak load reduction to the first grid by reducing a temperature of the first fluid by a first temperature range.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the second heat exchanger is upstream of the first heat exchanger.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the second heat exchanger comprises a brazed plate heat exchanger.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the heat pump circulates the first fluid from the heat exchange system to a physical space,

wherein the first grid is configured to provide heating and cooling capabilities to the physical space.

10. A system comprising:

a first grid having a first fluid, the first grid comprising: a pump;
a second grid having a second fluid, wherein the second fluid is supplied from an energy center to provide thermal heat transfer capabilities to the first grid;
a heat exchange system comprising: a first heat exchanger comprising a geothermal resource, and a second heat exchanger;
wherein the first grid is in thermal connection with the second grid at the heat exchange system to provide thermal heat transfer between the first grid and the second grid; and
wherein the heat exchange system is configured to provide thermal heat transfer capabilities while maintaining fluid isolation between the first grid and the second grid;
wherein the first grid is connected to a heating and cooling system associated with a physical space to provide geothermal heat transfer capabilities to the physical space.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the pump is configured to circulate the first fluid through the first grid to provide heating and cooling capabilities to the physical space.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the first heat exchanger comprises a vertical bore hole heat exchanger.

13. The system according to claim 10, wherein the first heat exchanger further comprises:

a first loop in fluid connection with the first grid, and
a second loop in fluid connection with the second grid.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein each of the first loop and the second loop further comprise a plurality of conduit loops.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the first loop and the second loop further comprise a spiral configuration.

16. The system according to claim 10, wherein the second heat exchanger further comprises:

a first channel in fluid connection with the first grid, and
a second channel in fluid connection with the second grid.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the second heat exchanger comprises a brazed plate heat exchanger.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein a flow rate of the first fluid in the first grid comprises a range from 0.5 to 50 GPM;

wherein a flow rate of the second fluid in the second grid comprises a range from 0.5 to 25 GPM.

19. A method for providing thermal heat transfer between a first grid and a second grid, the method comprising:

circulating a first fluid through a first grid by a pump to provide heating and cooling capabilities to a physical space;
circulating a second fluid through a second grid in thermal connection with and in fluid isolation from the first grid; and
circulating the first fluid and second fluid through a heat exchange system to provide thermal heat transfer capabilities between the first grid and the second grid;
wherein the heat exchange system comprises a first heat exchanger including a geothermal resource.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the heat exchange system further comprises a second heat exchanger;

wherein the method further comprises: controlling the pump to cause the first fluid to flow in a direction from the second heat exchanger to the first heat exchanger; wherein the second heat exchanger is configured to provide a peak load reduction to the first grid by changing a temperature of the first fluid by a first parameter before entering the first heat exchanger.
Patent History
Publication number: 20240310079
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 13, 2023
Publication Date: Sep 19, 2024
Inventors: Greg S. Wolfson (Boston, MA), Martin Khallaf (Boston, MA)
Application Number: 18/182,970
Classifications
International Classification: F24T 10/10 (20060101);