Ground loop bypass for ground source heating or cooling

A method for operating a ground source heat transfer system having a ground loop positioned within a ground source, a building loop positioned within a building, and a heat exchange unit in thermal communication with the building loop, the method comprising:

• circulating fluid between and through the building loop and the ground loop in order to facilitate heat transfer between the ground source and the heat exchange unit when in a normal mode;
• and
• diverting fluid within the building to circulate the fluid through the building loop and at least partially bypassing the ground loop whereby the transfer of heat between the ground source and the heat exchange unit is reduced when in a bypass mode;
• measuring, by a first temperature sensor and a second temperature sensor, a temperature of the fluid at different points;
• comparing temperature data from the first temperature sensor to data from the second temperature sensor;
• switching between the normal mode to the bypass mode when the compared temperature data satisfies predetermined parameters;
• operating in the bypass mode only when a difference between the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor exceeds a predetermined heating setting reference value when in a heating setting;
• and
• operating in the bypass mode only when the difference between the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor remains below a predetermined cooling setting reference value when in a cooling setting.

A ground source heat transfer system, comprising:

• a ground loop positioned within a ground source;
• a building loop;
• a bypass;
• a heat exchange unit in thermal communication with the building loop;
• and
• a fluid pump coupled to the ground loop, the building loop, and the bypass, the fluid pump configured to:
• run 24 hours per day in either of a normal mode of the system or a bypass mode of the system,
• circulate a fluid between and through the ground loop and the building loop to facilitate heat transfer between the ground source and the heat exchange unit when operating in the normal mode,
• circulate a portion of the fluid between and through the bypass and the building loop whereby the transfer of heat between the ground source and the heat exchange unit is reduced while fluid is continuously circulating through at least the building loop when operating in the bypass mode;
• first and second temperature sensors configured to measure the temperature of the fluid at different points
• a controller configured to:
• compare temperature data from the first temperature sensor to temperature data from the second temperature sensor;
• switch the system from the normal mode to the bypass mode only when the compared temperature data satisfies predefined parameters,
• switch the system to the bypass mode only when a difference between the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor exceeds a predetermined heating setting reference value when the controller is in a heating setting, and
• switch the system to the bypass mode only when a difference between the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor remains below a predetermined cooling setting reference value when the controller is in a cooling setting.

A ground source heat transfer system for exchanging heat between a building environment within a building and a ground environment associated with a ground source, comprising:

• a ground loop positioned within the ground source and being in thermal communication with the ground environment;
• a building loop positioned within the building and being in thermal communication with the building environment;
• a bypass, the building environment, the ground environment, and the bypass being thermally separate from an ambient air environment external to the building and the ground source;
• and
• a fluid pump coupled to the ground loop, the building loop, and the bypass, the fluid pump operable in a normal mode of the system to circulate a fluid between and through the ground loop and the building loop to facilitate heat transfer between the ground environment and the building environment, the fluid pump operable in a bypass mode of the system to circulate a portion of the fluid between and through the bypass and the building loop whereby the transfer of heat between the ground environment and the building environment is reduced;
• a controller operable to switch the system between the normal mode and the bypass mode and to control the system in either mode;
• and
• first and second temperature sensors operable to measure the temperature of the fluid at different points, both temperature sensors operable to transmit temperature data to the controller, wherein the controller is operable to compare temperature data from the first temperature sensor to temperature data from the second temperature sensor and to switch the system from the bypass mode only when the compared temperature data satisfies predefined parameters;
• wherein, when the controller is in a heating setting, the system runs in the bypass mode only when a difference between the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor exceeds a predetermined heating setting reference value;
• and
• wherein, when the controller is in the cooling setting, the system runs in the bypass mode only when the difference between the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor remains below a predetermined cooling setting reference value.