Patent Application
20180080686
The present invention generally relates to geothermal conditioning systems for air conditioning, heating and combinations thereof. Such systems are known to have below ground geothermal fluid loops and above ground geothermal loops. The below ground loops enter steady temperature underground conditions (approximately, 55 degrees Fahrenheit) and, when used for cooling, hotter fluids sent down to the 55 degree level are cooled and returned to cool the above ground environment (e.g., inside the building or home), and when used for heating, cooler fluids sent down to the 55 degree level are heated and returned to heat the environment. Such cooling and heating processes often involve geothermal heat exchangers where a second fluid or air is used for the above ground heating/cooling loop. By utilizing dual purpose rebars in the present invention structure supports, such as pilings and caissons, the need for separate drillings, pipes and pourings for below ground geothermal loops are completely eliminated. Hence, in the present invention support members, the dual use rebars add structural design value to the support (that is, they have significant added value to the vertical and/or other strength of the support), while at the same time providing one or more below ground geothermal system loops.
The following patents are representative of the field pertaining to the present invention:
U.S. Pat. No. 8,424,590 B2 to Calamaro describes a geothermal sleeve for a building structure that keeps air at a moderate temperature by passing through a geothermal heat exchanger (e.g., pipes) located underground. The moderate air is drawn up from the underground pipes and pumped into existing spaces between the interior and exterior walls (or surfaces) of a dwelling. The moderate air fills in the spaces between the interior and exterior walls to create a geothermal sleeve to supplement climate control inside the building structure.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,161,759 B2 to Kidwell et al. describes a method of and apparatus for transferring heat energy between a heat exchanging subsystem installed above the surface of the Earth, and material beneath the surface of the Earth, by installing one or more coaxial-flow heat exchanging structures in the material beneath the surface of the Earth. Each coaxial-flow heat exchanging structure has inner and out flow channels along which aqueous-based heat transfer fluid is circulated. Turbulence is generated in the aqueous-based heat transfer fluid flowing along the outer flow channel, to increase the rate of heat energy transfer between the aqueous-based heat transfer fluid and material beneath the surface of the Earth along the length of the outer flow channel. This in turn increases the rate of heat energy transfer between the heat exchanging subsystem installed above the surface of the Earth and material beneath the surface of the Earth.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,377,122 B2 to Kidwell et al. describes the coaxial-flow heat exchanging structures installed in the Earth, for facilitating the transfer of heat energy in the aqueous-based heat transfer fluid, between the aqueous-based heat transfer fluid and material beneath the surface of the Earth. Each coaxial-flow heat exchanging structure includes an inner tube section, a thermally conductive outer tube section, and outer flow channel between the inner tube section and the outer tube section. A turbulence generating structure is disposed along a portion of the length of the outer flow channel so as to introduce turbulence into the flow of the aqueous-based heat transfer fluid flowing along the outer flow channel, while its cross-sectional characteristics produce fluid flows therealong having optimal vortex characteristics that optimise heat transfer with the Earth.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,373,785 B2 to Kidwell et al. describes a geothermal heat exchanging system including a heat exchanging subsystem installed above the surface of Earth, and one or more coaxial-flow heat exchanging structures installed in the Earth. The coaxial-flow heat exchanging structures installed in the Earth, facilitate the transfer of heat energy in the aqueous-based heat transfer fluid, between the aqueous-based heat transfer fluid and material beneath the surface of the Earth. Each coaxial-flow heat exchanging structure includes an inner tube section, a thermally conductive outer tube section, and outer flow channel between the inner tube section and the outer tube section. A turbulence generating structure is disposed along a portion of the length of the outer flow channel so as to introduce turbulence into the flow of the aqueous-based heat transfer fluid flowing along the outer flow channel, thereby improving the transfer of heat energy between the aqueous-based heat transfer fluid and the Earth along the length of the outer flow channel.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,370,488 B2 to Kidwell et al. describes a geothermal heat exchanging system including a heat exchanging subsystem installed above the surface of Earth, and one or more coaxial-flow heat exchanging structures installed in the Earth. The coaxial-flow heat exchanging structures installed in the Earth, facilitate the transfer of heat energy in the aqueous-based heat transfer fluid, between the aqueous-based heat transfer fluid and material beneath the surface of the Earth. Each coaxial-flow heat exchanging structure includes an inner tube section, a thermally conductive outer tube section, and outer flow channel between the inner tube section and the outer tube section. A turbulence generating structure is disposed along a portion of the length of the outer flow channel so as to introduce turbulence into the flow of the aqueous-based heat transfer fluid flowing along the outer flow channel, thereby improving the transfer of heat energy between the aqueous-based heat transfer fluid and the Earth along the length of the outer flow channel.