Patent Application
20240102668
The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to geothermal energy storage and, more particularly, but not exclusively, to a system and method to improve green energy system performance.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,709,337 appears to disclose that, “An arrangement for storing thermal energy, having at least one subterranean chamber for holding a first fluid is provided. A passage holding a second fluid is extended outside at least a part of the chamber. At least one channel is arranged to allow fluid communication of the first fluid between different sections of the chamber, and/or allow fluid communication of the second fluid between different sections of the passage.”
U.S. Pat. No. 7,082,779 appears to disclose, “A geothermal accumulator and an air-conditioning system using the geothermal accumulator, said geothermal accumulator includes a well pipe and a heat-accumulating pipe inserted within the well pipe coaxially, the lower portion and the upper portion of the well pipe are provided with inlet holes and outlet holes for underground water respectively, said heat-accumulating pipe is provided with a water-collecting chamber, a diffluent chamber, a heat-exchanging chamber and a water-accumulating chamber from the bottom up in sequence, the heat-exchanging chamber is provided with a plurality of axially disposed heat-exchanging pipes communicating with the diffluent chamber and water-accumulating chamber respectively, and a plurality of baffles attached to the outside of the heat-exchanging pipes, gap exists between the baffles and the heat-exchanging pipes, the upper portion of the heat-exchanging chamber is connected with a returning pipe, and the lower portion is connected with a discharging pipe, water inlet holes and drain holes are provided respectively in the side wall of the water-collecting chamber and the water-accumulating chamber. Said geothermal accumulator can be used in air conditioner system.”
U.S. patent Ser. No. 10/387,581 appears to disclose that, “A method of designing an optimized heating and cooling system includes: (1) automatically importing data from an energy model into an optimization model; (2) simulating energy use of a virtual heating and cooling system operating a thermal source or sink with the optimization model based upon the data from the energy model to obtain an optimized system design; (3) developing controls for an actual heating and cooling system based upon the optimized system design; and (4) automatically exporting the controls directly to a controller for the actual heating and cooling system.”
Korean patent no. KR102044681 appears to disclose, “a heat storage type heat pump system including an underground heat exchanger and a control method thereof. One aspect of a heat storage type heat pump system including an underground heat exchanger, according to an embodiment of the present invention, comprises: a heat storage tank in which a heat exchange fluid is stored; at least one underground heat exchanger performing heat exchange between the heat exchange fluid received from the heat storage tank and the ground; a heat pump receiving the heat exchange fluid from the heat storage tank; an air conditioning load performing heat exchange with the heat exchange fluid supplied to the heat pump; and a hot water load storing hot water heated by heat exchange with heat exchange fluid stored in the heat storage tank. The heat storage tank includes first and second heat storage tanks. According to the temperature of the heat exchange fluid stored in the first heat storage tank, the heat exchange fluid stored in the first heat storage tank is supplied to the heat pump, or the heat exchange fluid stored in the first heat storage tank is transferred to the second heat storage tank to be mixed with the stored heat exchange fluid and supplied to the heat pump, or the heat exchange fluid stored in the first heat storage tank is circulated through the underground heat exchanger and transferred to the second heat storage tank to be supplied to the heat pump.”
U.S. Pat. No. 4,008,709 appears to disclose, “A thermal energy storage system including a thermal energy storage tank and a pair of thermal energy exchange tanks disposed in a different horizontal plane than the thermal energy storage tank. Each of the tanks contain a heat exchange medium and are in fluid communication with each other for circulation of the heat exchange medium between the exchange tanks and the storage tanks by convection. The exchange tanks contain a heat exchange coil which is in fluid communication with a first heat exchanger for heating or cooling the medium in the exchange tank. The storage tank is in fluid communication with a second heat exchanger for the transfer of the heat exchange medium therebetween to heat or cool a structure. The system is disposed beneath the ground adjacent the structure being heated or cooled and an envelope of non-coherent material is disposed about the system to provide a corrosion resistant barrier between the tanks, and the adjacent earth and to act as a conduit for the transfer of thermal energy between the system and the surrounding earth.”
Chinese patent no, CN102483311 appears to disclose, “a thermal energy storage system comprising at least one thermal reservoir and at least one thermal energy transfer means that, at least at times, are able to transfer thermal energy from at least one first section of the thermal reservoir to at least one second section of the thermal reservoir. The invention also relates to a method changing the energy distribution of a thermal reservoir wherein thermal energy is transferred from at least one first section of the thermal reservoir to at least one second section of the thermal reservoir.”
Other art includes: Jeffrey D. Spitler and Laura E. Southard, Xiaobing Liu; Performance of the HVAC Systems at the ASHRAE Headquarters Building; GEO—The Geothermal Exchange Organization 312 South 4th Street Springfield, IL 62701
According to an aspect of some embodiments of the invention, there is provided a system for geothermal heat storage including: A tank for storing a fluid underground; An inlet pipe to the tank configured to facilitate heat transfer between fluid passing through the inlet and a ground.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the inlet includes a high surface area inlet pipe positioned along an outer shell of the tank.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the inlet includes a high surface area pipe underground at the near vicinity of the tank.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the system further includes: insulation between the high surface area pipe and the tank.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the system further includes: insulation between the tank and the ground.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the high surface area pipe winds along the outer shell of the tank.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the high surface area pipe winds around the outer shell of the tank.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the high surface area pipe winds spirally around the outer shell of the at least one tank.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the system further includes a high heat conductivity filling between the high surface area pipe and a ground.
According to some embodiments of the invention, an area of contact of the pipe with a ground is between 1/10 to 10 times an area of contact of the tank with the ground.
According to some embodiments of the invention, a ratio of volume of fluid to surface area in contact with a ground of the tanks is at least 10 times as large as ratio of volume of fluid to surface area in contact with the ground of the high surface area pipe.
