US4138995A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Solar energy storage and utilization
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-08-25
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Granted: 1979-02-13
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Expires: 1996-08-25
Abstract
Abstract A system for storing and utilizing solar energy which includes the use of solar energy collectors attached to heat pipes for changing solar flux into heat energy and transmitting the heat energy into the earth below the surface of the ground. An expanding array of pipes, formed of heat conductive material, distributes the heat throughout a large, unconstrained volume of underground earth. The system provides for long-duration earth storage of the heat energy which can later be used for both space and hot water heating in homes, multiple-unit housing, commercial buildings, public buildings, etc. A uni-directional heat pipe, characterized by having irreversible vapor flow, includes a pump arrangement for transferring working fluid from the condenser section to the evaporator section of the heat pipe.
Inventors
- 👤 Shao W. Yuan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 07:09
CPC Classifications
F; F28; F28D; F28D15/00; F28D15/02; F28D15/0233; F24; F24S; F24S10/00; F24S10/90; F24S10/95; F24S60/00; F24S60/30; F28D20/00; F28D20/0052; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B10/00; Y02B10/20; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/40; Y02E10/44; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/14; Y02E70/00; Y02E70/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
186 words
A system for storing and utilizing solar energy comprising: collector means for collecting solar energy and changing said solar energy to heat; transmitting means for transmitting said heat from said collector means to a location below the surface of the ground; distributing means comprising a closed loop piping system extending out from said location into the surrounding soil, and means for causing a heat transfer fluid to flow within said piping system, said distributing means positioned adjacent said transmitting means at said location and in efficient heat transfer relationship with said transmitting means, said distributing means extending through a volume of said ground for raising the temperature of said volume of ground thereby establishing a stored heat reservoir, said heat reservoir having a heat storage volume substantially greater than that formed by the transmitting means alone; and control means including valve means in said distributing means, and heat exchange means in fluid flow connection with said valve means for controlling flow of said heat transfer fluid in said distributing means and thus permitting said distributing means to function as means for extracting heat from the ground.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
186 words
A system for storing and utilizing solar energy comprising: collector means for collecting solar energy and changing said solar energy to heat; transmitting means for transmitting said heat from said collector means to a location below the surface of the ground; distributing means comprising a closed loop piping system extending out from said location into the surrounding soil, and means for causing a heat transfer fluid to flow within said piping system, said distributing means positioned adjacent said transmitting means at said location and in efficient heat transfer relationship with said transmitting means, said distributing means extending through a volume of said ground for raising the temperature of said volume of ground thereby establishing a stored heat reservoir, said heat reservoir having a heat storage volume substantially greater than that formed by the transmitting means alone; and control means including valve means in said distributing means, and heat exchange means in fluid flow connection with said valve means for controlling flow of said heat transfer fluid in said distributing means and thus permitting said distributing means to function as means for extracting heat from the ground.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said transmitting means for transmitting said heat from said collector means comprises a heat pipe.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system as defined in claim 2 wherein said heat pipe includes an evaporator section at said collector means and a condenser section at said location below the surface of the ground.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system as defined in claim 1 including heat insulating means located adjacent the surface of the ground for minimizing the heat losses from said volume of ground into the atmosphere.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system as defined in claim 1 including heat extraction means for extracting heat from said heat reservoir and delivering said heat to a desired location.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system as defined in claim 1 wherein the lateral area which defines said volume is at least one acre.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said volume is at least 30 feet deep.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said piping system includes a spirally wound array of heat-conductive piping.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system as defined in claim 8 wherein said array of heat conductive piping comprises a spirally wound array of heat conductive piping having the axis of the spiral generally extending in the direction of the local gravity gradient.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system as defined in claim 9 wherein the axis of the spiral extends in a generally vertical direction.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system as defined in claim 10 including liquid distribution means for introducing a liquid to said material to provide for a high level of thermal conductivity.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said heat transfer fluid consists essentially of water.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system as defined in claim 1 in which said transmitting means at said location is surrounded by a zone of material having a thermal conductivity that is higher than the thermal conductivity of natural soil.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
220 words
A system for storing and utilizing solar energy comprising: collector means for collecting solar energy and changing said solar energy to heat; transmitting means including a closed loop piping system for transmitting said heat from said collector means to a location below the surface of the ground; distributing means comprising a closed loop piping system extending out from said location into the surrounding soil, and means for causing a heat transfer fluid to flow within said piping system, said distributing means positioned adjacent said transmitting means at said location and in efficient heat transfer relationship with said transmitting means, said distributing means extending through a volume of said ground for raising the temperature of said volume of ground thereby establishing a stored heat reservoir, said heat reservoir having a heat storage volume substantially greater than that formed by the transmitting means alone; means for increasing the rate of heat transfer from said transmitting means to said distributing means above the rate of heat transfer of normal soil at said location; and control means including valve means in said distributing means, and heat exchange means in fluid flow connection with said valve means for controlling flow of said heat transfer fluid in said distributing means and thus permitting said distributing means to function as means for extracting heat from the ground.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
220 words
A system for storing and utilizing solar energy comprising: collector means for collecting solar energy and changing said solar energy to heat; transmitting means including a closed loop piping system for transmitting said heat from said collector means to a location below the surface of the ground; distributing means comprising a closed loop piping system extending out from said location into the surrounding soil, and means for causing a heat transfer fluid to flow within said piping system, said distributing means positioned adjacent said transmitting means at said location and in efficient heat transfer relationship with said transmitting means, said distributing means extending through a volume of said ground for raising the temperature of said volume of ground thereby establishing a stored heat reservoir, said heat reservoir having a heat storage volume substantially greater than that formed by the transmitting means alone; means for increasing the rate of heat transfer from said transmitting means to said distributing means above the rate of heat transfer of normal soil at said location; and control means including valve means in said distributing means, and heat exchange means in fluid flow connection with said valve means for controlling flow of said heat transfer fluid in said distributing means and thus permitting said distributing means to function as means for extracting heat from the ground.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system as defined in claim 14 in which said means for increasing the rate of heat transfer includes a volume of granular sand surrounding said location and a water supply means including a control valve for increasing the moisture content of said volume of granular sand.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-02-12 | 1982-08-14 | 1983-02-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-02-12 | 1986-08-14 | 1987-02-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-02-12 | 1990-08-14 | 1991-02-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |