WO2004055449A1

WO2004055449A1 - Vertical or horizontal ground heat exchanger

Info

Publication number: WO2004055449A1
Application number: PCT/NL2002/000831
Authority: WO
Inventors: Arie Pieter Van Den Berg
Original assignee: Verenigde Bedrijven Van Den Berg Heerenveen Beheer B.V.
Priority date: 2002-12-16
Filing date: 2002-12-16
Publication date: 2004-07-01

Abstract

Vertical or horizontal ground heat exchanger (1) with effective configuration -extruded or not- with a fluid flowing in two different directions opposed to each other inside the same tube, which is realized by means of one partition (2) or two, thereby also enabling a contact as intense as possible of the fluid with the heat that is available through heat transmission at the inside wall of the ground heat exchanger (1). An important aspect is formed by the connection of the configuration of the partition (5) in the T-piece (6) by means of a U-shaped construction (7) that is created by a U-shaped division over the whole width of the partition (5) in the T-piece (6).

Description

VERTICAL OR HORIZONTAL GROUND HEAT EXCHANGER

The invention relates to a so-called ground heat exchanger consisting of one tube which is provided with a partition over the whole length, offering the advantage that the same fluid flows in two different directions inside one and the same tube, thereby also resulting in an effective use of the total wall with regard to heat transmission. The desired efficiency can also be acquired with a system that uses two concentric tubes, or two tubes in one, or with twin tubes, with the disadvantage of the difficult double operation. Those tubes are positioned at a certain distance from each other and are lowered in a larger, later to be removed so- called casing tube. This however demands a greater force from the equipment with which the casing tubes, that are to be removed afterwards, are pushed into the soil because of the required positioning space that needs to be larger. Depending on the soil structure, these forces are relatively large. Essentially the company that is involved in these activities will try to achieve the highest possible heat transmission within the available inside diameter of the casing. This has been realized with the heat exchanger under consideration.

A configuration with two partitions that intersect is also conceivable, with the possibility of changing the directions of the different flows of fluid. An important problem, intrinsic to the character of the invention, is formed by the connection to a T- piece, that must realize both of the crescent-shaped compartments to the collecting pipes independently from each other. Although a perfect sealing is not required at that point, the flow must go in the desired direction. This problem has been resolved by the presence in the partition in the T-piece of a division, so that a U-shaped inclusion of the partition is created in the actual heat exchanger, as well as a piece facilitating assembly. The position

of the T-piece with respect to the heat exchanger and the connection to the collecting pipes is thus entirely determined, which increases the speed of assembly. For a better understanding of the above description, it may prove useful to refer to the Dutch patent number 1010725, European submission number 992040634.

After placement of the heat exchanger, the T-piece is connected to it. This can be done, if polyethylene tubes are used, preferably by way of thermal fusing. In the same way the dish-depth bottom sealing can be realized. At the bottom of the heat exchanger under consideration, a construction is connected that enables the connection with the so-called "lost tip", but for that construction no novelty is claimed in this patent application. The same type of tube can be applied for horizontal ground heat exchangers.

The application for that purpose is valid for the so-called method of direct evaporation, where because of the heat stored in the soil the cooling fluid evaporates inside the tube instead of in the heat pump, as well as for absorption of heat in a fluid that is fed to a heat pump by which method the cooling fluid evaporates inside the heat pump. The invention shall be explained by way of example, with reference to accompanying drawings wherein: Fig. 1 represents a longitudinal view of the system. Fig. 2 represents a cross-section from the top of the heat exchanger and

Fig. 3 represents the U-formed construction at the partition in the T-piece. The ground heat exchanger 1 is provided with a partition 2 that divides the tube in two equal sections. The transmitting medium flows in two different directions while at the same time it is constantly in contact with the inside wall 3 of the

ground heat exchanger 1. The flow direction bears no consequence to this process. The sealing dish-depth bottom 4 connects both sections and gives change to the flow direction. Division 7 is positioned at the bottom side of partition 5 in the T-piece 6 and encloses partition 2 that becomes U-shaped as it were, thus creating a sealing. The connection of the ground heat exchanger 1 to the dish-depth bottom 4 and the T-piece 6 can be made by method of thermal fusing or by means of shrinking, where bottom 4 is executed as a socket. Bottom 4 is provided with a construction 8, which has not been detailed, for the connection of the "lost tip" which is not represented, that is pushed into the soil together with the casing tube. An extra partition 9 that intersects with the other partition, can divide the flows of the fluid differently.

Claims

C L A I M S

1. Vertical or horizontal ground heat exchanger with effective configuration, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n t h a t a partition is applied over its whole length, dividing the tube in two equal sections, so that the fluid flows in two different directions inside the same tube, thereby also guaranteeing a good heat transmission. Essential is the connection to the partition in the T-piece that is realized by a U- shaped construction with which the separation of the flows of the fluid in the T-piece and its positioning is determined.

2. Vertical or horizontal ground heat exchanger according to conclusion 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n t h a t the partition can be ribbed or in dish-depth, thus resulting in a more flexible construction.

3. Vertical or horizontal ground heat exchanger according to conclusion 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n t h a t two partitions are applied that intersect in the middle.