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US 4,279,294 AGranted
Heat pipe bag system
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorsPeter R. Fitzpatrick, Russell G. Meyerand, Jr., Kenneth E. Shotwell
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AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorsPeter R. Fitzpatrick, Russell G. Meyerand, Jr., Kenneth E. Shotwell
Estimating the term…
Method and apparatus for utilizing the earth as a heat source and heat sink for heating and cooling buildings are disclosed. Flexible material such as hollow plastic or metal foil bags which can be buried in deep, narrow trenches are draped over and clamped to heat transfer fluid conduits or conventional heat pipes vastly increasing the heat transfer surface area serving the conduits or heat pipes. The heat pipe bags contain a heat transfer fluid and can contain wicks which are in heat transfer communication with the heat transfer fluid conduits or other heat pipes. The plastic or metal of the heat pipe bag similarly encloses the wick forming a closed, sealed system which can also include the conduit or heat pipe. Such conduit-heat pipe bag combination can be used in combination with conventional heat pumps to both heat and cool buildings.
A heat pipe bag for below-ground use the interior of which is adapted to be combined in heat transfer communication with the exterior of a first heat transfer fluid conduit and to contain in sealed fashion a second heat transfer fluid comprising a hollow, thin-walled bag having flexibility, puncture resistance, heat transfer fluid inertness, and prolonged below-ground exposure integrity, containing a wick material extending radially outward to the end of the bag from the intended location of the conduit along the anticipated path of principal heat transfer and including a plurality of spacers adjacent the wicks in the heat pipe bag.
A below-ground heat pipe system comprising a heat pipe bag, the interior of which is combined in heat transfer communication with the exterior of a first heat transfer fluid conduit, said bag containing in sealed fashion a second heat transfer fluid, said bag comprising a hollow, thin-walled bag having flexibility, puncture resistance, heat transfer fluid inertness and prolonged below-ground exposure integrity and containing a wick material in heat transfer communication with the exterior of the first heat transfer fluid conduit and extending radially outward to the end of the bag from the intended location of the conduit along the anticipated path of principal heat transfer and including a plurality of spacers adjacent the wicks in the bag.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.