According to an aspect of some embodiments of the invention, there is provided a method of building a geothermal reservoir system including: dig a trench; position at least one fluid storage tank inside the trench; connect a heat exchanger to the at least one tank, the heat exchanger supplying heat communication between a fluid inlet of the fluid storage tank and a ground.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the heat exchanger includes a pipe, the method further including connecting an outlet of the pipe to an inlet of the fluid storage tank.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the method further includes connecting an inlet of the pipe to an outlet of a heat sink of a heat pump.
According to an aspect of some embodiments of the invention, there is provided a heat management system including: an underground heat storage reservoir; a source of fluid having temperatures which differs from a ground temperature around the reservoir; a fluid and heat transport network interconnecting the heat storage reservoir and the source of fluid; a controller controlling the transport network.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the system further includes: an aboveground fluid and heat reservoir.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the system further includes: at least one of an end-user and an application using the water accumulated in the reservoir.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the system further includes: at least one of an end-user and an application using heat accumulated in the reservoir.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the system further includes: a controller configured to selectively direct heat flows along the heat transport network.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the source of fluid includes at least one of a green energy generator, a heat exchanger, a heat pump, a cold external fluid source, a hot external fluid source, a solar water heater and a photovoltaic panel.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the source of fluid includes multiple sources at different temperatures.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the controller controls heat flows between the multiple sources of fluid and between each multiple sources of fluid and the reservoir.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the controller is configured to manage flow of the heat in the system to maintain the reservoir at a preset target temperature.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the target temperature is as close as possible to a preset target value for a specific application which uses water from the reservoir.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the specific application includes irrigation of a crop.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the heat storage reservoirs includes a fluid tank.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the fluid tank includes a cover dividing the tank into a first space and a second space.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the first space is used for storing a fluid at a first temperature and the second space is used for storing another fluid at a different temperature.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the first space is used for storing a fluid at a first temperature and the second space is used for storing an item that benefits from storage in a controlled environment.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the heat transport network includes a network of interconnecting pipes and valves and/or wherein the controller controls opening and closing of the valves to direct fluid flow in the network, utilizing logic embedded in the controller.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the system includes a high surface area tube directed along a shell of the tank.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the high surface area tube is connected to an inlet of the tank.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the fluid source includes at least one of a fluid heater and a fluid cooler and wherein the controller is configured to selectively direct fluid between the fluid source the reservoir and the heat pump.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the fluid source includes a photovoltaic panel having a heat exchanger and wherein the controller is configured to selectively direct heated or cooled fluid between the heat exchanger of the photovoltaic panel and the reservoir and to direct heated fluid between the heat exchanger of the photovoltaic panel and a heat pump.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the system further includes: a fluid source at a temperature preferred over a geothermal equilibrium and wherein fluid from the fluid source is used to move fluid in the reservoir away from geothermal equilibrium.
According to some embodiments of the invention, fluid from the fluid source is mixed with fluid in the reservoir.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the system further includes at least one of a separate tank and a separate closed pipe system for fluid from the fluid source and wherein fluid from the fluid source is kept separate from fluid in the reservoir while heat is exchanged between fluid in the fluid source and fluid in the reservoir.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the fluid source includes a source of warm fluid.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the fluid source includes a source of cold water.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the fluid transported from the reservoir is used to improve the efficiency of a green-energy generator by shifting its operation temperature to a value that is more favorable to the green energy production processes.
According to an aspect of some embodiments of the invention, there is provided a method of geothermal heat management: directing fluid at temperature which is different than a geothermal equilibrium to a geothermal reservoir; channeling the fluid through a high surface area tube external of the reservoir, thereby bringing a temperature of the fluid towards equilibrium with a ground; inserting the fluid into the reservoir after the channeling.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the channeling through the high surface area tube is preformed when the fluid has a temperature that is not preferred over the geothermal equilibrium, the method further including: sending the fluid directly to the reservoir not through the high surface area tube when a temperature of the fluid is preferred over the geothermal equilibrium.
According to an aspect of some embodiments of the invention, there is provided a method of geothermal heat management including: importing fluid at temperature preferred over to a geothermal equilibrium; transferring heat from the fluid to a geothermal reservoir.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the reservoir includes a fluid tank, the method further including inserting the fluid into the tank.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the reservoir includes a fluid tank the method further including: separating the imported fluid from a fluid in the tank and transferring heat between the source fluid and the fluid in the tank.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the heat management system is configured for controlling the temperature of the stored fluid including at least one of maximizing the temperature of stored fluid depending on availability of imported fluid, minimizing the temperature of stored fluid, depending on availability of imported fluid, and stabilizing the temperature of the stored fluid in a value different from the geothermal equilibrium.
Unless otherwise defined, all technical and/or scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the invention pertains. Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of embodiments of the invention, exemplary methods and/or materials are described below. In case of conflict, the patent specification, including definitions, will control. In addition, the materials, methods, and examples are illustrative only and are not intended to be necessarily limiting.
As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, some embodiments of the present invention may be embodied as a system, method or computer program product. Accordingly, some embodiments of the present invention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may all generally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or “system.” Furthermore, some embodiments of the present invention may take the form of a computer program product embodied in one or more computer readable medium(s) having computer readable program code embodied thereon. Implementation of the method and/or system of some embodiments of the invention can involve performing and/or completing selected tasks manually, automatically, or a combination thereof. Moreover, according to actual instrumentation and equipment of some embodiments of the method and/or system of the invention, several selected tasks could be implemented by hardware, by software or by firmware and/or by a combination thereof, e.g., using an operating system.
For example, hardware for performing selected tasks according to some embodiments of the invention could be implemented as a chip or a circuit. As software, selected tasks according to some embodiments of the invention could be implemented as a plurality of software instructions being executed by a computer using any suitable operating system. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, one or more tasks according to some exemplary embodiments of method and/or system as described herein are performed by a data processor, such as a computing platform for executing a plurality of instructions. Optionally, the data processor includes a volatile memory for storing instructions and/or data and/or a non-volatile storage, for example, a magnetic hard-disk and/or removable media, for storing instructions and/or data. Optionally, a network connection is provided as well. A display and/or a user input device such as a keyboard or mouse are optionally provided as well.
