System for efficiently exchanging heat with ground water in an aquifer

Claim 1

A method of using ground water in an aquifer as a heat source and heat sink comprising the steps of: sinking a well bore into an aquifer through an upper portion and into a lower portion in said aquifer, and in which aquifer the ground water is normally at a substantially uniform temperature; producing a flow of the ground water between said upper and lower portions of said aquifer through a defined path beginning and ending in said well bore; exchanging heat with said flowing ground water at a defined region along said flow path; and producing a flow of ground water through said flow path such that water from which heat is to be extracted and water which has absorbed heat in the defined region is respectively withdrawn from and returned to said upper aquifer portion, and water which is to absorb heat and water from which heat has been extracted in said defined region is respectively withdrawn from and returned to said lower aquifer portion.

Claim 2

A method of using ground water in an aquifer as a heat source and heat sink comprising the steps of: sinking a well bore into an aquifer through an upper portion and into a lower portion in said aquifer, and in which aquifer the ground water is normally at a substantially uniform temperature; producing a flow of the ground water between said upper and lower portions of said aquifer through a defined path beginning and ending in said well bore; exchanging heat with said flowing ground water at a defined region along said flow path; and producing a flow of ground water through said flow path such that water from which heat is to be extracted and water which has absorbed heat in the defined region is respectively withdrawn from and returned to said upper aquifer portion, and water which is to absorb heat and water from which heat has been extracted in said defined region is respectively withdrawn from and returned to said lower aquifer portion.

Claim 9

A system capable of operation through a single well bore for using ground water in an aquifer as a heat source and a heat sink comprising: inlet means disposed in the upper portion of said aquifer for admitting the ground water thereinto from said upper portion; outlet means disposed in the upper portion of said aquifer for exhausting ground water therefrom into said upper portion; inlet means disposed in the lower portion of said aquifer for admitting the ground water thereinto from said lower portion; and outlet means disposed in the lower portion of said aquifer for exhausting ground water therefrom into said lower portion; heat exchanger means for exchanging heat with the ground water conducted through said water-conducting means; and means for producing ground water flow from and to said aquifer through said water-conducting means to selectively create a temperature difference in the normally uniform temperature ground water in said aquifer inhibiting convective mixing by causing warmer water to accumulate in the upper portion and cooler water to accumulate in the lower portion, said flow-producing means comprising: means for drawing ground water from which heat is to be extracted in said heat exchanger means, through said upper aquifer inlet means into said water-conducting means; means for returning ground water which has absorbed heat in said heat exchanger means through said upper aquifer outlet means into said upper aquifer portion; means for drawing ground water which is to absorb heat in said heat exchanger means, through said lower aquifer inlet means into said water-conducting means; and means for returning ground water from which heat has been absorbed in said heat exchanger means, through said lower aquifer outlet means into said lower aquifer portion.

Claim 10

A system capable of operation through a single well bore for using ground water in an aquifer as a heat source and a heat sink comprising: inlet means disposed in the upper portion of said aquifer for admitting the ground water thereinto from said upper portion; outlet means disposed in the upper portion of said aquifer for exhausting ground water therefrom into said upper portion; inlet means disposed in the lower portion of said aquifer for admitting the ground water thereinto from said lower portion; and outlet means disposed in the lower portion of said aquifer for exhausting ground water therefrom into said lower portion; heat exchanger means for exchanging heat with the ground water conducted through said water-conducting means; and means for producing ground water flow from and to said aquifer through said water-conducting means to selectively create a temperature difference in the normally uniform temperature ground water in said aquifer inhibiting convective mixing by causing warmer water to accumulate in the upper portion and cooler water to accumulate in the lower portion, said flow-producing means comprising: means for drawing ground water from which heat is to be extracted in said heat exchanger means, through said upper aquifer inlet means into said water-conducting means; means for returning ground water which has absorbed heat in said heat exchanger means through said upper aquifer outlet means into said upper aquifer portion; means for drawing ground water which is to absorb heat in said heat exchanger means, through said lower aquifer inlet means into said water-conducting means; and means for returning ground water from which heat has been absorbed in said heat exchanger means, through said lower aquifer outlet means into said lower aquifer portion.

Claim 11

A system for using ground water in an aquifer as a heat source and a heat sink comprising: a well bore extending into an aquifer through an upper portion and into a lower portion in said aquifer; barrier means disposed in said well bore between said upper and lower portions of said aquifer for blocking the mixing in said well bore of water at the respective levels of said upper and lower portions of said aquifer; means for defining a passage in said barrier means to permit the flow of water between said upper and lower portions of said aquifer within said well bore; heat-exchanger means disposed in said passage for exchanging heat with the aquifer water passing through said passage; and means for producing water flow through said passage such that water from which heat is to be extracted and water which has absorbed heat through contact with said heat-exchanger means is respectively caused to flow from and to said upper aquifer portion and water which is to absorb heat and water from which heat has been extracted by contact with said heat-exchanger means is respectively caused to flow from and to said lower aquifer portion.

