Method and means for reclaiming heat from a sewage disposal system

Abstract

The means of this invention is in combination with an underground sewage reservoir having a water-holding strata extending therearound adapted to receive water from the reservoir. A perforated conduit extends around the reservoir and through the strata and is adapted to receive water from the strata. A circulating fluid line extends through the conduit so that the circulating fluid will tend to assume the temperature of the water in the conduit. The circulating fluid line is operatively connected to a heat pump means. The method comprises the steps of: (1) providing an underground sewage reservoir in a water-holding strata capable of receiving water from the reservoir; (2) connecting the reservoir to a source of relatively warm fluid sewage; (3) extending a conduit through the water-holding strata and around the reservoir to permit water in the strata to enter the conduit; and (4) extending a circulating fluid carrying line from a heating or cooling system through the conduit so that the circulating fluid will tend to assume the temperature of the water in the conduit.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.