Any combination of one or more computer readable medium(s) may be utilized for some embodiments of the invention. The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signal medium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer readable storage medium would include the following: an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. In the context of this document, a computer readable storage medium may be any tangible medium that can contain, or store a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.
A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated data signal with computer readable program code embodied therein, for example, in baseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may take any of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to, electro-magnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. A computer readable signal medium may be any computer readable medium that is not a computer readable storage medium and that can communicate, propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.
Program code embodied on a computer readable medium and/or data used thereby may be transmitted using any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless, wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination of the foregoing.
Computer program code for carrying out operations for some embodiments of the present invention may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object-oriented programming language such as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like and conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programming languages. The program code may execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) and/or a mesh network (meshnet, emesh) and/or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider).
Some embodiments of the present invention may be described below with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.
These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable medium that can direct a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readable medium produce an article of manufacture including instructions which implement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.
The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus or other devices to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide processes for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.
Some of the methods described herein are generally designed only for use by a computer, and may not be feasible or practical for performing purely manually, by a human expert. A human expert who wanted to manually perform similar tasks might be expected to use completely different methods, e.g., making use of expert knowledge and/or the pattern recognition capabilities of the human brain, which would be vastly more efficient than manually going through the steps of the methods described herein.
Data and/or program code may be accessed and/or shared over a network, for example the Internet. For example, data may be shared and/or accessed using a social network. A processor may include remote processing capabilities for example available over a network (e.g. the Internet). For example, resources may be accessed via cloud computing. The term “cloud computing” refers to the use of computational resources that are available remotely over a public network, such as the internet, and that may be provided for example at a low cost and/or on an hourly basis. Any virtual or physical computer that is in electronic communication with such a public network could potentially be available as a computational resource. To provide computational resources via the cloud network on a secure basis, computers that access the cloud network may employ standard security encryption protocols such as SSL and PGP, which are well known in the industry.
Some embodiments of the invention are herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. With specific reference now to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of embodiments of the invention. In this regard, the description taken with the drawings makes apparent to those skilled in the art how embodiments of the invention may be practiced.
In the drawings:
The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to geothermal energy storage and, more particularly, but not exclusively, to a system and method to improve green energy system performance.
An aspect of some embodiments of the current invention relates to improving the efficiencies of geothermal heating and cooling systems, solar based energy production and other “green-energy” generators by linking them together. Optionally the linking increases the usable energy which is extractable from each generator. Alternatively or additionally, the system supplies a liquid at a preset desired temperature. In some embodiments, increased efficiencies of both geothermal solutions and systems exploiting solar energy or other energy generators are achieved by linking them together. Preferably but not necessarily the linking includes smart-contacts which automatically enhance the links according to temporal measurable values characterizing the connectable modules and devices.
In some embodiments, a system and/or method is disclosed to increase efficiency of “green” energy production at the deployment site either through improved management of geothermal air-conditioning modules and/or by increasing efficiency of other green-energy generators such as solar radiation-based modules targeted at electrical power and/or solar heated water production. For example, increased efficiency may be achieved through linking the different modules on site by a network of heat transfer and/or storage system. For example, heat may be transferred in the form of hot and/or cool fluid. Optionally the fluid is transferred using pipes interconnected with valves. Optionally the fluid and/or heat is stored in tanks. For example, tanks may be linked by pipes and/or valves. Optionally, the valves are automatically controlled. For example, cold water may be as cold as and/or colder than geothermal deep ground temperature and/or hot fluids may be as hot as and/or hotter than the geothermal ground temperature. For example, fluid temperatures in the system may range between 10 to 50 degrees Centigrade and/or between 2 to 70 degrees and/or between 2 to 90 degrees and/or between −10 to 140 degrees.
In some embodiments, the method includes enabling fluids stored and/or streamed through a network of tanks and pipes included in the system to circulate. Heat may be transferred according to the flow and/or temperature gradients in the fluid. Flow may be natural and/or powered by pumps and/or powered by hydraulic head differentials in the system. Optionally, flow routing is automatically changeable and governed by remote and/or locally controlled valves, for example the temperature of the usable liquid may be adjusted to a desired temperature. For example, the desired temperature may be according to the specifications of a device (e.g. a heat pump and/or heat exchanger) and/or to increase efficiency. For example, the desired temperature may be maximal, or minimal depending on available liquid sources and/or preset to specific values as required by an end-user or application. For example, the valves are optionally placed on a pipe network connecting system modules and/or the fluid sources. For example, a geothermal reservoir may include a tank have a capacity ranging between 10 liters to 500 liters and/or between 500 liters to 1 m3 and/or between 1 m3 to 3 m3 and/or between 3 m3 to 6 m3 and/or between 6 to 30 m3 and/or between 30 to 100 m3.
An aspect of some embodiments of the current invention relates to a geothermal reservoir having in inlet in heat communication with a heat exchanger and/or the ground. For example, the inlet may hold a volume fluid ranging between 1/1000 to 1/200 of the tank and/or between 1/200 to 1/50 and/or between 1/50 to 1/10 and/or between 1/10 to ½ the volume of the tank. Optionally, the tank and the heat exchanger may have a surface in heat contact with the ground, for example the ratio of the surface area of contact of the tank to the ground to the surface area of contact of the heat exchanger to the ground may range between 1/1000 to 1/200 and/or between 1/200 to 1/50 and/or between 1/50 to 1/10 and/or between 1/10 to ½ and/or between 1000 to 200 of the tank and/or between 200 to 50 and/or between 50 to 10 and/or between 10 to ½ and/or between ½ to 2. For example, the ratio of volume of the tank to volume of the inlet may range between 10 to 30 and/or between 1 to 10 and/or between 30 to 300.