Claim 12

A system for using ground water in an aquifer as a heat source and a heat sink comprising: a well bore extending into an aquifer through an upper portion and into a lower portion in said aquifer; barrier means disposed in said well bore between said upper and lower portions of said aquifer for blocking the mixing in said well bore of water at the respective levels of said upper and lower portions of said aquifer; means for defining a passage in said barrier means to permit the flow of water between said upper and lower portions of said aquifer within said well bore; heat-exchanger means disposed in said passage for exchanging heat with the aquifer water passing through said passage; and means for producing water flow through said passage such that water from which heat is to be extracted and water which has absorbed heat through contact with said heat-exchanger means is respectively caused to flow from and to said upper aquifer portion and water which is to absorb heat and water from which heat has been extracted by contact with said heat-exchanger means is respectively caused to flow from and to said lower aquifer portion.

Claim 16

A system for using ground water in an aquifer as a heat source and a heat sink comprising: a well bore extending into an aquifer through an upper portion and into a lower portion in said aquifer; water-conducting means for conducting ground water from and returning it to said well bore comprising: conduit means extending into said well bore to the level of said lower aquifer portion for withdrawing ground water from and returning it to both said lower aquifer portion and said upper aquifer portion; heat-exchanger means for exchanging heat with the aquifer water passing through said water-conducting means; and means for producing water flow from said aquifer through said water-conducting means such that water from which heat is to be extracted and water which has absorbed heat is respectively withdrawn from and returned to said upper aquifer portion; and water which is to absorb heat and water from which heat has been extracted is respectively withdrawn from and returned to said lower aquifer portion; and wherein said conduit means comprises: supply line means for withdrawing water through said well bore from said aquifer and conducting said withdrawn water to said heat-exchanger means, and return line means for returning water, which has been conducted from said aquifer to said heat-exchanger means, from said heat-exchanger means to said aquifer within said well bore, and wherein said supply line means comprises: means for defining a chamber disposed in said well bore between the levels of said upper and lower portions of said aquifer; valve means for selectively admitting water from either said upper portion of said aquifer into said chamber or from said lower portion of said aquifer into said chamber; and means for conducting said admitted water to said heat exchanger means.

Claim 17

A system for using ground water in an aquifer as a heat source and a heat sink comprising: a well bore extending into an aquifer through an upper portion and into a lower portion in said aquifer; water-conducting means for conducting ground water from and returning it to said well bore comprising: conduit means extending into said well bore to the level of said lower aquifer portion for withdrawing ground water from and returning it to both said lower aquifer portion and said upper aquifer portion; heat-exchanger means for exchanging heat with the aquifer water passing through said water-conducting means; and means for producing water flow from said aquifer through said water-conducting means such that water from which heat is to be extracted and water which has absorbed heat is respectively withdrawn from and returned to said upper aquifer portion; and water which is to absorb heat and water from which heat has been extracted is respectively withdrawn from and returned to said lower aquifer portion; and wherein said conduit means comprises: supply line means for withdrawing water through said well bore from said aquifer and conducting said withdrawn water to said heat-exchanger means, and return line means for returning water, which has been conducted from said aquifer to said heat-exchanger means, from said heat-exchanger means to said aquifer within said well bore, and wherein said supply line means comprises: means for defining a chamber disposed in said well bore between the levels of said upper and lower portions of said aquifer; valve means for selectively admitting water from either said upper portion of said aquifer into said chamber or from said lower portion of said aquifer into said chamber; and means for conducting said admitted water to said heat exchanger means.

Claim 21

A system for using ground water in an aquifer as a heat source and a heat sink comprising: a well bore extending into an aquifer through an upper portion and into a lower portion in said aquifer; water-conducting means for conducting ground water from and returning it to said well bore comprising: conduit means extending into said well bore to the level of said lower aquifer portion for withdrawing ground water from and returning it to both said lower aquifer portion and said upper aquifer portion; heat-exchanger means for exchanging heat with the aquifer water passing through said water-conducting means; and means for producing water flow from said aquifer through said water-conducting means such that water from which heat is to be extracted and water which has absorbed heat is respectively withdrawn from and returned to said upper aquifer portion; and water which is to absorb heat and water from which heat has been extracted is respectively withdrawn from and returned to said lower aquifer portion; and wherein said conduit means comprises: supply line means for withdrawing water through said well bore from said aquifer and conducting said withdrawn water to said heat-exchanger means, and return line means for returning water, which has been conducted from said aquifer to said heat-exchanger means, from said heat-exchanger means to said aquifer within said well bore; and said supply line means comprises a pipe having a threaded lower end; and chamber defining means disposed in said well bore between the levels of said upper and lower portions of said aquifer with an upper wall having a threaded opening therein for accomodating a portion of the threaded lower end of said pipe; and wherein said water flow producing means comprises submersible pump means for pumping aquifer water through said supply line means; and further comprising means for attaching said submersible pump means to said threaded lower end of said pipe.

