Energy systems

An earth energy transfer system with a moving energy transfer fluid, the system for transferring energy for an entity, the system, in certain aspects, having apparatus and related items for measuring an amount of energy transferred for the entity to or from the moving energy transfer fluid, and apparatus and related items for invoicing the entity for the amount of energy transferred. The system, in certain aspects, including apparatus and related items for calculating a price for the amount of energy transferred, said invoicing based on said price. The system, in certain aspects, including apparatus and related items for transmitting a signal indicative of a measured amount of energy transferred from the apparatus and related items for measuring to the apparatus and related items for invoicing. Methods are disclosed for using such systems to measure and calculate an amount of energy transferred and/or to invoice an entity for the transferred energy.

 

What is claimed is:

1. An energy system with a moving energy transfer fluid, the system for transferring via the moving energy transfer fluid energy from the earth to a facility, the system including

an energy transfer system through which the moving energy transfer fluid moves to transfer energy from the earth to the facility,

measuring means for measuring an amount of energy transferred from the earth to the facility,

data means for collecting data from the measuring means,

interface means between the measuring means and data means for routing information between the data means and the measuring means,

at least one ground loop system, the moving energy transfer fluid moving through the at least one ground loop system,

the at least one ground loop system comprising an earth energy loop transfer system including a loop wellbore in the earth extending from an earth surface down into the earth to a bottom of the wellbore, a loop disposed in the loop wellbore and extending down to a position therein, the loop comprised of loop pipe, the loop having a fluid input end and a fluid output end, an input line in fluid communication with input end of the loop and in fluid communication with the facility, an output line in fluid communication with the output end of the loop and in fluid communication with the facility, and

means for invoicing an entity for the amount of energy transferred.

2. The energy system of claim 1 further comprising

communication means between the interface means and an internet system for communication between the interface means and the internet system.

3. The energy system of claim 1 further comprising

server means in communication with and between the data means and an internet system.

4. The energy system of claim 3 wherein the server means is able to receive information from the data means, interface means, and the measuring means.

5. The energy system of claim 3 wherein the server means provides communication via the internet system between a customer and the data means for the customer to query the data means regarding data therein.

6. The energy system of claim 1 wherein the data means is remote from the facility.

7. The energy system of claim 3 wherein the server means is remote from the facility.

8. The energy system of claim 1 further comprising

means for calculating a price for the amount of energy transferred, said invoicing based on said price.

9. The energy system of claim 1 further comprising

means for transmitting a signal indicative of a measured amount of energy transferred from the means for measuring to the means for invoicing.

10. The energy system of claim 1 wherein the means for invoicing is remote from the means for measuring.

11. The system of claim 1 further comprising

the means for invoicing including means for producing an invoice.

12. The energy system of claim 11 further comprising

the means for invoicing including means for sending the invoice to the entity.

13. An energy system with a moving energy transfer fluid, the system for transferring via the moving energy transfer fluid energy from the earth to a facility, the system including

an energy transfer system through which the moving energy transfer fluid moves to transfer energy from the earth to the facility,

measuring means for measuring an amount of energy transferred from the earth to the facility,

data means for collecting data from the measuring means,

interface means between the measuring means and data means for routing information between the data means and the measuring means, and

at least one ground loop system, the moving energy transfer fluid moving through the at least one ground loop system.

14. The energy system of claim 13 further comprising

communication means between the interface means and an internet system for communication between the interface means and the internet system.

15. The energy system of claim 13 further comprising

server means in communication with and between the data means and an internet system.

16. The energy system of claim 15 wherein the server means provides communication via the internet system between a customer and the data means for the customer to query the data means regarding data therein.

17. The energy system of claim 13 further comprising

means for invoicing an entity for the amount of energy transferred, and means for calculating a price for the amount of energy transferred, said invoicing based on said price.

18. The energy system of claim 17 further comprising

means for transmitting a signal indicative of a measured amount of energy transferred from the means for measuring to the means for invoicing.

19. The energy system of claim 17 wherein the means for invoicing and the the srver means are both remote from the means for measuring.

20. The system of claim 17 further comprising

the means for invoicing including means for producing an invoice,

and the means for invoicing including means for sending the invoice to the entity.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is directed to underground heat exchange systems; to apparatus and methods for installing a loop of pipe in a hole in the earth; and to thermally conductive filler materials for emplacement between the pipe loop and the interior hole wall.