In some embodiments, there may be geothermal reservoir with a heat exchanger to a fluid supplied by a source having a temperature that is more desirable than the ground temperature. For example, the heat exchanger may include a pipe passing through the reservoir and/or a tank inside but separate from the reservoir (e.g. as illustrated below in
In some embodiments, the valve logic (open/closed) of a valve in a heat management system is dictated by temperature dependent automatic and/or AI based algorithms. For example, the algorithms may be developed at the system set-up at the deployment site, affected by the site characteristics, the technical parameters of the buildings, the participating system modules and/or the actual use of the infrastructure utilizing the system. The AI logic is optionally based on continuous sensing of temporal temperature values of the stored or flowing fluid sources available for employment by the system. Having such temporal temperature values and knowing, from system set-up, the alternative flow routes between the modules, may be used to select, for example, flow routes in the system. Once selected the selected routing of the fluid is optionally activated by transferring open/lock commands to relevant valves. In some embodiments, temperature sensing is continuous and/or the fluid routing is continuously calculated and/or adjusted. For example, when an alternative route is found to better contribute to the system efficiency, or targeted fluid temperature, relevant commands are sent to the relevant valves and/or the new route is activated while the former route is either blocked and/or remains active depending on the calculated status of the system.
In some embodiments, the system is modular. For example, changes and/or addition of an employable water source and/or green energy generator can be connected to the system through the fluid network, Relevant valves may be added and/or a relevant update of the flow routing and the related AI algorithms may be performed. Optionally, the system continues to detect energy use and/or circumstances and/or continues to train the AI routine, for example, to identify new modes, recommend new modes, recommend desirable changes to the system, identify breakdown of the system, identify new demands on the system and/or improve efficiency. In some embodiments, the system and/or method may be updatable using AI technology based on centralized and/or distributed algorithms.
In many locations, the temperature of the soil and rocks few meters below ground level remains stable near its year-round near the average (365 days/24 hour) of the ground surface temperature. Depending on different parts of the globe, the average values are location dependent but generally range between 20-10 deg. C. Typically the year-round averages are higher than the above-ground temperature in the winter and below the above ground temperature in the summer. In some embodiments, fluid is circulated to brings its temperature near that of “mother-earth”, for example, through an underground geothermal system. Optionally, the fluid is then streamed into a heat pump serving as the basis for heating (e.g. in the winter) or cooling (e.g. in the summer). In some embodiments, water that was contacted thermally with the ground and/or is below the ambient temperature is used for cooling in the summer and/or water that was contacted thermally with the ground and/or is above the ambient temperature is used for heating in the winter. This can increase the efficiency of heat pumps, for example in an above ground building, in comparison to the ones based on heat exchange with the above-ground-air. In some cases, the warmer/colder the fluid temperature during winter/summer, respectively, contribute to higher the energy efficiency of the entire system. Commonly, the fluid outflowing back from the heat-exchange device into the geothermal circuitry will naturally be warmer/colder than the influx during cooling/warming operation of the system, respectively.
In some embodiments, solar-energy-based systems for generating electricity and/or water utilize electric-current sources such as PV cells and/or solar-based heated water panels for multitude of applications. In some embodiments, efficiencies of the solar-based solutions are higher during day time. Optionally, storing energy produced before sun-down for use at night may increase the efficiency and/or overall usability solar generated energy. For example, energy may be stored as hot fluid in a tank, for example, an underground tank and/or a geothermal tank and/or overground tank and/or an insulated tank and/or a tank within a tank, for example, as described in any of the embodiments herein. Alternatively or additionally, the energy may be transferred as heat to a fluid and/or another material and stored. For example, energy may be stored as a flowable hot or cold fluid. Optionally, the fluid may be streamed to a certain target module such as a heat exchange module and/or a heat pump. In some embodiments, streaming a fluid at a desired temperature may increase the efficiency of energy transfer processes at the heated or cooled targeted module.
In some embodiments, the efficiency of certain solar-energy generators, is temperature dependent. For example, efficiency of PV cells may significantly decrease with the increase of device temperature. In some cases, as exposure to solar radiation increases and/or as the ambient temperature increases, the temperature of the generators increases and/or efficiency is reduced. In some embodiments, it is cost-effective solutions to lower the temperature of the current generating device to produce positive impact on the average efficiency of the electric power generating system.
In some embodiments, solar water-heaters will increase their efficiency when the temperature of water entering the heaters increases. Optionally, a water source having temperature that is higher in comparison to the temperature of the public water system is connected to the heaters. For example, this may produce hotter water and/or shorter heating time and/or increased volume heated water for a desired water temperature value.
In some cases, the following general principles may be applied to achieve a more efficient solution to energy production, storage and/or use.
Heat pump operating for the purpose of heating or cooling will in many cases use reduced investment of energy when the influx into the heat-pump is closer to the desired output temperature. For example, a water-based heat-pump may be more energy efficient when the incoming water is hotter for heating purposes and/or when incoming water is colder for cooling purposes.
Underground water reservoirs will in many cases tend toward a consistent static equilibrium temperature near the underground temperature when passively locked. When an underground reservoir is heated or cooled by a heat flow, for example, by an inflow of water, the underground water reservoir may absorb and/or give off heat to the ground in a way that tends to an equilibrium with the surrounding ground “heat-sink”. For example, when the incoming heat flow is constant the system may tend towards a dynamic equilibrium temperature. The temperature difference between the dynamic equilibrium and the ground temperature is generally increased when the amount of heat flow is greater. For example, a greater heat flow may be due to a greater quantity of incoming water and/or a great temperature gap between the incoming water and static equilibrium temperature. For example, when the incoming heat flow is reduced or stops, the system may tend to return to the static equilibrium underground temperature. In the common case, where the heat flow is not reversed, the time to return to static equilibrium with the ground may increase for greater heat flows. In many cases, increasing the surface-area to volume ratio of the reservoir increases the rate at which the reservoir approaches its equilibrium temperature and/or reduces the temperature difference between the reservoir and the ground at dynamic equilibrium.
