US 9,512,828 B2 · Bi-field solar geothermal system

Abstract

A bi-field solar geothermal system and method. A ground source geothermal heat pump system comprises two discrete hot and cold loops operated in conjunction with solar panels. Heat acquired from the solar panels is stored in a hot geothermal loop for use during colder weather. The alternative use of cooled fluid, passed through the solar panels, enables removal of heat from a cooled geothermal loop for use during hot summer months. The system comprises a valve system in working communication with the hot geothermal loop and the cold geothermal loop and a control system for controlling the operation of valves and determining when to switch from the hot geothermal loop to the cold geothermal loop. The system further may comprise a hydronics system, an energy recovery ventilation system, sensors for measuring temperature, dew point, flow rates, humidity, occupancy, light levels and other system data and for automatically balancing system operations for maximum efficiency and radiant panels for providing radiant heat to the building or absorbing radiant heat from sources in a structure.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A bi-field geothermal heating and cooling system, comprising:

a subterranean heat storage field;
a subterranean cold storage field;
a heating circuit in communication with the subterranean heat storage field for circulating a heating fluid, transferring heat to the heating fluid and storing heat in the subterranean heat storage field;
a cooling circuit in communication with the subterranean cold storage field for circulating a cooling fluid, removing heat from the cooling fluid and storing cold in the subterranean cold storage field;
a plurality of solar panels through which fluid in the heating circuit and fluid in the cooling circuit travel;
and
a control system and a plurality of sensors for measuring temperatures of the fluid entering and exiting the plurality of solar panels;
wherein, when the temperature of the fluid entering the plurality of solar panels measures a predetermined temperature in comparison to the temperature of the fluid exiting the plurality of solar panels, the control system automatically switches operation to the cooling circuit if the temperature of the fluid entering the plurality of solar panels is warmer than the temperature of the fluid exiting the plurality of solar panels and automatically switches operation to the heating circuit if the temperature of the fluid entering the plurality of solar panels is cooler than the temperature of the fluid exiting the plurality of solar panels.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Bi-field solar geothermal system

Life of this patent

Bi-field solar geothermal system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17