2. Description of Related Art

The outstanding efficiency of closed loop ground source heat pumps is well known. In a typical system, for each unit of energy purchased from an electric utility to operate the system, 4 units of energy are extracted from or put into the earth in the form of heat. In order to exchange this heat with the earth, a closed loop pipe or series of closed loop pipes are buried in the ground. A heat exchange fluid is circulated through this buried pipe system. If a difference exists between the temperature of the fluid circulating in the pipe and the earth temperature, an exchange of heat occurs--primarily by conduction through the wall of the pipe. If the system is operating in the heating mode, heat is taken from the fluid inside of this circulating loop by a heat exchanger in the heat pump equipment. As this relatively cool water (35.degree. F.) is circulated back through the relatively warm earth (65.degree. F.), heat is transferred into the fluid, which is subsequently taken from this stream as it continues to circulate through the heat pump's heat exchanger. Similarly, if the system is operating in the cooling mode, the heat pump's heat exchanger puts heat into this circulating fluid. Then, as this relatively warm fluid (100.degree. F.) is circulated through the relatively cool earth (65.degree. F.), heat is given up to the earth and the relative cool fluid is circulated back to the heat pump to absorb more heat--and the process so continues. Because of its mass, the earth stays at a relatively constant temperature, providing a virtual limitless resource as a heat supplier and heat sink.

One reason ground source heat pumps have not been more widely used in the past is because of the expense involved in the design and installation of the circulating fluid pipe loop which must be buried in the ground. Many complex geological and installation parameters determine the rate of heat transfer between this buried heat exchanger and the earth and, subsequently, the operational performance and efficiency of the heat pump system. The uncertainty of the installation costs coupled with the uncertainty of the resulting operating efficiencies have made it difficult for a customer to predict the operating costs and the financial payback associated with installing a ground source heat pump system.

The present inventors have recognized that by having an independent company design, install, and own the ground heat exchange system or the ground loop, the uncertainty of installation costs and heat transfer is removed (from the customer's viewpoint).

Now, the customer simply "buys" kWh of energy from the ground system provider. The present inventors have recognized that the ground system is an on-site power plant and that by the placement of an energy meter on the ground system, the precise amount of energy being transferred to and from the earth can be determined and sold to a customer in the form of kWh, exactly like the customer purchases power from the electric company. With such a new method and system, as recognized by the present inventors, the customer, by adding the cost of the power supplied by the electric company to the power supplied by the ground system owner, may accurately evaluate the cost and return on investment of the ground source heat pump system compared to alternative heating and cooling systems.

Several companies in the past have produced "energy meters" that calculate and record energy extracted from a circulating water loop and bill the customer for the energy used. This has been done for many years in "district heating" applications in Europe. Such equipment only records heat flow in one direction--usually heat extracted from the flow stream, not heat rejected into the flow stream as would be the case in a heat pump in a cooling mode (air conditioning operation).

The prior art discloses a wide variety of earth heat exchange systems and methods for using energy transferred by such systems.

The prior art discloses the use of a common grout, typically a bentonite clay mixture, for use as a thermally conductive material between a pipe loop of an underground heat exchange system and the interior of a hole in which the loop is positioned.

The cost for the installation of certain prior art vertical ground source heat loops can account for nearly half of the total cost incurred in the installation of a geothermal heat pump system. In certain aspects, the heat loop installation consists of drilling a vertical well, placing a thermoplastic pipe "loop" in the wellbore, and filling the annular space between the loop and the well wall with a thermally conductive material. Several problems can arise in such methods: loop "insertion" difficulties caused by loop buoyancy; thermal conductivity and installation difficulties of borehole backfill materials; and environmental concerns.

Although the drilling of the hole may be relatively easy, certain problems may be encountered in inserting the loop. In most applications, the "loop" consists of a relatively lightweight thermoplastic pipe. One material of choice is polyethylene, with a specific gravity of approximately 0.955 gms/cc.sup.3 lighter than water. This pipe material also has relatively poor stiffness. As a driller attempts to push the pipe down into a mud filled well, the natural buoyancy of the pipe resists these efforts. Since the pipe has poor longitudinal stiffness, the pipe tends to bend or curl inside the well, creating additional frictional drag against the well wall until the pipe can be pushed no deeper. Even when the pipe is filled with water, the loop still maintains considerable buoyancy because the drilled hole is filled with dense drilling mud. In soft geological formations, the driller must mix heavy drilling mud in order to transport drilled cuttings and to stabilize the hole. In most cases, bentonite clay is added to the drill fluid to reduce friction, prevent loss of circulation, and suspend solids. However, the result is residual heavy drilling fluid in the well, creating a very dense slurry of clay, sand, rock, etc.--with resulting high buoyancy and low surface tension. In order to overcome the buoyancy problems, the driller usually attaches a heavy steel or other weight bar to the leading end of the heat loop and "pulls" the loop to the bottom of the well. Once the loop hits bottom, the driller 1) remotely secures the loop in the hole to prevent it from floating up, 2) remotely detaches the steel bar from the loop, 3) and recovers the bar from the well, usually by a cable winch. The considerable efforts made to overcome buoyancy of the loop caused by the density of the drill fluid are time consuming, expensive, and hazardous to the integrity of the loop.