In some embodiments, fluid may be fed into a tank and the tank allowed to come to equilibrium with the ground. Optionally, for example, when the ground temperature is more preferable than the incoming water temperature, a heat exchanger may be supplied to bring the water towards an equilibrium temperature with the ground at an inlet to the tank. For example, an inlet pipe may have a high surface area in contact with the ground. Alternatively or additionally, an inlet or a tank may be insulated (for example, for use when the incoming water temperature is more preferable than the ground temperature). In some embodiments, a tank may include multiple inlets and/or there may be multiple tanks with different levels of insulation and/or incoming fluid may be directed to a selected tank and/or inlet according to the preferred temperature and/or the fluid temperature and/or the ground temperature and/or the speed at which equilibrium is to be approached
In some embodiments, a few meters of distance between underground reservoirs will justify considering the reservoirs independent with regards to their equilibrium relations with the surrounding ground heat-sink.
In some cases, waste water temperature, particularly at the exit of home/office from which they emerge, are warmer in the winter than the clean water supply to the building.
In some cases, the temperature of clean water supply to a building is determined by the water temperature at the source and the piping system from the source to the building. The temperature may be either higher or lower than the equilibrium temperature of an underground reservoir near the building. Consequently, streaming water from the public/local supply into the reservoir can heat/cool it with respect to the surrounding ground-heat-sink, or with respect to the actual temperature at the reservoir when it is not in equilibrium with the ground, depending on the temperature difference between the supply and the reservoir.
Solar water heaters, for example, those utilized for supplying hot water to water tanks in a building, may sometimes generate hot water in temperatures and/or quantities that are desired and/or useful. For example, water at too high a temperature may be blocked from flowing into a full tank, for example for protecting its functionality and the safety of the hot-water users. In some embodiments, excess heat and/or excess hot water and/or water at a temperature above a desired temperature may be directed to a heat pump and/or into a heat storage reservoir (for example an underground reservoir) The quantities of heat and/or water directed to each destination may depend on the amount of the available excess quantity and/or the current demand for heat and/or expected supplies and/or expected demands. For excess, the excess heat and/or hot water may serve for elevating the efficiency of the heat-pump when operated for heating purposes. Heat and/or hot water directed to a reservoir may be usable during longer periods, before reaching equilibrium with the surrounding ground, including in periods when the on-going solar heating is not active. Optionally, a reservoir may be insulated and/or the rate of heat exchange to the environment may be adjustable (e.g. by using one pipe [e.g. inlet and/or outlet of the reservoir] for higher heat exchange with the environment and another pipe for improved insulation from the environment).
In some embodiments, solar power collection can be made more efficient by cooling components of the system. For example, in some embodiments, electric current generation utilizing solar radiation may be characterized by a decrease of the electric power values when the temperature of the active generators increases. For example, when the system is based on PV (photo-voltaic) panels. In some cases, higher ambient temperature results in a decline of the power values per giver solar radiation flux. For example, the raised ambient temperatures may reduce efficiency of air-cooling of the panels. In some embodiments, forced water cooling of the panels will be used. For example, forced water cooling may increase efficiency of cooling and/or current production. Usable water sources characterized by water temperature which is significantly lower than the panel temperatures and/or water-cooled heat sinks can drive the panel temperature downward, resulting with higher electric power production efficiency and/or generation of hotter water source (flowing out of the heat-sink) which is optionally usable for the operation of air-conditioning heat-pumps in heating mode and/or geothermal storage for later use.
Materials that are usable for spectrum shift of absorbed solar radiation, may be used in a cooling effect of a layer (referred to here as E/O cooling). In some embodiments, a pipe and/or a grid of pipes are optionally filled with fluid and/or attached to a E/O cooled surface. Such a system may be used to supply cooled fluid. For example, the cooled fluid may be used to export the cooling effect to any purpose requiring cool fluid. The result may be a more efficient and/or clean heat exchange process.
In some embodiments, temporal efficiencies of geothermal air-conditioning solutions and other energy generators such as solar based energy generators may be managed to increase efficiency (e.g. improve revenue and/or reduce non-renewable energy use) —A) for example multiple water sources available in the near vicinity may be deployed and/or combined to improve efficiency of heat use and/or distribution B) any, all and/or a subgroup of the following infrastructures may be utilized: geothermal heat transfer, geothermal heat storage, solar energy generators, water heaters and/or other current generators, E/O cooling solutions and/or underground reservoirs. In some embodiments, there may be more than one independent reservoir and/or at least 2 and/or 3 reservoirs where at least one is configured to facilitate efficiency for a cooling system and at least one is configured to facilitate efficiency for a heating system. In some embodiments, the system is configured and/or controlled to facilitate supplying fluid in a preset and/or constant temperature value. For example, the desired temperature may be achieved by mixing fluid from hot and cold fluid sources and controlling the resulted temperature of the stored and/or output fluid.
Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components and/or methods set forth in the following description and/or illustrated in the drawings and/or the Examples. The invention is capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways.
Referring now to the drawings,
In some embodiments, the design stage includes, deciding 104 various physical aspects of the system. For example, it may be decided, the number, capacity, location and/or characteristics of reservoirs. For example, a designer may attempt to determine an efficient set of reservoirs based on system planned output requirements, cost limitations, site and/or ground limitations, and/or existing/planned connectable geothermal, solar energy-based subsystems and/or other energy generators. Optionally, links (inflow and outflow) to public clear, semi-clear and waste water systems per limitations of local regulator and local economic considerations (usage costs) are planned at this stage. In some embodiments, links, circulation routes and/or streaming regimes between the alternative water sources, the heat-pumps used for heat exchange of air-conditioning systems and/or other relevant modules such as heat/electric-power/cooling generators, Based on the planned circulation routes, a valve and/or pipe system and circulation pumps for enabling and/or controlling the streaming and routing regimes.
