Method of heat exchange system

A method of heat exchange with a heat transfer medium comprising:

• (a) moving the heat transfer medium through at least one pipe portion of a ground loop circuit, said at least one pipe portion comprising an embedded part thereof positioned in a pipe wall of at least one pipe body defining at least one conduit therein through which at least one fluid is flowable, said at least one pipe body comprising an exterior surface engaged with ground material surrounding said at least one pipe body;
• (b) permitting substantially simultaneous heat exchange through the pipe wall between:
• (i) the heat transfer medium and said at least one fluid in said at least one conduit as the heat transfer medium moves through the embedded part of said at least one pipe portion, and
• (ii) the heat transfer medium and the pipe ground material as the heat transfer medium moves through the embedded part of said at least one pipe portion;
• (c) moving the heat transfer medium through an end portion of the ground loop circuit positioned proximal to a heat exchanger with a heat exchange fluid circulated therein;
• (d) permitting heat exchange between the heat transfer medium and the heat exchange fluid as the heat transfer medium flows through the end portion;
• and
• (e) moving the heat transfer medium through at least one connecting portion of the ground loop circuit in fluid communication with said at least one pipe portion and with the end portion to allow the heat transfer medium to circulate through the ground loop circuit.

A method for heat exchange with a heat transfer medium comprising:

• (a) providing a ground loop circuit through which the heat transfer medium is circulatable, the ground loop circuit comprising:
• an end portion, positioned proximal to a heat exchanger through which a heat exchange fluid is circulatable;
• at least one pipe portion comprising an embedded part positioned in a pipe wall of at least one pipe body, said at least one pipe body defining at least one conduit therein through which a fluid is flowable, said at least one pipe body having an exterior surface engaged with ground material;
• at least one connecting portion connecting the end portion and said at least one pipe portion, said at least one connecting portion engaging the ground material;
• (b) circulating the heat transfer medium through the ground loop circuit, to permit:
• heat transfer between the heat transfer medium moving through the end portion and the heat exchange fluid;
• heat transfer between the heat transfer medium moving through the embedded part and the fluid in said at least one conduit;
• heat transfer between the heat transfer medium moving through the embedded part and the ground material engaged with said at least one pipe body;
• and
• heat transfer between the heat transfer medium moving through said at least one connecting portion to the end portion and the ground material engaged with said at least one connecting portion.