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,789,608 B1 to Wiggs describes a thermally exposed centrally insulated geothermal heat exchange unit, which can be placed in ground and/or in water, consisting of at least one fluid supply line and at least one fluid return line, which lines are respectively separated by a thermal insulation material, but which lines are otherwise in thermal contact with their respective adjacent sub-surface earth and/or water surroundings by means of a heat conductive fill material inserted as necessary to fill any void space in the respective fluid transport line location areas situated between the thermal insulation material and the adjacent earth and/or water. When the unit is situated within a geothermal borehole, the thermal insulation material may have an expanded central area so as to decrease the amount of necessary heat conductive fill and so as to increase insulation efficiency. The length of the insulation material within a borehole should be at least four times the diameter of the largest fluid transfer line, or lines, and should extend across the entire width of the borehole in all cases where the minimum design length is exceeded, unless a small width is left at each respective perimeter for the fill to seal out potentially corrosive elements. The width of the insulation material within a borehole should not exceed one-third the diameter of the borehole.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,672,371 B1 to Amerman et al. describes an earth wellbore heat loop system which has, in certain aspects, a heat loop wellbore in the earth extending from an earth surface down into the earth to a bottom of the wellbore, a heat loop disposed in the heat loop wellbore and extending down to a position near the bottom thereof, the heat loop including a heat loop comprising pipe and a bottom member, the pipe extending down to the bottom member on one side thereof and up from the bottom member on another side thereof, the bottom member comprising a body, a first bore through the body extending from a first opening of the body to a second opening of the body, the first opening and the second opening each sized and configured for receipt therein of an end of a heat loop pipe, a second bore having at least a one opening on the body, the second bore sized and configured for securement thereat of an end of coil tubing. Filler material has been developed for use in a heat loop wellbore that has, in certain aspects an amount of water, and an amount of a gel material, such as a polymer. An amount of thermally conductive solids may be used with the polymer and the water.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,450,247 B1 to Raff describes a system that uses a well drilled deep into the ground and filled with water. The well is encased and sealed at its bottom to prevent the loss of water. The casing of the well is in contact with the surrounding earth for heat conduction. A pipe is placed within the well with a pump at its distal end. The pump draws cold water from within the well into the pipe, out of the well into a heat exchanger where it cools the air which, in turn, cools the house. After the water has gone through the heat exchanger, it is returned to the well. Heat pipes are used to dissipate, in winter, the heat accumulated during the summer cooling months. The heat pipes extend outwardly from near the top of the well and contain a substance that will absorb heat and evaporate at the end in the well and condense and release heat at the opposite end. An upward slant of the heat pipe ensures that this heat transfer occurs only in the direction away from the well.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,314 to Wiggs et al. describes an improved geothermal heat exchange unit, which can be placed in ground and/or water, and has a rigid hollow core about which is formed a helical winding of thermally conductive tube. The return section of the tube extends vertically along a central axis of the core, separated from the inner wall of the core by thermal insulating material. The heat exchange unit is optionally encased in a solid thermally conductive casing and may have a small diameter oil return tube from the lowermost portion of the unit to the suction intake port of a gas compressor. An optional high pressure water hose is attached for installation assistance in wet sand or wet soils.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,566,527 to Pell et al. describes an isothermal heat pipe system for transferring heat from a primary fluid, such as geothermal water or steam, municipal water system, solar heated water, or the like, to another medium to be heated isothermally, such as a road or bridge deck surface, that includes an elongated enclosed chamber with a volatile liquid, such as ammonia or Freon, contained therein, a heat exchanger tube positioned to run through the chamber in contact with the volatile liquid, and elongated distribution pipes connected in fluid-flow relation to and extending upwardly from the upper portion of the common chamber above the level of the volatile fluid and extending into divers portions of the medium to be heated in spaced-apart relation to each other in such a manner that there is a continuous downward gradient in each of the distributor tubes from the distal end thereof to the chamber. The primary heated fluid is circulated through the heat exchanger tubes, and a wick material is attached to the external surface of the heat exchanger tube to increase surface area for transfer of heat from the heated primary fluid in the heat exchanger tube to the volatile fluid in the chamber around the heat exchanger tube.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,162,394 to Faccini describes a dual mode heat pipe for roadways, bridges, etc., that includes an auxiliary evaporator formed concentrically with the upper end of a vertically disposed primary evaporator portion. The auxiliary evaporator portion comprises an annular sleeve disposed about the upper end of the primary evaporator portion and arranged between the primary evaporator portion and the condenser portion of the heat pipe such that all of the condensed working fluid returning to the primary evaporator portion must enter and overflow the auxiliary evaporator portion prior to return to the primary evaporator portion. The auxiliary evaporator portion is provided with heat input means whereby the auxiliary evaporator may function even in the absence of heat pipe function by the primary evaporator.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,050,509 to Bienert et al. describes down-pumping heat pipes provided to augment natural earth heat when used in association with conventional or up-pumping heat pipes for the purpose of maintaining an area such as a roadway free of ice and snow.