In some embodiments, designing a system includes determining 104 a control methodology for valves and/or devices in the system. For example, some valve may include local logical control (for example a local controller), some valves may be under direct control of a central controller and/or a regional controller (for example, a certain module and/or sub-system may include a regional controller controlling multiple valves and/or devices) and/or a central controller. Optionally communication channels for updating software and/or routines and/or updating data are planned.
In some embodiments, various decision algorithms for valve, devices and/or for integrated system control are configured 108 (e.g. programs are written and/or adjusted to control opening and closing of valves and/or activation, deactivation of system and/or setting parameters of valves (e.g. how far does it open) and/or system (set thermostats, power levels etc.). Control optionally depends on the relations between various measured and/or controlled parameters, for example sensed temperature values of liquids (for example at sources and/or at various location in the system and/or heat-sinks in the system).
The exemplary systems of
In some embodiments, a heat management system is based on a semi-open-loop design. This is in contrast to many conventional air conditioners which are built in a closed loop manner. Optionally, a semi-open-loop design facilitates feeding the heart of the air-conditioning system, a heat-pump, with cold fluid when in “cooling mode” and/or with hot fluid in heating modes.
In some embodiments, a system employs several water sources 210 for achieving its goals. This may achieve improved temperature flows for heating and cooling and/or make available bigger quantities of available water for the system operation, and/or supply water at controlled temperature (for example a preset value of water temperature). The controlled temperature may optionally differ from the long-term static equilibrium of the geothermal conditions. In some embodiments, water is stored in the tank and/or pipe network above-ground and/or underground and/or in reservoirs 202, mainly but not mandatorily underground (ground level 380 is illustrated as a horizontal line if
In some embodiments, connecting solar-energy based modules, and/or other green energy generators, such as wind-energy modules 222 and the geothermal modules 201 and/or reservoirs 202, facilitates feeding the geothermal air-conditioning and/or a heat-pump 220 and/or the local reservoir 202 with hot water which is generated by such green energy heaters. Optionally, the system controller 240 verifies that directing heated water to the geothermal modules 201 will not unduly affect the supply of hot water on-site.
In some embodiments, controller 240 controls the flow of external fluid sources 210 into reservoirs 202 to maintain a water temperature which is close to a preset temperature value. For example, the preset temperature may be defined by a specific end-user of the stored water in the reservoir. The flow control can be either pulsed, and/or continuous and/or a combination of both. The water flow may be changed based on a change of the stored water temperature by a given increment, and/or the availability of external sources having an appropriate fluid temperature. An example for such an end-user, requiring water at a preset temperature, which might be different than the geothermal equilibrium, includes an irrigation system, designed for watering of certain crops, where the preset watering temperature is dependent on season, growing conditions and age of the watered plants. For example, growth and/or health and/or productivity of the plants may be increased by supplying a desired temperature of water.
In some embodiments, the controller 240 will direct locally stored cool “geothermal” water for cooling the heat-sinks of local solar electricity generator, e.g. PV panels (for example in module 222). Alternatively or additionally, the controller 240 will direct flow of relatively warm stored water into the heat-sinks of E/O cooling devices (for example in modules 222) and then stream the outcoming flows either directly to the heat-pump 220 and/or back into the local reservoir 202. In some embodiments, the system generates higher efficiency of solar electricity production coupled with hotter/cooler input flow at the heat-pump, operating in heating/cooling modes, respectively.
The exemplary geothermal grid, as presented in
In some embodiments, non-geothermal system modules may include subsystems that are pre-installed on-site and/or added as part of upgrading a heat management system. For example, a local “green-energy” production system may be upgraded and/or connected, through circulated fluid to and from a geothermal system. In some embodiments, these upgrades may significantly contribute to the entire system efficiency.
In some embodiments, heat transfer between modules is achieved by the circulation of fluid between the modules. For example, water may be circulated in pipes and/or controlled by valves. For example, the valves are optionally controlled by local controllers and/or a central controller. For example, water may circulate through a network of pipes connecting the modules included in the system. Optionally, automatic valves open and/or block a specific route for streaming water between alternative routes. For example, the selected routes may be mode dependent (different routes may be used for heating and cooling modes and/or for different temperature distributions of the network and/or for different available flow rates). Optionally, one or more circulation pumps drive the flow in the pipes in a selected direction. Optionally, valves may be controlled by a local controller and/or by a regional controller and/or centrally controlled by a central control module 340. receiving and transmitting data through a wired or wireless links 341. Optionally, an aggregator 342 aggregates temperature values from different parts of the system and/or transfers data to the central processor 340. In some embodiments, control circuitry 343 generates and/or sends control commands to the valves and pumps. For example, control circuitry 343 may generate valve commands with preset algorithms in response to instructions from the central processor 340. Optionally, commands are relayed through the links 341.
In some embodiments, a circulation network may include 2-way valves. For example, valves are installed on specific segments of the pipe network. Optionally, algorithms controlling flow may select a single streaming option out of 3 or 4 alternatives and/or the option may be selected for a fixed period and/or until a change in the relative temperature values is measured in the system. In some embodiments, the use of 3-way or even 4-way valves may reduce the number of system components and/or the complexity of the algorithms defining the selected liquid routing. In some embodiments, a system may use valves to open more than single route flowing from the same source, simultaneously. To facilitate multiple routes in may be advantageous to include a large number of 2-way valves rather than a smaller number of 3- or 4-way valves. Opening multiple routes from a single source might be found beneficial in some embodiments under certain temperature regimes and/or available water capacity conditions.
In the exemplary embodiment of
In some embodiments, reducing the number of reservoirs, for example using a single underground reservoir for both—heating and cooling modes reduces the number of valves. On the other hand, linking more independent reservoirs to the system and/or including more valves may facilitate more efficient selection of the liquid routing.
The exemplary embodiment of
In some embodiments, the proposed system is to improve the temperature of water streamed into temperature sensitive modules of the system. For example, to the heat-exchanger 320 of a heat pump of the geothermal air-conditioning system. In the case of the heat-pump 320—improved temperature means for example, hotter water when in heating mode and/or colder water when in cooling mode. Additionally or alternatively, the system may be configured to reduce possible investment of “non-green” energies during the streaming process.
