Abstract: A heating and cooling system utilizing solar, or other energy, includes a solar heat collector having fluid ducts connected to the lower portion of a buried fluid thermal unit, which transfers collected heat to an underground storage area. The thermal unit provides fluid convection flow between portions of the unit surrounded by lower and upper heat transfer jackets. A heat pump, installed in a building to be heated or cooled, has ducts for selectively circulating fluids between the heat pump and the upper and lower heat transfer jackets of the buried thermal unit.

Abstract: To melt an iceberg once it has been brought to a tropical region where it is to act as a source of fresh water, use is made of the warm breezes of such tropical regions. Droplets of an artificial rain of cold fresh water are caused to drop through the warm air, thereby extracting heat from it. This heat is used to melt the iceberg. Preferably the cold fresh water comes from a pool of cold fresh water on the surface of the iceberg, and the artificial rain falls back into the pool. At night this method can also condense extra water from the air.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for building a thickened ice mass, such as a grounded ice island, at a cold offshore location, in which water is pumped through a fluid flow conduit and discharged from a rotating swing arm section of the conduit onto selected areas of a natural ice sheet to form circular and/or annular thickened ice bodies. The fluid flow conduit includes a first water supply line disposed in the water body between the ice sheet and the marine bottom, and, if required, a second water supply line which is installed along the top surface of the ice island after the grounding of the ice body forces abandonment of the first water supply line.

Abstract: Refrigeration apparatus for transferring heat from a space to be cooled to a cooler medium. A refrigerant is circulated from the space to be cooled to the cooler medium picking up heat from the space and transferring it to the cooler medium. Thermal pump apparatus is utilized to circulate the refrigerant with no energy input other than the heat input from the space to be cooled.

Abstract: A home heating and cooling system consisting of a pair of large water tanks and a heat-operated absorption-type refrigeration system disposed between the tanks and operable to transfer heat from one tank to the other. The "hot" tank supplies hot water for operating a hot water home heating system, supplies a portion of the heat necessary to operate the refrigeration system, and may also operate a home hot water supply system, drawing heat from the "cold" tank and from the atmosphere through the refrigeration system. In periods of low heat demand, it may store large amounts of heat for later use in periods of higher demand, thereby reducing the heating load imposed on the refrigeration unit. The "cold" tank supplies a cold liquid for a home cooling system operable by such liquid, and the heat absorbed by said cooling system, together with heat absorbed from the atmosphere, is transferred to the hot tank by the refrigeration unit.

Abstract: A concrete slab forming a part of the building structure foundation is thermally insulated about its periphery from the ground upon which it resides from the ground surface to below the ground frost line, with the bottom of the slab in heat transfer relation to the ground below the frost line over a large part of the building structure surface area. The concrete slab directly overlies and is in thermal contact with an array of side abutting parallel rows of end abutting hollow cinder blocks to form air passageways for circulating air beneath the concrete slab and between the ground and the slab. By thermal siphon or forced air circulation, air, within the building structure transfers heat to and from the concrete slab, particularly heat entering glassed walls and impinging directly upon the surface of the concrete slab.

Abstract: In an underground storage, containing hot or cold storage materials, a circulating gas or fluid is passed in a plurality of conducts in the walls, floor, and ceiling of the storage and near their surface towards the storage, and, if a container or containing vessel is constructed inside the walls of said underground storage, the gas or the fluid is conducted either in the mentioned outer wall as previously mentioned or between the wall of the container and the outer rock walls, particularly in the last mentioned case also in ducts or in galleries with guiding devices for the medium to insure a corresponding contact with surfaces involved, or, in some cases, in the interior of said container wall.

Abstract: An air convection pile for transferring heat from a medium surrounding the lower end of the pile is disclosed to the colder ambient air. A pipe of sufficient length to extend from the air-medium interface downward into the medium is adapted to be opened to the ambient air near its upper end. A flow dividing partition is placed longitudinally within the pipe. The partition has two longitudinal edges which contact the inner wall of the pipe to divide the interior volume of the pipe into two flow channels. The partition is adapted near the lower end of the pipe to allow the flow of air between the flow channels. Apparatus for controlling the flow of air through the pile is also disclosed. A hood encloses the open upper end of the pile. It is adapted to allow the flow of air between the ambient air and the flow channels. Within the hood, there is a temperature responsive, or manual, means for closing off the flow channels from the ambient air.