Claim 22

A system for using ground water in an aquifer as a heat source and a heat sink comprising: a well bore extending into an aquifer through an upper portion and into a lower portion in said aquifer; water-conducting means for conducting ground water from and returning it to said well bore comprising: conduit means extending into said well bore to the level of said lower aquifer portion for withdrawing ground water from and returning it to both said lower aquifer portion and said upper aquifer portion; heat-exchanger means for exchanging heat with the aquifer water passing through said water-conducting means; and means for producing water flow from said aquifer through said water-conducting means such that water from which heat is to be extracted and water which has absorbed heat is respectively withdrawn from and returned to said upper aquifer portion; and water which is to absorb heat and water from which heat has been extracted is respectively withdrawn from and returned to said lower aquifer portion; and wherein said conduit means comprises: supply line means for withdrawing water through said well bore from said aquifer and conducting said withdrawn water to said heat-exchanger means, and return line means for returning water, which has been conducted from said aquifer to said heat-exchanger means, from said heat-exchanger means to said aquifer within said well bore; and said supply line means comprises a pipe having a threaded lower end; and chamber defining means disposed in said well bore between the levels of said upper and lower portions of said aquifer with an upper wall having a threaded opening therein for accomodating a portion of the threaded lower end of said pipe; and wherein said water flow producing means comprises submersible pump means for pumping aquifer water through said supply line means; and further comprising means for attaching said submersible pump means to said threaded lower end of said pipe.

Claim 23

A system for using ground water in an aquifer as a heat source and a heat sink comprising: a well bore extending into an aquifer through an upper portion and into a lower portion in said aquifer; water-conducting means for conducting ground water from and returning it to said well bore comprising: conduit means extending into said well bore to the level of said lower aquifer portion for withdrawing ground water from and returning it to both said lower aquifer portion and said upper aquifer portion; heat-exchanger means for exchanging heat with the aquifer water passing through said water-conducting means; and means for producing water flow from said aquifer through said water-conducting means such that water from which heat is to be extracted and water which has absorbed heat is respectively withdrawn from and returned to said upper aquifer portion; and water which is to absorb heat and water from which heat has been extracted is respectively withdrawn from and returned to said lower aquifer portion; and wherein said conduit means comprises a first pipe extending into said well bore to the level of said upper aquifer portion and a second pipe extending into said well bore to the level of said lower aquifer portion; and said water flow producing means comprises: a first pump-turbine means connected to said first pipe for withdrawing water through said well bore from said upper aquifer portion and supplying it to said heat exchanger means and for withdrawing energy from water returned to said upper aquifer portion from said heat exchanger means; and a second pump-turbine means connected to said second pipe for withdrawing water through said well bore from said lower aquifer portion and supplying it to said heat exchanger means and for withdrawing energy from water returned to said lower aquifer portion from said heat exchanger means.

Claim 24

A system for using ground water in an aquifer as a heat source and a heat sink comprising: a well bore extending into an aquifer through an upper portion and into a lower portion in said aquifer; water-conducting means for conducting ground water from and returning it to said well bore comprising: conduit means extending into said well bore to the level of said lower aquifer portion for withdrawing ground water from and returning it to both said lower aquifer portion and said upper aquifer portion; heat-exchanger means for exchanging heat with the aquifer water passing through said water-conducting means; and means for producing water flow from said aquifer through said water-conducting means such that water from which heat is to be extracted and water which has absorbed heat is respectively withdrawn from and returned to said upper aquifer portion; and water which is to absorb heat and water from which heat has been extracted is respectively withdrawn from and returned to said lower aquifer portion; and wherein said conduit means comprises a first pipe extending into said well bore to the level of said upper aquifer portion and a second pipe extending into said well bore to the level of said lower aquifer portion; and said water flow producing means comprises: a first pump-turbine means connected to said first pipe for withdrawing water through said well bore from said upper aquifer portion and supplying it to said heat exchanger means and for withdrawing energy from water returned to said upper aquifer portion from said heat exchanger means; and a second pump-turbine means connected to said second pipe for withdrawing water through said well bore from said lower aquifer portion and supplying it to said heat exchanger means and for withdrawing energy from water returned to said lower aquifer portion from said heat exchanger means.

Claim 25

A system as in claims 13, 17 or 18 wherein said heat-exchanger means comprises a heat pump.

Claim 26

A system as in claims 13, 17 or 18 wherein said heat-exchanger means comprises piping means for circulating said aquifer water about the periphery of an enclosure with which heat is to be exchanged.

Claim 27

A system as in claims 13, 17 or 18 wherein said heat exchanger means comprises a solar collector.