Cooperative heat transfer and ground coupled storage system

Claim 1

A cooperative ground coupled heat storage and retrieval system comprising: (a) a tank capable of storing a substantial quantity of fluid, said tank being located in the ground below the freezing level and above the water table and being constructed to permit conduction of heat therefrom into the surrounding ground; and (b) circumferential heat transfer means for the transfer of heat to and from the ground surrounding said tank, said means further comprising a plurality of vertically arranged deep wells each consisting of a casing, fluid inlet means at the top of said casings, and fluid outlet means extending into said casings generally the entire length thereof to withdraw water from the bottom of said casings, and means for the interconnecting of the inlet and outlet means of said casings such that a fluid heat transfer medium may be circulated into the top of each casing and withdrawn from the bottom of said casing and transmitted into the top of an adjacent casing, said wells being constructed to allow the flow of heat between the ground and said heat transfer fluid and each being spaced a predetermined distance from said tank, said distance being selected so that heat deposited in said tank during the warmer, sunnier months and conducted into the ground will reach said wells during the cooler, darker months, whereby the heat may be retrieved for use as it is needed during the heating season.

Claim 4

A system as described in claims 1 or 2, further comprising: (a) a solar energy collector; (b) means for transferring heat from said solar energy collector to a fluid stored in said tank; (c) a structure to be heated; (d) heat exchange means within said structure; and (e) means for circulating a fluid heat transfer medium between said heat exchange means and said circumferential heat transfer means, whereby heat may be transferred from the ground to said structure.