Abstract: The ground surrounding a liquified gas storing underground tank is excavated into a form of a columnar cavity or wall shaped cavity, and then a synthetic resin bag or envelope is placed therein, after which granular materials such as sand or gravel is filled therein, thus forming a water permeable body of a columnar shape or wall-like shape. Then, water is injected into the water permeable body from its bottom and then discharged from the top of the body, thereby warming the peripheral ground of the underground tank for preventing freezing thereof. An apparatus for preventing the freezing of a liquified gas storing underground tank is also disclosed, which includes water feeding and discharging devices provided for the aforesaid water permeable body.

Abstract: A heat pump system having a vaporizer in heat exchange relationship with a glycol/water circuit which comprises an earth heat absorber and an ambient air heat absorber in parallel.

Abstract: A concrete slab forming a part of the building structure foundation is thermally insulated about its periphery from the ground upon which it resides from the ground surface to below the ground frost line, with the bottom of the slab in heat transfer relation to the ground below the frost line over a large part of the building structure surface area. The concrete slab directly overlies and is in thermal contact with an array of side abutting parallel rows of end abutting hollow cinder blocks to form air passageways for circulating air beneath the conrete slab and between the ground and the slab. By thermal siphon or forced air circulation, air, within the building structure transfers heat to and from the concrete slab, particularly heat entering glassed walls and impinging directly upon the surface of the concrete slab.

Abstract: An artificial ice structure for use as a base for oilfield operations is constructed on land in a frigid environment. A containment wall encloses a predetermined area on the land to contain flood water which is allowed to freeze. The area is flooded with water until the ice structure is a desired size. A silo arrangement, which extends through the ice structure and into the underlying ground, is utilized to house well control equipment, the below ground part thereof being separable from the above ground part thereof. A core may be formed about the silo and other cores may be formed in other parts of the ice structure to provide foundations or supports for equipment installed on the ice structure.

Abstract: A modular heating section for removing or preventing the formation of ice on the walls of navigation locks, loading docks, ferry slips, or the like. Ice formation on the walls of navigation locks is compressed by successive vessels to the extent that larger vessels are unable to enter the locks. To avoid this happening, ice is chipped from the walls of the locks, which is time-consuming. As well, chipping of the ice results in damage to the concrete walls which must then be repaired. To overcome this problem, the present invention proposes the use of a modular heating section comprising a rigid panel having means for securing the section to a navigation lock wall, loading dock, or the like at a location where ice formation occurs, the panel being made from a heat conducting material. The panel includes heater means situated therein, the heater means adapted to distribute heat throughout the modular heating sections.

Abstract: A heating system with a thermal pump including an evaporator section consisting of a piping network buried in the ground. The piping network is shielded by a translucent screen arranged above the ground such to prevent a heat loss of the ground and to form a space for heat storage between screen and ground.

Abstract: A man-made island and a method for constructing the same in an ice covered body of water using portions of the ice sheet as integral parts of the island. The island is formed by placing fill material, such as sand or gravel, on a portion of the ice sheet to ground that portion. The grounded ice sheet is cut free from the surrounding ice sheet and matter, such as fill material, blocks of ice, etc., is placed on the grounded portion of the ice sheet to construct an island in the body of water. Additional portions of the ice sheet can be separated and grounded on top of previously grounded portions prior to placing matter on the stack of grounded ice pieces to construct the island.

Abstract: An ice island for use in offshore operations in cold waters includes an operations pad and a surrounding containment barrier, the bases of which are grounded on the marine bottom. The island is constructed by accumulating ice in confined areas defined on a sheet of native ice until the mass of the accumulated ice causes the ice underlying and adjacent to the confined area to be depressed with respect to the main body of ice and be grounded on the marine bottom.

