# US 11,906,205 B2 · Geothermal heat exchanger, geothermal heat arrangement and method for charging thermal energy into ground

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- Number: US 11,906,205 B2
- Document ID: US11906205B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/963,528
- Filed: 2019-02-12
- Published: 2021-02-18
- Granted: 2024-02-20
- Earliest claimed: 2018-02-12
- Assignees: Quantitative Heat Oy
- Applicants: Quantitative Heat Oy
- Inventors: Rami Niemi
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11906205B2

## CPC

- F24T 10/17: using tubes closed at one end, i.e. return-type tubes
- F24D 5/12: using heat pumps
- F24T 10/10: with circulation of working fluids through underground channels, the working fluids not coming into direct contact with the ground
- F24T 10/15: using bent tubes; using tubes assembled with connectors or with return headers
- F28D 20/0052: {using the ground body or aquifers as heat storage medium}
- F24D 2200/11: Geothermal energy
- F24D 2200/12: Heat pump
- F24F 2005/0057: {receiving heat-exchange fluid from a closed circuit in the ground}
- F24H 4/04: Storage heaters
- F24T 2010/56: {Control arrangements}
- F25B 2313/002: geothermal
- Y02B 10/40: Geothermal heat-pumps
- Y02B 30/13: Hot air central heating systems using heat pumps
- Y02E 10/10: Geothermal energy
- Y02E 60/14: Thermal energy storage
- Y02E 70/30: Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin
- F24T: GEOTHERMAL COLLECTORS; GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS
- F24D: DOMESTIC- OR SPACE-HEATING SYSTEMS, e.g. CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEMS; DOMESTIC HOT-WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; ELEMENTS OR COMPONENTS THEREFOR (using steam or condensate extracted or exhausted from steam engine plants for heating purposes F01K17/02)
- F28D: HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT (fluid heaters having heat generating means and heat transferring means F24H; furnaces F27; details of heat-exchange apparatus of general)
- F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02)
- F24H: FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL (steam generation F22)
- F25B: REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

A geothermal heat exchanger, a geothermal heat arrangement and to a method in connection with a geothermal heat arrangement. The geothermal heat exchanger includes a piping arrangement having a rise pipe and a drain pipe, and a first pump arranged to the piping arrangement. The rise pipe and drain pipe are arranged in fluid communication with each other for circulating the primary working fluid. The rise pipe is provided with a first thermal insulation surrounding the rise pipe along at least part of the length of the rise pipe and the first pump is arranged to circulate the primary working fluid in a direction towards a lower end of the rise pump.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A geothermal heat arrangement comprising:
a ground hole provided into the ground and extending into the ground from the ground surface, the ground hole having a lower end;
a piping arrangement comprising a rise pipe having a lower end and arranged into the ground hole, and a drain pipe having a lower end, the lower end of the rise pipe and the lower end of the drain pipe being arranged in fluid communication with each other for circulating the primary working fluid in the ground hole;
the rise pipe is provided with a first thermal insulation surrounding the rise pipe along at least part of the length of the rise pipe;
a first pump connected to the piping arrangement and arranged to circulate the primary working fluid in the rise pipe; and
a heat exchange connection in connection with the piping arrangement for secondary heat exchange with the primary working fluid,
wherein:
the rise pipe is arranged inside the drain pipe in the ground hole;
the depth of the ground hole is at least 300 m;
the first pump is arranged to circulate the primary working fluid in a direction towards the lower end of the ground hole in the rise pipe and towards the ground surface in the drain pipe;
a heat pump or a heat exchanger is connected to the piping arrangement and arranged to provide heat exchange connection for the secondary heat exchange with the primary working fluid;
the heat pump or the heat exchanger is arranged to release thermal energy to the primary working fluid for heating the primary working fluid; and
the first pump is arranged to circulate the heated primary working fluid in the direction towards the lower end of the ground hole in the rise pipe for storing thermal energy to the ground at the lower end of the ground hole.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The geothermal heat arrangement according to claim 1, wherein:
the ground hole forms at least part of the drain pipe for circulating the primary working fluid in the ground hole;
the piping arrangement comprises a separate drain pipe having a lower end arranged into the ground hole, the lower end of the rise pipe and the lower end of the separate drain pipe being arranged in fluid communication with each other for circulating the primary working fluid in the ground hole, the rise pipe being arranged inside the separate drain pipe; or
the piping arrangement comprises a separate drain pipe having a lower end arranged into the ground hole, the lower end of the rise pipe and the lower end of the separate drain pipe being arranged in fluid communication with each other for circulating the primary working fluid in the ground hole; and
the rise pipe is arranged inside the separate drain pipe in the ground hole, and that the rise pipe extends an extension distance (M) out from the lower end of the drain pipe towards the lower end of the ground hole; or
the piping arrangement comprises a separate drain pipe having a lower end arranged into the ground hole, the lower end of the rise pipe and the lower end of the separate drain pipe being arranged in fluid communication with each other for circulating the primary working fluid in the ground hole; and
the separate drain pipe extends from the ground surface into the ground hole to a free distance (P) from the lower end of the ground hole such that the ground hole forms the drain pipe along the free distance (P) from the lower end of the ground hole; or
the ground hole forms the drain pipe and the rise pipe is arranged inside the ground hole.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The geothermal heat arrangement according to claim 1, wherein:
the first thermal insulation extends along the rise pipe from ground surface towards the lower end of the ground hole and to at least 50% of the depth (D) of the ground hole or to at least ⅔ of the depth (D) of the ground hole; or
the first thermal insulation extends from a predetermined distance (E) from the lower end of the ground hole upwards along the rise pipe, the predetermined distance (E) from the lower end of the ground hole being at least 10% of the depth (D) of the ground hole or at least 20% of the depth (D) of the ground hole; or
the first thermal insulation extends along the rise pipe between ground surface and the lower end of the ground hole and from a predetermined distance (E) from the lower end of the ground hole along the rise pipe towards the ground surface along the rise pipe and from a predetermined distance from the ground surface towards the lower end of the ground hole.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The geothermal heat arrangement according to claim 1, wherein:
the thermal conductivity of the first thermal insulation is uniform in a direction along the ground hole; or
the thermal conductivity of the first thermal insulation decreases in the direction towards the lower end of the ground hole; or
the thickness of the first thermal insulation decreases in the direction towards the lower end of the ground hole such that the thermal conductivity of the first thermal insulation decreases in the direction towards the lower end of the ground hole; or
the first thermal insulation comprises at least two different thermal insulation materials arranged to the rise pipe such the thermal conductivity of the first thermal insulation decreases in the direction towards the lower end of the ground hole.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The geothermal heat arrangement according to claim 1, wherein:
the first pump is a reversible pump arranged to pump the primary working fluid in a direction towards the lower end of the ground hole in the rise pipe and upwards towards the ground surface in the drain pipe, or towards the lower end of the ground hole in the drain pipe and upwards towards the ground surface in the rise pipe, and that the geothermal heat arrangement comprises a control unit connected to the first pump and arranged to control the operation direction of the reversible first pump; or
the geothermal heat arrangement comprises a second pump arranged to pump the primary working fluid in a direction towards the lower end of the ground hole in the drain pipe and upwards towards the ground surface in the rise pipe, and that the geothermal heat arrangement comprises a control unit connected to the first pump and to the second pump arranged to control the operation of the first pump and the second for setting the circulation direction of the primary working fluid.