The ability of the loop to transfer heat is directly related to the efficient operation of a geothermal heat pump system. Great expense and many tests and studies have been performed in a search for an optimum thermally conductive material that can be economically placed in the annular space between the loop pipe and the wellbore wall. An ideal material would be: at least as thermally conductive as the native earth; be easily and reliably placed in the borehole; maintain conductivity "long term", and be inexpensive.

In some applications, particularly those where a loop is installed below a water table, no "bore backfill" material is placed in the well. Over time, the water table may drop, leaving an insulating airspace between the loop and the borehole. This insulating airspace results in "hot loops", and the heat pump system either works poorly or not at all.

Many conductive high solids and cementitious "grouts" have been developed which include a mixture of water and a relatively conductive solid such as silica sand or fly ash. In order to transport the heavy solids, a viscosity enhancer such a bentonite clay is added. Also, friction reducers and "super-plasticizers", like sulfonated naphthalene, are added to make the slurry pumpable. Although these grouts seem to work well in testing, there is great resistance from the field installers. The mixture can be expensive to handle, difficult to mix, even more difficult to pump, and extremely rough on equipment because of the abrasion. In addition, placing of the material in the borehole is difficult to control and monitor. If grouting is attempted from the surface, "bridging" can occur resulting in a partially filled hole. If grouting from the bottom of the hole, "channeling" can occur, again resulting in a partially grouted hole. When the water subsides in the borehole, this leaves air spaces, thus insulating the loop and reducing the efficiency of the system. An additional disadvantage is that the voids from channeling as well as the interstitial spacing between the individual sand (or other solid particles) create permeability. Permeability that creates a vertical communication path by which the ground water system could be contaminated by surface spills is an environmental concern.

The prior art cementitious grouts, developed to overcome the permeability objection, have some unique problems of their own. In addition to all of the handling, mixing, pumping, abrasion, and conductivity problems of the High Solids Thermally Conductive Grouts, the "heat of hydration" generated when cement cures, causes grout to "shrink" away from the polyethylene pipe. As heat is generated, the polyethylene pipe, having a very high coefficient of expansion expands. Once the cement cures and cools, the polyethylene contracts and actually pulls away from the grout. Although the permeability of the cured grout itself is very low, a flow path may now exist between the polyethylene pipe and the grout--again insulating the loop and threatening the environment. Because of its inherent structure, polyethylene is a very high molecular weight wax or paraffin, and does not bond well with anything, even under laboratory controlled conditions. Attempts to control grout shrinkage and cement to polyethylene bonding in the field were proven unsuccessful.

Drilling "polymers" have existed for years. They have been used in the oil well drilling industry as an alternative to bentonite clays to provide solids transport, solids suspension, friction reduction, and displacement efficiency.

The prior art discloses a variety of systems and apparatuses for installing ground heat exchange pipe loops in a wellbore, including a system in which a wellbore is drilled, e.g. a vertical hole four to four-and-a half inches in diameter to a depth of about 250 feet, and a single piece of polyethylene pipe attached to a sinker bar is introduced into the hole and then pulled out of the hole manually while grout is introduced into the hole. A pipe loop (polyethylene) is pushed to the bottom of the hole by a wire-line retrievable sinker bar. With the sinker bar removed, a series of screwed together 2 inch PVC tremmie pipes is lowered to the bottom of the hole and grout mixed at the surface is pumped into the tremmie pipe. As each batch is pumped into the hole the tremmie pipe string is raised and one 20 foot section of pipe is removed from the hole. After grouting is completed and the tremmie pipe is removed, the rig is moved to another drilling position, e.g. at least 15 feet away. When all of the pipe loops have been installed (e.g. one loop for each ton of heating and cooling equipment), the drill rig is removed from the site. A trench (e.g. about four feet deep) is then dug to contain pipes that interconnect all of the pipe loops and a connecting pipe is laid into the trench, heat fused to each of the vertical pipe loops, and pressure tested and buried to serve as a circulating manifold carrying water between the earth and a heat pump located within an adjacent building. The trenching and manifolding of the surface pipe typically takes as much time as the wellbore drilling and pipe installation.