For selecting the route of water feeding the heat pump several optional actions are built-in the system. Some of the actions are mode-dependent (e.g. some are performed in the heating mode and/or others in the cooling mode and/or others in temperature stabilizing mode). In some embodiments, the actions are selected by an automatic algorithm. Data used for making decisions by the control system may include temperature values, for example water temperature at different parts of the system.
In some embodiments, a system for controlling the valves includes a local control. For example, the local control may depend on the temperature gradient of the water on two sides of a specific valve. The following are few examples where a simple system may be operated using locally managed algorithms (i.e. without mandatory usage of the central control system 340 and its immediate accessories) —
1) For example, when the air-conditioning system is in “heating mode” and the temperature of usable water reservoirs 323 connected to the solar water heaters 322 is much higher than the temperature of the water stored in the geothermal tank 303, then based on the temperature gradients around valves valve 3721 valve 3720 may be closed and/or to opened. The circulation will optionally facilitate the hot water to move either directly from the solar heaters into the heat-exchanger 320 and/or through the intermediation of the hot-water tank 323 (e.g. by opening valve 3722). Additionally or alternatively, When the temperature on the solar side of valve 3721 is lower that the geothermal side, e.g. in night time, valve 3721 is blocked and valve 3720 is opened.
In some embodiments, routing of the water returning from the heat-exchanger 320 may be managed by the temperature gradient around valve 3724. For example, in day time, when the returning water is much warmer than the water in the geothermal reservoir 103, the control optionally blocks valve 3724 and valve 3725. For example, this may result in immediate efficient use of the water through further solar heating and circulation into the heat-exchanger 320 (e.g. by opening valve 3726). Alternatively or additionally, when the above ground tank 323 is hot and/or in equilibrium with the heater 322, valve 3727 is opened. However, when the returning water is warmer than the geothermal water (e.g. in day) valve 3725, valve 3726 and/or valve 3727 may be blocked and/or valve 3724 is opened to warm up the reservoir. Additionally or alternatively, when the returning water is colder then geothermal tank 303, valve 3724, valve 3726 and valve 3727 may be blocked while valve 3725 is opened to reduce the effect of the returning cold water on the tank 303.
2) In some embodiments, for example when the heat-pump is in cooling mode and/or the E/O cooling module is part of the system, when the temperature gradient on valve 375 shows that the water at the cooling system is cooler than the geothermal water, the control opens valve 375 and/or valve 377 and/or blocks the feed to the heat-exchanger 320 through valve 372. The returning water from the heat pump in this case are managed by the gradient on valve 3711. When the returning water is colder than the tank 301, 302 valve 3711 is open and the water cool the geothermal tank 301, 302. Additionally or alternatively, when the returning water is warmer than the tank 301, 302, depending on the gradient value on valve 3711 and/or the available modules in the system, valve 3711 is blocked and the routing is to the high surface area pipes 304 (e.g. through valve 3712), and/or to inactive tank 302 through valve 3713 and/or the routing is to the public network 310 where valve 3714 is open.
In some embodiments, a centralized control 340 can manage algorithms by taking into consideration temperature gradients and/or other considerations. For example, other considerations may include more complicated thermodynamic data including for example the heat capacity of the reservoirs, knowing the water volume in them, the temporal change in temperatures of each water-source with inflow of stream from a different source, the systematic behavior of solar energy based modules, the changing temporal input power as expected for the air-conditioned building with time of the day and/or weather forecast data (for example automatically accessed through the Internet). By processing various sources of data together with the temperatures (which are optionally sensed continuously), central controller 340, managing the water routing may improve the temporal input to heat exchanger 320 and/or other system modules. Additionally or alternatively, controller 340 may take into consideration long-term management of the tanks 301, 302, 303, 305 and their interaction with public water sources 310, 311. Such advanced algorithms may maintain a few routes open in parallel and/or when the system is based on advanced valves which include few “open” levels, the algorithms can even quantitatively split the available stream between the routes that are open in parallel.
In some embodiments, the control of a system will be centralized for example, based on online processing of data. Processing may be accomplished using artificial intelligence (AI) and/or algorithms for flexible water routing management. Optionally the system includes communication between controller 234 and the distributed temperature sensors and/or the network of valves.
Optionally the communication network built is through wired links running side by side and/or physically connected to the networks of pipes and reservoirs on which sensors and valves are placed. Several existing protocols and off-the-shelf hardware components can support the required communication data to be implemented for example, the communication routines may reside in a data link module 341.
Optionally central controller 340 includes programmable logic controller which is designed to manage communication to and from the sensors and/or valves. In some embodiments, the activation of algorithms and/or their outgoing commands to the valves include customization for a specific site. The customization may include receiving system data, including connected modules—geothermal, solar-energy based and/or others, and their physical properties, the network of valves and sensors, the characteristics of the air-conditioned buildings and/or the characteristics of the deployment site, and/or the characteristics of the end-user or application using the flowable fluid in the system. Such input can be in a form of an interface table.
In some embodiments, an underground tank 301 may be designed for a multiple use of its volume, for example by adding one or more fixed and/or floating covers 330. For example, the floating cover 330 may split tank volume into more than a single space Optionally a multi-space tank 301 may be designed for improved geothermal functionality, for example, through allocating different task to each independent space resulting with improved heat-exchange processes and better system efficiency. For example, non-geothermal uses may be assigned to some of the spaces of the tank, including the option of emptying certain spaces of the tank from liquid for enabling such other uses and/or adding access to certain spaces from an external volume, including, if needed, an access of human beings, and/or property for an extended stay in such space.
