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US 5,509,462 AGranted
Ground source cooling system
AssigneeGround Air, Inc.
InventorsMichael Demko, David Blumentritt, Robin Zapalac
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to one or more ground tubes connected and channelized to provide a counter-flow heat exchanger with an annular space to permit water injection into the subsurface water table.
Claims17
A system for providing ground source cooling for refrigerant coolants, comprising:
- means for effecting heat exchange of a coolant from a refrigeration unit, said means including at least one tube disposed in an outside environment below ground level and surrounded by soil at a predetermined level so that soil at subsurface temperatures is in contact with at least a portion of said at least one tube, wherein said at least one tube is formed as a triple concentric pipe comprising an innermost pipe for acting as a water injection channel, a second pipe for acting as said refrigerant supply outlet pipe, said second pipe immediately surrounding said innermost pipe, and a third and outermost pipe for acting as said refrigerant supply inlet pipe, said third pipe immediately surrounding said second pipe.
A method of installing a ground source cooling for refrigerant coolants, the steps comprising:
- digging a trench for planting at least one tube into a ground, said at least tube including a refrigerant supply inlet and a refrigerant supply outlet for supplying and returning coolant from and to a refrigeration unit;
- connecting a water hose, one end of which is connected to a water pumping service such as a power washer, and another end of said hose being connected to a water injection channel of said at least one tube so that the water rushing into said channel can sink said at least a tube into the ground;
- releasably securing a gripper mechanism having handles on both sides around a top portion of said at least one tube to rotate said gripper mechanism to drive said at least one tube into the ground approximately 20 ft. below surface;
- removing said gripper and welding said inlet and said outlet of said at least one tube;
- and
- filling said trench to cover said at least one tube.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.