Abstract: A heat pump for cooling or heating a conditioned space includes an underground heat pipe laid into a hole in the ground back-filled with soil. The heat transfer of the soil is improved by dispersing highly water-absorbent hydrophilic polymeric gel particles soaked with water around the heat pipe. The water-soaked particles preferably are coated with a water-impermeable film. The water may also be entrapped in liquid form in small bags. Also, a water impermeable sheath may be formed around the back-fill soil to minimize evaporation from the particles.

Abstract: An impact resistant tank for storing cryogenic fluids, includes an inner metal tank having a metal side wall and a metal bottom and a concrete outer wall around the inner metal wall and having reinforcement therein to resist impact loads thereon, and to serve as a secondary containment for the cryogenic fluid.

Abstract: An open-fronted refrigerated display case permitting shoppers direct access to goods displayed therein which also allows loading thereof by the movement of a loaded cart into a stationary location within the display case from the front direction or the rear direction, the case including a stationary housing which defines a refrigerated enclosure which further defines a front opening and a rear wall area and a case floor, the front opening having an air curtain extending thereover created by the passage of refrigerated air from air outlets along the upper edge of the front opening to air inlets along the lower edge of the front opening, also including an air circuit means to communicate the air from the inlet to the outlet and through the refrigeration device to form the air curtain from refrigerated air, also including a door means extending over at least a portion of the rear wall area with the remainder of the rear wall area covered by a curtain means, the door means being mounted within at least one track

Abstract: A cold storage tank is mounted in a pit in the ground. An outer plastic sheet barrier lines the pit. A lining of incompressible insulating material lines the interior surface of the outer barrier. An inner plastic sheet barrier lines the interior surfaces of the insulation. A plurality of bags of fresh water are mounted inside of the inner barrier. Brine and gravel fills the inner barrier and the voids between said fresh water bags and covers the fresh water bags. An out-take pipe extends into the brine and is connected to a pump. A shallow tray is mounted above ground and the out-take pipe is connected to spray the brine onto the tray during freezing weather. An intake pipe is connected to drain the tray and return the cooled brine to the interior of the inner barrier. The brine surrounding the water bags is circulated through a heat exchanger for cooling air when required.

Abstract: Cooling water at 39.degree. F is made available at low cost all year round by erecting towers in farmer's fields and spraying the water in the air around the towers to cool the water during the winter. The cooled water is collected and stored in a lake. During the summer the same towers and water spraying system is used to act as a permanent irrigation system with the water from the lake sprayed when needed on the farmer's crops. Since the users of the cold water from the lake for cooling water have to and can easily afford to pay for the whole system, which includes a very good drainage system, farmers will greatly profit and therefore greatly favor the installation of such a system on their farms.

Abstract: A work platform for oil drilling, oil production, or other purposes is constructed in arctic waters by locating a natural ice island of suitable area and thickness, and moving it to the desired platform location. The ice island is anchored to the sea floor by installing at least one, but preferably a number of, generally cylindrical sheaths beneath it which extend from the island to the sea floor below. The sheaths are filled with water, and a thermosiphon is installed interiorly of the sheath. As the thermosiphon extracts heat from the water within the sheath, the water is converted to ice, and eventually the entire body of water within the sheath is frozen, thereby forming a column of ice which anchors the island to the sea floor in the desired location.

Abstract: The means of this invention is in combination with an underground sewage reservoir having a water-holding strata extending therearound adapted to receive water from the reservoir. A perforated conduit extends around the reservoir and through the strata and is adapted to receive water from the strata. A circulating fluid line extends through the conduit so that the circulating fluid will tend to assume the temperature of the water in the conduit. The circulating fluid line is operatively connected to a heat pump means.

Abstract: Liquid natural gas is stored in a rock chamber. Some liquid gas is vaporized because of the natural heat flow from the surrounding rock. Said gas is conveyed to a second rock chamber serving as a buffer store. Some gas leaks out through cracks in the rock. Said leaking gas is collected in channels provided in the rock around the rock chamber, and is also conveyed to the buffer store. Gas is supplied to the consumers from the buffer store.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward an air conditioning system having the capability of being utilized as both a heating or cooling system. At least one heat pump is provided to pump heat from a heat source to the air conditioning system to prevent freezing of the system. The heat pump also removes heat from the system, when it is used as a cooling system, and diffuses it into the earth. The earth may also be utilized as a source of heat to be supplied to the system.

