# US 2014/0151276 A1 · Wastewater effluent to geothermal heating

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2014/0151276 A1
- Document ID: US20140151276A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/175,769
- Filed: 2014-02-07
- Published: 2014-06-05
- Earliest claimed: 2011-02-18
- Assignees: A.K. Industries, Inc.
- Applicants: A.K. Industries, Inc.
- Inventors: Stephen A. Sabo
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140151276A1

## CPC

- F24T 10/20: using underground water as working fluid; using working fluid injected directly into the ground, e.g. using injection wells and recovery wells
- C02F 3/1242: {Small compact installations for use in homes, apartment blocks, hotels or the like}
- C02F 3/288: {comprising septic tanks combined with a filter}
- F24T 10/10: with circulation of working fluids through underground channels, the working fluids not coming into direct contact with the ground
- F24T 10/30: using underground reservoirs for accumulating working fluids or intermediate fluids
- C02F 2209/005: Processes using a programmable logic controller [PLC]
- C02F 2209/40: Liquid flow rate
- C02F 2209/42: Liquid level
- Y02B 30/52: Heat recovery pumps, i.e. heat pump based systems or units able to transfer the thermal energy from one area of the premises or part of the facilities to a different one, improving the overall efficiency
- Y02E 10/10: Geothermal energy
- Y02W 10/10: Biological treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
- F24T: GEOTHERMAL COLLECTORS; GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS
- C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes)
- 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
- Y02W: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT

## Abstract

A wastewater geothermal heat system is supplied with processed wastewater through a drip field in proximity to a thermal array part of a geothermal heat pump system. The wastewater treatment system portion provides a periodic source of treated wastewater. Several sensors and a control system regulate a pump that discharges wastewater from the treatment system and enters a drip field where it is released into the surrounding soil. The dampened soil provides an efficient vehicle to transfer heat into or out of a thermal array which is positioned adjacent to the drip field such that it is in contact with the soil that is dampened by the discharged wastewater.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A geothermal heat system comprising:
a waste tank having a waste tank inlet for receiving wastewater from a wastewater source, said waste tank having a waste tank outlet;
a clarifying tank having a clarifying tank inlet and a clarifying tank outlet, said clarifying tank inlet for receiving wastewater from said waste tank outlet;
an aerator providing oxygen to said clarifying tank wherein aerobic decomposition of said wastewater is encouraged;
a holding tank having a holding tank inlet for receiving wastewater from said clarifying tank, said holding tank having a holding tank outlet and a level sensor for detecting the level of said wastewater in said holding tank;
a liquid pump for dispensing wastewater from said holding tank to said holding tank outlet;
a drip field in fluid communication with said holding tank outlet, said drip field having an inlet for receiving wastewater and an outlet for discharging said wastewater, a tube having perforations therethrough, providing fluid communication between said inlet and said outlet, said perforations in said tube discharging said wastewater, said outlet discharging excess wastewater that is not discharged through said perforations;
a recycle line in unobstructed fluid communication between said outlet of said drip field and said wastewater treatment system for returning said excess wastewater to said wastewater treatment system;
a heat-transferring array positioned below said drip field wherein said array is in thermal communication with said wastewater discharged through said perforations;
a heat pump in fluid communication with said heat-transferring array.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The geothermal heat system of claim 1, further comprising a controller controlling the operation of said liquid pump such that said wastewater is discharged from said waste tank outlet to said inlet of said drip field at a controlled rate.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The geothermal heat system as claimed in claim 2, and a timer integrated with said controller such that said controller controls said liquid pump according to a schedule.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The geothermal heat system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said controller is in electrical communication with said heat pump and activates said liquid pump and discharges said wastewater to during the operation of said heat pump.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The wastewater geothermal heating and cooling system of claim 2, said control system using said fluid level sensor to indicate the level of wastewater in said holding tank, said heat pump, and said liquid pump to optimize the efficiency of said heating and cooling system.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The geothermal heat system as claimed in claim 5, and a water sensor in said recycle line in electrical communication with said controller to indicate the presence of said excess wastewater from said outlet.

### Claim 7

A wastewater geothermal heating and cooling system comprising:
a wastewater processing tank, said tank having an inlet for receiving wastewater from a wastewater source, said tank having an outlet;
a holding tank, having an inlet for receiving processed wastewater from said outlet of said processing tank, and a level sensor for indicating the level of wastewater in said holding tank;
a fluid pump, in fluid communication with processed wastewater in said holding tank;
a drip field, in fluid communication with said fluid pump, having an inlet for receiving wastewater, and an outlet and having a plurality of holes between said inlet and said outlet for discharging processed wastewater, wherein excess wastewater not discharged from said holes is discharged from said outlet, and a return line connected to said outlet, said return line in fluid communication with said holding tank in unobstructed flow for returning said excess wastewater to said holding tank;
a heat transfer array, said array in thermal communication with said drip field, and a heat pump, said heat pump in fluid communication with said heat transfer array;
a controller, in electrical communication with said level sensor located in said holding tank, and said fluid pump to regulate the flow of said wastewater into said inlet of said drip field.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The wastewater geothermal heating and cooling system of claim 7, and a water sensor at the outlet of said drip field to indicate the presence of excess wastewater not discharged from said holes between said inlet and said outlet of said drip field, said sensor in electrical communication with said controller.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The wastewater geothermal heating and cooling system of claim 7, said control system using said fluid level sensor, said heat pump, and said liquid pump to optimize the efficiency of said heating and cooling system.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The wastewater geothermal heating and cooling system of claim 7, said processing tank being comprised of a plurality of treatment tanks in fluid communication between said wastewater and said holding tank.

### Claim 11

A wastewater geothermal heating and cooling system comprising:
a holding tank for receiving wastewater from a source, said tank having an inlet and an outlet;
a level sensor in said holding tank for determining the wastewater level in said holding tank;
a fluid pump having an inlet and an outlet, said inlet in fluid communication with said wastewater in said holding tank;
a drip field, in fluid communication with said outlet of said fluid pump, having an inlet for receiving wastewater, and an outlet and having a plurality of holes between said inlet and said outlet for discharging processed wastewater, wherein excess wastewater not discharged from said holes is discharged from said outlet, and a return line connected to said outlet, said return line in fluid communication with said holding tank in unobstructed flow for returning said excess wastewater to said holding tank;
a heat pump in fluid communication with a thermal transfer array and a heat exchanger, said thermal transfer array in thermal communication with said drip field;
a return line, in fluid communication with said outlet of said drip field and said holding tank, said return line having unrestricted flow between said outlet of said drip field and said holding tank;
a controller, in electrical communication said level sensor, said fluid pump, and said heat pump, said controller determining the rate of said wastewater into said drip field.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The wastewater geothermal heating and cooling system of claim 11, and a timer device incorporated into said controller for operating said fluid pump on a schedule.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The wastewater geothermal heating and cooling system of claim 11, and a water sensor in said recycle line in electrical communication with said controller to indicate the presence of said excess wastewater from said outlet.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The wastewater geothermal heating and cooling system of claim 13, said controller using said sensors and pump to optimize the efficiency of said heating and cooling system.