Notwithstanding the prior art, the present invention is neither taught nor rendered obvious thereby.
The present invention is a support member for a man-made structure, the support member with a dual use rebars to function as both structural rebars and as geothermal underground loop segments. This present invention support member is at least partially underground and includes a poured filler and at least two hollow rebars embedded within said poured filler thereby displacing a volume of the poured filler equal to the volume of the embedded at least two hollow rebars. The at least two hollow rebars includes a first hollow rebar, being a downward flow geothermal underground loop segment and having an inlet at its top, and includes a second hollow rebar, being an upward flow geothermal underground loop segment and having an outlet at its top. The at least two hollow rebars are connected to each other at their bottoms by a hollow connector to establish a geothermal underground loop. Very importantly, the at least two hollow rebars have structural design support value sufficient to support load in excess of the poured filler which they displace.
In some embodiments of the present invention, the support member with dual use rebars includes a caisson for a man-made structure wherein said support member includes dual use rebars to function as both structural rebars and as geothermal underground loop segments.
In some embodiments, the support member with dual use includes a support member having top view alignment means for positioning the at least two hollow rebars within said poured filler.
In some embodiments of the present invention, the support member with dual use rebars includes a said top view alignment means for positioning said at least two hollow rebars within said poured filler is at least one positioning cage.
In some embodiments of the present invention, there are more than two hollow rebars and they are functionally connected to one another in series to allow continuous flow of a geothermal fluid.
In some embodiments of the present invention support member with dual use rebars, the poured filler is selected from the group consisting of cement, concrete, synthetic cement, polymer aggregate and combinations thereof.
In some embodiments of the present invention support member with dual use rebars, the support member is a piling. In some of these embodiments, the piling has an outer casing and the outer casing is a metal casing.
In some embodiments of the present invention support member with dual use rebars, the support member is a caisson.
In some embodiments of the present invention support member with dual use rebars, the at least two hollow rebars are heat treated metal hollow rebars.
In some embodiments of the present invention support member with dual use rebars, the at least two hollow rebars have support strength greater than the support strength of the cross sectional area of the poured filler which they have displaced.
In some embodiments of the present invention support member with dual use rebars, there are more than two hollow rebars and they are functionally connected to one another in series to allow continuous flow of a geothermal fluid.
In some embodiments of the present invention support member with dual use rebars, the support member has alignment means for positioning the at least two hollow rebars within the poured filler. In some of these embodiments, the alignment means for positioning the at least two hollow rebars within the poured filler is at least one positioning cage.
In some other embodiments, the present invention is a structure and the support member with a dual use rebars to function as both structural rebars and as a geothermal underground loop segments. It includes: a man-made structure, such as a bridge, road, runway, building or other structure requiring base support, a plurality of the support members and a geothermal above ground conditioning system. The plurality of support members are at least partially underground and include a casing, a poured filler in the casing and at least two hollow rebars embedded within the poured filler thereby displacing a volume of the poured filler equal to the volume of the embedded at least two hollow rebars. A first hollow rebar of the two hollow rebars is a downward flow geothermal underground loop segment and has an inlet at its top, and a second hollow rebar of the at least two hollow rebars is an upward flow geothermal underground loop segment and has an outlet at its top. The at least two hollow rebars are connected to each other at their bottoms by a hollow connector to establish a geothermal underground loop, and the at least two hollow rebars have structural design support sufficient to support load in excess of poured filler which they displace. The geothermal above ground conditioning system is for creating at least one condition selected from heating and cooling, and is connected to the inlet and the outlet of the first hollow rebar and the second hollow rebar, respectively. The poured filler may be selected from the group consisting of cement, concrete, synthetic cement, polymer aggregate and combinations thereof. In some embodiments of this present invention, the casings are metal casings. In some embodiments of this present invention, the at least two hollow rebars are heat treated metal hollow rebars. In some embodiments of this present invention, the at least two hollow rebars have support strength greater than the support strength of the cross sectional area of the poured filler which they have displaced. In some embodiments of this present invention, wherein there are more than two hollow rebars and they are functionally connected to one another in series to allow continuous flow of a geothermal fluid.