In some embodiments, temperature gradients internal to a tank might be generated during operation, for example while the water temperature in the tank fluctuates around geothermal equilibrium with the ground. In some embodiments, water at an upper level of the tank is warmer than water near the bottom level. In some embodiments, water circulating out of the tank will be streamed through a warm water extraction pipe 405 from an upper portion of the tank 401 when hot water is desired (e.g. in heating mode) utilizing the slightly warmer water at the top of the tank. Additionally or alternatively, water circulating out of the tank will be streamed through a cold-water extraction pipe 406 from a lower portion of the tank when colder water is desired (e.g. in cooling mode) utilizing the slightly cooler water at the bottom of the tank.
In some embodiment, some or all pipes that are designed for streaming water into or out of the tank can reach its inner space through a sealed removable cover 407 (for example as illustrated with pipes 402, 404, 405 and 406). For example, the cover 407 may be designed to simplify maintenance and/or integration issues. Alternatively, some or all of the pipes may pass through the tank's outer shell (for example as illustrated in pipe 410). Pipe 410 is optionally configured to facilitate streaming of water into or out of the tank 401 for example for filling purposes and/or for releasing excess water, and/or for using the tank's water for other “non-geothermal” uses, including emergency water supply when local water infrastructure is out of use. Alternatively or additionally, tank cover 407 may be designed as a “floating cover” enabling split usage of the tank between energy storage and other non-geothermal applications.
In some embodiments, electrical valves 408 on pipe 410 or another pipe connected to the tank (e.g. pipes 402, 404, 405, 406) facilitate switching the stream on/off remotely per system usage. An optional treatment system (e.g. a filter 409) connected to pipe 410 and/or to any other pipe (402, 404, 405, 406) may be usable for controlling the quality of the water inserted into or taken out of the tank. The specifications of the treatment system may depend on the requirement of the modules or applications utilizing the tank water and/or the quality of input water.
The configuration of
The configuration of
In both cases (
It is easily understood that all above configurations a-d can be merged into a single underground storage reservoir system where the feed of the water circulating in and out of the tank depends on the availability of sources, the temperature of their water when available, and the mode of operation of the heat-pump heating or cooling so that for example, when the heat pump the source of the available water from other sources does not fit the heating or cooling temporary mode of the system—pipes 402, 403 and 404 are in operation. Alternatively or additionally, when clean water sources are available with water at a temperature more desirable than a geothermal equilibrium (e.g. solar water heaters, E/O coolers) are available for streaming clean water at a preferable temperature—pipe 405 is used for hot water (for example in a heating mode) and/or pipe 406 is used for cold water (for example in a cooling mode) are operational (mode dependent) and/or when sources with quality problems, and/or characterized by fluids that should not be mixed with the stored water, are available for streaming fluids at a temperature that is preferable to the geothermal equilibrium (for example warm waste water, warm fluids from solar heaters that are not based on water and/or cold water from an above ground snow melt stream), either pipes 612 and/or tank 712 are operational. Switching between system modes, and/or operating some of them in parallel, may be managed automatically (e.g. by a controller and/or automatic valves). Optionally the controller will utilize remotely controlled valves and centralized artificial intelligence based on online measurements of water temperatures in different parts of the system, for example temperature measurement that temporarily characterize each of the available water sources.
In some embodiments, a second path allows heat transfer directly with heat pump 920 with less heat transfer to the ground 982 than along the first path and/or with negligible heat transfer to the ground 982. Optionally the second path is the path by which fluid is transferred from the reservoir 904 to the heat pump 920. Alternatively or additionally, all paths for heat transfer between the reservoir 904 and the heat pump 920 may include significant heat transfer to the ground 982.
It is expected that during the life of a patent maturing from this application many relevant technologies will be developed and the scope of the terms is intended to include all such new technologies a priori.
As used herein the term “about” refers to ±10%
The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “includes”, “including”, “having” and their conjugates mean “including but not limited to”.
The term “consisting of” means “including and limited to”.
The term “consisting essentially of” means that the composition, method or structure may include additional ingredients, steps and/or parts, but only if the additional ingredients, steps and/or parts do not materially alter the basic and novel characteristics of the claimed composition, method or structure.
As used herein, the singular form “a”, “an” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. For example, the term “a compound” or “at least one compound” may include a plurality of compounds, including mixtures thereof.
Throughout this application, various embodiments of this invention may be presented in a range format. It should be understood that the description in range format is merely for convenience and brevity and should not be construed as an inflexible limitation on the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the description of a range should be considered to have specifically disclosed all the possible subranges as well as individual numerical values within that range. For example, description of a range such as from 1 to 6 should be considered to have specifically disclosed subranges such as from 1 to 3, from 1 to 4, from 1 to 5, from 2 to 4, from 2 to 6, from 3 to 6 etc., as well as individual numbers within that range, for example, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. This applies regardless of the breadth of the range.
Whenever a numerical range is indicated herein, it is meant to include any cited numeral (fractional or integral) within the indicated range. The phrases “ranging/ranges between” a first indicate number and a second indicate number and “ranging/ranges from” a first indicate number “to” a second indicate number are used herein interchangeably and are meant to include the first and second indicated numbers and all the fractional and integral numerals therebetween. When multiple ranges are listed for a single variable, a combination of the ranges is also included (for example the ranges from 1 to 2 and/or from 2 to 4 also includes the combined range from 1 to 4).
It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention, which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable subcombination or as suitable in any other described embodiment of the invention. Certain features described in the context of various embodiments are not to be considered essential features of those embodiments, unless the embodiment is inoperative without those elements.
Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.
All publications, patents and patent applications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated in their entirety by reference into the specification, to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated herein by reference. In addition, citation or identification of any reference in this application shall not be construed as an admission that such reference is available as prior art to the present invention. To the extent that section headings are used, they should not be construed as necessarily limiting.
This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 USC § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/931,230 filed 6 Nov. 2019, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 USC § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/955,485 filed 31 Dec. 2019, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IL2020/051138 | 11/3/2020 | WO |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62931230 | Nov 2019 | US | |
| 62955485 | Dec 2019 | US |