### Claim 6

A method for charging thermal energy into ground, the method comprises:
circulating a primary working fluid in a geothermal heat exchanger comprising a piping arrangement having a rise pipe arranged into a ground hole and a drain pipe, the rise pipe and the drain pipe being arranged in fluid communication with each other for circulating a primary working fluid in the ground hole for geothermal heat exchange in the ground hole, the rise pie is arranged inside the drain pipe in the ground hole, the ground hole extending from the ground surface into the ground and having a lower end, the depth of the ground hole is at least 300 m; the rise pipe being provided with a first thermal insulation surrounding the rise pipe along at least part of the length of the rise pipe; and
providing heat exchange between the primary working fluid circulating in the geothermal heat exchanger and a secondary working fluid with a heat pump,
wherein the method comprises:
operating the heat pump in cooling mode in which the primary working fluid receives thermal energy from the secondary working fluid in the heat pump in the heat exchange between the primary working fluid circulating in the geothermal heat exchanger and the secondary working fluid for heating primary working fluid; and
operating the geothermal heat exchanger in a charging mode in which the heated primary working fluid is circulated in a downwards direction in the rise pipe and in a direction upwards in the drain pipe for transporting thermal energy to the lower end of the ground hole and for releasing thermal energy from the heated primary working fluid to the ground at the lower end of the ground hole for storing thermal energy to the ground at the lower end of the ground hole.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method according to claim 6, wherein the method comprises:
operating the geothermal heat exchanger in an extraction mode in which the primary working fluid releases thermal energy to the secondary working fluid in the heat exchange between the primary working fluid circulating in the geothermal heat exchanger and the secondary working fluid; and
circulating the primary working fluid in the extraction mode in a downwards direction in the drain pipe and in a direction upwards in the rise pipe for transporting thermal energy from the ground hole and for releasing thermal energy from the primary working fluid to the secondary working fluid in the heat exchange between the primary working fluid circulating in the geothermal heat exchanger and a secondary working fluid.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The method according to claim 6, wherein the method comprises providing the heat exchange between the primary working fluid circulating in the geothermal heat exchanger and a secondary working fluid in a heat pump, the method further comprising:
operating the heat pump in heating mode in which the secondary working fluid receives thermal energy from the primary working fluid in the heat pump and operating the geothermal heat exchanger in the extraction mode.