Patent · US Expired

Ground source heat pump system comprising modular subterranean heat exchange units with multiple parallel secondary conduits

US5372016A · kind A · utility

42Cited by
23References
9Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateNov 29, 1993
Grant dateDec 13, 1994
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 29, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02E60/14
  • WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An improved ground source heat pump system wherein the subterranean piping installation comprises modular heat exchange units. Each modular heat exchange unit comprises a plurality of parallel secondary or branch conduits. The use of multiple parallel secondary conduits significantly increases the heat exchange capacity of the system. Because of the increased efficiency of such a system, less piping is required, which in turn reduces the cost of labor and materials to install such a system and the area of land mass required to contain it. Moreover, because the heat exchange units are modular, they can be prefabricated at a remote site and then conveniently transported to construction site and installed much more quickly than the extended lengths of conventional piping.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.