In addition to the above, the present invention is also directed to a method for creating a support member for a man-made structure. This method includes the steps of: a) inserting a vertical casing into the ground; b) inserting at least two hollow rebars thereby displacing a volume of the poured filler equal to the volume of the inserted, to be embedded, at least two hollow rebars, including a first hollow rebar of the at least two hollow rebars, being a downward flow geothermal underground loop segment and having an inlet at its top, and a second hollow rebar of the at least two hollow rebars, being an upward flow geothermal underground loop segment and having an outlet at its top, the at least two hollow rebars being connected to each other at their bottoms by a hollow connector to establish a geothermal underground loop, and the at least two hollow rebars having structural design support sufficient to support load in excess of poured filler which they displace; c) pouring a filler into the casing and around the at least two hollow rebars so as to embed the hollow rebars within the filler with tops of the first hollow rebar and the second hollow rebar extending beyond the filler. In some of these present invention methods of creating a support member for a man-made structure, the filler is selected from the group consisting of cement, concrete, synthetic cement, polymer aggregate and combinations thereof. In some of these present invention methods of creating a support member for a man-made structure, the at least two hollow rebars are heat treated metal hollow rebars. In some of these present invention methods of creating a support member for a man-made, there are more than two hollow rebars inserted and they are functionally connected to one another in series to allow continuous flow of a geothermal fluid.
Additional features, advantages, and embodiments of the invention may be set forth or apparent from consideration of the following detailed description, drawings, and claims. Moreover, it is to be understood that both the foregoing summary of the invention and the following detailed description are exemplary and intended to provide further explanation without limiting the scope of the invention as claimed.
The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and together with the detailed description serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:
The present invention relates to geothermal conditioning systems for air conditioning, heating and combinations thereof, and more specifically to significant decreases in costs of installment, using environmentally preferred methods and arrangements. Geothermal heating/cooling systems have below ground geothermal fluid loops and above ground geothermal loops. The below ground loops move fluids from ground (or above ground) levels to below ground levels and back to take advantage of steady temperature underground conditions (approximately, 55 degrees Fahrenheit). The geothermal cooling and heating processes often involve the below ground geothermal fluid loop(s) as well as geothermal heat exchangers where a second fluid or air is used for the above ground heating/cooling loop. By utilizing dual purpose rebars in the present invention below ground structure supports, such as pilings and caissons, for buildings, roadways, homes, runways, bridges and other man-made structures, the need for separate drillings, pipes and pourings for below ground geothermal loops is completely eliminated. In the present invention support members, the dual use rebars add structural design value to the support (that is, they have significant added value to the vertical and/or other strength of the support), while at the same time provide one or more below ground geothermal system loops. The term “below ground” as used herein is generally meant to be below ground level, but also includes at least partially below ground level and also includes below water level (which is usually inherently below ground level).
For decades, engineers have determined that loads such as Load A can be supported by smaller diameter pilings if rebars are inserted that have structural design values equal to the filler excluded by the smaller cross-section (diameter). Thus, if a 24 inch diameter piling has a structural design value of 26 tons, then a 10 inch diameter piling of the same structure might have a structural design value of 4.7 tons. By inserting two 3 inch vertical rebars, each having a structural design value of 12.7 tons, the 10 inch piling will have about the same structural design value as the 24 inch piling without rebars. Thus, the support capability of the 10 inch piling with the preceding stated two rebars will be as strong as the 24 inch piling mentioned (4.7+12.7+12.7=30.1 tons).
It is an objective of the present invention to crate dual purpose rebars having beneficial structural design value to achieve three four favorable results simultaneously: (a) reduce the cross sections or other dimensions of support structures by inclusion of rebars having structural design values; (b) use hollow rebars for the aforesaid rebars, that also function as below ground geothermal loops, i.e., flow paths for below ground geothermal loop fluids; (c) thereby eliminate any separate drillings, pipes or fillings for geothermal below ground loops; (4) by eliminating the standard separate below ground geothermal loops, reducing costs and environmental and aesthetic impacts that otherwise would have occurred.
In some instances, especially in deep casings, it is important to top view align, typically come close to centering, the hollow dual purpose rebars in the casing prior to pouring the filler. Positioning mechanisms, such as plates, cages, spokes or other device may be used.
Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those particular embodiments, and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, when pilings are used as part of the present invention support structure, the casings may be partially or completely eliminated or substituted, and thus the term “casing” should mean any outer structure used to contain poured filler in a piling. Such casings may be corrugated tubing or other tubing or even box frames such as are used for pouring square pillars (pilings). Also, as in the situation wherein there is drilled bedrock at the bottom of the piling, a casing need not extend into the bedrock, whereas the poured filler will, and the dual purpose hollow rebars may or may not extend into the bedrock. Also, the term “piling” as used herein means any vertically elongated support member that is at least partially below ground and should be taken to be synonymous with “pile”.
This application is a divisional application of co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 14/120,780, filed on Jun. 26, 2014, and titled SUPPORT MEMBER WITH DUAL USE REBAR FOR GEOTHERMAL UNDERGROUND LOOP AND METHODS.
