# US 2008/0185122 A1 · Building structures employing coaxial-flow heat transfer structures for thermal regulation

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- Number: US 2008/0185122 A1
- Document ID: US20080185122A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 11/981,512
- Filed: 2007-10-31
- Published: 2008-08-07
- Earliest claimed: 2005-03-09
- Assignees: Kelix Heat Transfer Systems, LLC
- Inventors: John E. Kidwell; Michael L. Fraim
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080185122A1

## CPC

- F28D 20/0052: {using the ground body or aquifers as heat storage medium}
- F24T 10/17: using tubes closed at one end, i.e. return-type tubes
- F25B 30/06: characterised by the source of low potential heat
- F28D 7/026: {the conduits of only one medium being helically coiled and formed by bent members, e.g. plates, the coils having a cylindrical configuration}
- F28D 7/12: the surrounding tube being closed at one end, e.g. return type (F28D7/14 takes precedence)
- F28D 15/0233: {the conduits having a particular shape, e.g. non-circular cross-section, annular (F28D15/0241, F28D15/0266 take precedence)}
- F28F 1/00: Tubular elements; Assemblies of tubular elements (specially adapted for movement F28F5/00)
- F28F 13/12: by creating turbulence, e.g. by stirring, by increasing the force of circulation (F28F13/08 takes precedence)
- F24T 2010/56: {Control arrangements}
- F24T 2201/00: Prediction; Simulation
- F28F 1/08: Tubular elements crimped or corrugated in longitudinal section
- F28F 21/062: {the heat-exchange apparatus employing tubular conduits}
- F28F 23/00: Features relating to the use of intermediate heat-exchange materials, e.g. selection of compositions (heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials C09K5/00)
- Y02B 10/40: Geothermal 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
- 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)
- F24T: GEOTHERMAL COLLECTORS; GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS
- F25B: REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F28F: DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION (water and air traps, air venting F16)
- 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 thermally-regulated building structure including a foundation for supporting the thermally-regulated building structure on the surface of the Earth, and one or more coaxial-flow heat exchanging structures installed in the Earth, for facilitating the transfer of heat energy between (i) an heat energy exchanging system maintained within the thermally-regulated building structure and (ii) the Earth. Each said coaxial-flow heat exchanging structure includes an inner tube section having an outer wall surface extending between the proximal and distal ends, and a thermally conductive outer tube section, disposed coaxially around the inner tube section, and having an inner wall surface extending between the proximal and distal ends. An outer flow channel is provided between the outer wall surface of the inner tube section and the inner wall surface of the outer tube section. A turbulence generating structure is disposed along a portion of the length of the outer flow channel so as to introduce turbulence into the flow of the heat exchanging fluid flowing along the outer flow channel, thereby improving the transfer of heat energy between the heat exchanging fluid and the Earth along the length of the outer flow channel.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A thermally-regulated building structure comprising:
a foundation for supporting said thermally-regulated building structure on the surface of the Earth; and
one or more coaxial-flow heat exchanging structures installed in said Earth, for facilitating the transfer of heat energy between (i) an heat energy exchanging system maintained within said thermally-regulated building structure and (ii) said Earth;
wherein each said coaxial-flow heat exchanging structure includes:
a proximal end and a distal end;
an input port, provided at the proximal end, for receiving a heat exchanging fluid at a first temperature from said heat energy exchanging system, and an output port, provided at the proximal end, for outputting said heat transferring fluid at a second temperature to said heat energy exchanging system;
an inner tube section having an outer wall surface extending between the proximal and distal ends, the inner tube section supporting an inner flow channel having a substantially uniform inner diameter along its length and along which the heat exchanging fluid can flow in a substantially laminar manner;
a thermally conductive outer tube section, disposed coaxially around the inner tube section, and having an inner wall surface extending between said proximal and distal ends;
wherein an outer flow channel capable of conducting heat exchanging fluid is provided between the outer wall surface of the inner tube section and the inner wall surface of the outer tube section; and
wherein a turbulence generating structure is disposed along a portion of the length of the outer flow channel so as to introduce turbulence into the flow of said heat exchanging fluid flowing along the outer flow channel, thereby improving the transfer of heat energy between the heat exchanging fluid and said Earth along the length of the outer flow channel.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The thermally-regulated civil structure of claim 1, wherein said heat energy exchanging system comprises heat energy system selected from the group consisting of a refrigeration unit, a heating unit and a heat pump.

### Claim 3

A thermally regulated building structure comprising:
a foundation for supporting said thermally-regulated building structure on the surface of the Earth; and
one or more coaxial-flow heat exchanging structures installed in said Earth, for facilitating the transfer of heat energy between (i) an heat energy exchanging system maintained within said thermally-regulated building structure and (ii) said Earth;
wherein each said coaxial-flow heat exchanging structure includes:
a thermally-conductive outer tube section; and
an inner tube section having an inner flow channel having a substantially uniform inner diameter along its entire length and being coaxially installed within said outer tube section supporting helically-arranged turbulence generator fins on the outer surface of said inner tube section, so as to form at least one helically-extending outer flow channel between said inner and outer tube sections, so that heat energy contained within a heat exchanging fluid flowing down said inner flow channel and along the helically-arranged outer flow channel, is exchanged through the walls of said outer tube section and into said Earth.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The thermally-regulated civil structure of claim 1, wherein, wherein said heat energy exchanging system comprises heat energy system selected from the group consisting of a refrigeration unit, a heating unit and a heat pump.