Geothermal heating and cooling system
AssigneeAmerican Water Works Company, Inc.
InventorsWilliam M. Varley, Douglas I. Brand, Anthony J. Yanka, John P. DiEnna, JR., Don Penn
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A geothermal heating and cooling system that uses a water source to provide a heat transfer medium is provided. Elements of the system may include a water source, one or more circulation loops coupled to the water source, a heat exchanger and/or heat pump, and/or a monitoring component configured to monitor for conditions within the system, including leak integrity and water quality.
Claims26
A system for geothermal heating and cooling, the system comprising:
- a water source;
- a circulation loop coupled to the water source and passing proximate to a space to be heated or cooled, the circulation loop configured to circulate water from the water source;
- a heat pump coupled to the circulation loop and configured to provide heat transfer between the water and the space to be heated or cooled;
- and
- a monitoring component configured to monitor for at least one of:
- quality of the water, and
- leak integrity of the circulation loop.
A system for geothermal heating and cooling, the system comprising:
- a water source;
- a heat exchanger;
- a first circulation loop configured to circulate water from the water source through the heat exchanger and back to the water source;
- a second circulation loop configured to circulate a heat exchange fluid through the heat exchanger and proximate to a space to be heated or cooled;
- and
- a monitoring component configured to monitor for at least one of:
- quality of the water, and
- leak integrity of at least one of the first circulation loop and the second circulation loop.
A heat exchanger for a geothermal heating and cooling system, the heat exchanger comprising:
- a first circulation loop;
- a second circulation loop;
- at least one air chamber between the first circulation loop and the second circulation loop;
- and
- a monitoring component positioned in the at least one air chamber, the monitoring component configured to detect at least one of:
- a presence of fluid in the at least one air chamber, and
- a change of pressure in the at least one air chamber.
A method for geothermal heating and cooling, the method comprising:
- providing a water source;
- providing a heat exchanger;
- coupling a first circulation loop to the heat exchanger and to the water source;
- coupling a second circulation loop to the heat exchanger and extending the second circulation loop proximate to a space to be heated or cooled;
- coupling a heat pump to the second circulation loop for exchanging heat between a heat exchange fluid in the second circulation loop and the space to be heated or cooled;
- and
- providing a monitoring component configured to monitor for at least one of:
- quality of the water, and
- integrity of at least one of the first circulation loop and the second circulation loop.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.