Groundwater heat exchanger

A groundwater heat exchanger comprising:

• a distributor including a first interior chamber and a first port to the first interior chamber;
• a collector including a second interior chamber and a second port to the second interior chamber;
• a plurality of heat exchange pipes, each heat exchange pipe having a first end attached to the distributor and a second end attached to the collector, and defining a fluid passageway between the first and second interior chambers;
• and
• a housing including a plurality of containment pipes each surrounding one of the plurality of heat exchange pipes and defining a groundwater passageway that extends along an exterior of each of the heat exchange pipes within a gap between each heat exchange pipe and the containment pipe through which it extends that is configured to receive a groundwater flow,
• wherein:
• a loop fluid flow received at the first port flows into the first interior chamber, then flows from the first interior chamber to the second interior chamber through the plurality of heat exchange pipes, and flows from the second interior chamber out the second port;
• the groundwater heat exchanger includes a return pipe that is connected to the second port and extends through the housing and the first interior chamber of the distributor;
• and the loop fluid flow travels from the second interior chamber through the return pipe, which extends through the first interior chamber.

A groundwater heat exchanger comprising:

• a distributor including a first interior chamber and a first port to the first interior chamber;
• a collector including a second interior chamber and a second port to the second interior chamber;
• a plurality of heat exchange pipes, each heat exchange pipe having a first end attached to the distributor and a second end attached to the collector, and defining a fluid passageway between the first and second interior chambers;
• and
• a housing including a plurality of containment pipes each surrounding one of the plurality of heat exchange pipes and defining a groundwater passageway that extends along an exterior of each of the heat exchange pipes within a gap between each heat exchange pipe and the containment pipe through which it extends that is configured to receive a groundwater flow,
• wherein:
• a loop fluid flow received at the first port flows into the first interior chamber, then flows from the first interior chamber to the second interior chamber through the plurality of heat exchange pipes, and flows from the second interior chamber out the second port;
• the housing has a first end and a second end;
• the heat exchanger includes a pump configured to drive the groundwater flow such that it travels from the second end of the housing through the groundwater passageway along the heat exchange pipes, and out the first end of the housing;
• and
• the groundwater heat exchanger comprises a groundwater feed pipe that is supported by the collector and extends away from the distributor, wherein the pump is configured to drive the groundwater flow into the second end of the housing through the groundwater feed pipe.

A method of exchanging heat between a loop fluid flow and groundwater comprising:

• providing a groundwater heat exchanger within a borehole, the groundwater heat exchanger comprising:
• a distributor including a first interior chamber and a first port to the first interior chamber;
• a collector including a second interior chamber and a second port to the second interior chamber;
• a plurality of heat exchange pipes, each heat exchange pipe having a first end attached to the distributor and a second end attached to the collector, and defining a loop fluid passageway between the first and second interior chambers;
• a housing including a plurality of containment pipes, wherein each of the plurality of heat exchange pipes extends through one of the containment pipes, and a gap between each heat exchange pipe and the containment pipe through which it extends forms a portion of a groundwater passageway;
• and
• a groundwater pump;
• driving the loop fluid flow through the distributor, the plurality of heat exchange pipes and the collector using a loop fluid pump;
• and
• driving a groundwater flow through the groundwater passageway using the groundwater pump,
• wherein:
• heat is transferred between the loop fluid flow traveling through the plurality of heat exchange pipes and the groundwater flow traveling through the groundwater passageway;
• and
• the housing includes:
• a first plate comprising a plurality of first sockets and a plurality of first openings through the first plate, wherein:
• each first opening is substantially concentric to one of the first sockets;
• a first end of each of the containment pipes is received within one of the first sockets;
• and
• the first end of each of the heat exchange pipes extends through one of the first openings;
• and
• a second plate comprising a plurality of second sockets and a plurality of second openings through the second plate, wherein:
• each second opening is substantially concentric to one of the second sockets;
• a second end of each of the containment pipes is received within one of the second sockets;
• and
• the second end of each of the heat exchange pipes extends through one of the second openings.

A method of exchanging heat between a loop fluid flow and groundwater comprising:

• providing a groundwater heat exchanger within a borehole, the groundwater heat exchanger comprising:
• a distributor including a first interior chamber and a first port to the first interior chamber;
• a collector including a second interior chamber and a second port to the second interior chamber;
• a plurality of heat exchange pipes, each heat exchange pipe having a first end attached to the distributor and a second end attached to the collector, and defining a loop fluid passageway between the first and second interior chambers;
• a housing including a plurality of containment pipes, wherein each of the plurality of heat exchange pipes extends through one of the containment pipes, and a gap between each heat exchange pipe and the containment pipe through which it extends forms a portion of a groundwater passageway;
• and
• a groundwater pump;
• driving the loop fluid flow through the distributor, the plurality of heat exchange pipes and the collector using a loop fluid pump;
• and
• driving a groundwater flow through the groundwater passageway using the groundwater pump,
• wherein:
• heat is transferred between the loop fluid flow traveling through the plurality of heat exchange pipes and the groundwater flow traveling through the groundwater passageway;
• and
• the heat exchanger comprises one or more spacers within each of the gaps, each spacer configured to position each containment pipe in substantially concentric alignment with the heat exchange pipe extending therethrough.