Abstract: An environment heating and cooling system comprising a solar collector, heat storage ground well, cold storage ground well and a heat exchange apparatus. Water from a cold storage ground well is heated in the heat exchange apparatus by solar heating fluid heated in a solar collector. The heated water is stored in a heat storage ground well. Water from the heat storage ground well heats the ambient environment when the solar collector requires supplementation. Water from the cold storage ground well is used to cool the ambient environment. In addition, water from both ground wells serves ordinary household purposes as drinking, bathing and the like.

Abstract: A heating and cooling system for an enclosure utilizing electricity generated from wind energy. The system may include a windmill mechanically linked to a plurality of low voltage electrical generators. The electricity is supplied to a plurality of thermoelectric devices which effect heating and cooling of the enclosure. The system is thermostatically controlled and can be employed with existing heating and cooling systems as the primary source of heating and cooling.

Abstract: This invention relates to a system for generating power utilizing the elevation differences and available temperatures on the earth's surface, such as occurs in a mountainous region with a nearby valley or desert. The system includes heat rejection means, as for example, a condenser located at a higher elevation (a mountain top). Means for supplying heat to the system may be provided at a lower elevation (in a valley or desert region below). A geothermal source of heat, such as a hot spring, may be used. Power generation means are also provided in the valley and operatively communicated with the condenser on the mountain top and the heat supply means in the valley. Liquid flowing from the condenser to the power generation means at a relatively high pressure will drive the power generation means to create electrical energy and the liquid will be expanded, vaporized and cooled. The cooled vapor will absorb heat from the heat supply means and then be returned to the condenser on the mountain top.

Abstract: A cryogenic storage tank characterised by the provision of a space between the outer walls of the tank and the ground surrounding same, and means for introducing heated air into said space at the lower regions thereof for flow upwardly therethrough.

Abstract: Methods and systems for storing large volumes of gas, such as natural gas, commonly shipped as liquid at very low temperature and unloaded through comparatively short cryogenic pipelines. Systems are disclosed for receiving, storing and warming shipments of liquefied gas prior to distribution to consumers. The systems include invisible underground storage as a safeguard against natural and artificial hazards and to utilize natural heat flow to warm the gas.

Abstract: This invention relates to an environment control system utilizing the elevation differences and available temperatures on the earth's surface, such as occur in a mountainous region with a nearby valley or a desert. The system includes heat rejection means, as for example, a condenser located at a higher elevation (a mountain top). Means for supplying heat to the system may be provided at a lower elevation (in a valley or desert region below). A geothermal source of heat, such as a hot spring, may be used. Liquid flowing from the condenser at a relatively high pressure will be expanded, vaporized and cooled. The cooled vapor will absorb heat from the heat supply means and then be returned to the condenser on the mountain top.The heat supply means or heat exchanger in the valley may be utilized as an evaporator to provide cooling for a buildingn, as for example, a hotel or factory.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of freezing a large volume of ground for tunnel construction and the like utilizing liquified nitrogen is described. The apparatus consists generally of a series of freeze pipes embedded in the ground, each of the freeze pipes consisting of a conductor tube and an inner header tube. The header tube of each of the succeeding freeze pipes in the series have discharge holes of a predetermined cross-section so that greater control of gaseous and liquified nitrogen pressure can be maintained throughout the system. By means of this method and apparatus more accurate control of ground freezing can be made by merely controlling the inlet liquified nitrogen pressure and the exhaust gaseous nitrogen temperature.

Abstract: A liquid aquifer energy storage method by which hot water is collected and stored in underground aquifers during the summer months and made available for heating during winter months. The liquid aquifer energy storage method also allows for the storage of cold water during the winter months for use in cooling during the summer months. The liquid aquifer energy storage method includes heating water and hot and warm zones within the aquifer or aquifers for storage of hot and warm water, respectively. Additionally, the method includes cooling water and cold and cool zones in the aquifer or aquifers for storage of cold and cool water.