The prior art discloses numerous in-ground heat exchanger systems (e.g. see U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,244,037; 5,261,251); and grouting systems (see, e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 5,435,387).

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

This present invention, in at least certain embodiments, provides a method and apparatus for generating revenues by charging the consumer for energy provided by the earth during the operation of a ground heat exchange system which includes, but is not limited to, a ground loop systems as described herein, and, in one particular aspect, such a ground heat exchange system or ground loop system used with a heat pump. In certain embodiments of such a system the consumer is exchanging heat with the earth by circulating a heat transfer medium, e.g. but not limited to, water, through a ground heat exchange system or a continuous closed loop pipe system which is buried in the ground. As the heat transfer medium is pumped through the buried system, heat is exchanged between the heat transfer medium and the earth. When a heat exchanger apparatus or heat pump is operating in a heating mode, heat is taken from the earth and transferred into the heat transfer fluid, where it is again transferred to a primary heat exchanger component of the heat exchanger apparatus or heat pump equipment for the eventual heating of a structure or building. Having lost a portion of its BTU's from exchange with the heat exchanger apparatus or heat pump's heat exchanger, the relatively cooler heat transfer fluid continues to circulate back through the earth, where it again gathers heat from the relatively warmer earth. With the equipment operating in a cooling mode, this process operates in reverse--i.e., BTU's of heat are put into the heat exchange fluid and dissipated back into the relatively cooler earth. Thus, the structure or building is cooled. By measuring the total number of BTU's exchanged with the earth during both the heating and cooling modes of operating, the kWh-hrs of energy provided by the earth are precisely calculated and a customer is directly charged for the energy consumed.

In certain embodiments of this invention, an energy meter is placed between a heat exchanger and a heat exchange medium circulation system. The energy meter in one aspect has three components--a pair of temperature sensors (resistance thermometers), a flow sensor (e.g. a water meter), and a calculator unit (with recording and output interface features). Using a pair of temperature sensors (with electronic measurement circuit parameters built into an integration unit), the absolute temperature difference of the heat exchange fluid medium entering and exiting the earth is measured. A separate flow sensor (e.g. a water meter) continuously measures the flow volume. In the calculator element, the temperature difference is multiplied by the flow volume, and this result is processed in the calculator where the amount of energy is calculated. The outputted kWh readings are then used as the basis for billing the customer for the energy used. By measuring the absolute value of the temperature difference, the kWh can be calculated by using only one energy meter, regardless of whether the system is operating in the heating or the cooling mode. In other aspects, two separate meters are used, one for the heating mode, and one for the cooling mode.

The present invention, in certain aspects, discloses a method for providing energy to an end user from an energy transfer loop system and/or a method for extracting excess and/or waste heat from a facility, apparatus etc. In certain embodiments the method includes metering the amount of energy transferred from the loop system to the end user and/or metering the amount of excess heat extracted and invoicing the end user for the energy and/or for the heat extracted, e.g., but not limited to, at a charge per Btu or per kilowatt. In certain aspects an end user pays only for energy consumed and/or extracted and pays nothing for the loop system, and, in one aspect, the loop system is installed at an end user's site, property, or location. In other aspects, an end user pays some or all of the cost of loop system installation and/or maintenance.

In certain aspects the present invention discloses an energy transfer loop system which includes one or more methods for metering energy extracted from the earth with an energy transfer loop and/or energy introduced back into the earth with the system. Appropriate devices and apparatuses meter, quantify, calculate, record, totalize Btu's of heat exchanged, and/or transmit data ("metering etc.") regarding energy transfer by the system and use by the end user. Energy transfer systems according to the present invention may operate in a heating mode or in a cooling mode.

In certain aspects, systems for metering, etc. for energy transfer systems according to the present invention include one or more temperature sensors for sensing the temperature of an energy transfer fluid flowing in the energy transfer system; a fluid flow sensor for measuring (periodically or continuously) amount (flow volume) and/or rate of fluid flow in the energy transfer system; and/or a calculator device for calculating the amount of energy produced and/or the amount of energy delivered to and used by the end user and/or the amount of heat extracted and/or an amount to be invoiced--e.g., but not limited to a calculation including multiplying a temperature difference of fluid in versus fluid out by the flow volume or multiplying a temperature difference of fluid out versus fluid in by the flow volume. In one aspect a pair of temperature sensors with electronic measurement circuit parameters built into an integration unit measure absolute temperature difference between a heat exchange medium entering and exiting the earth. Based on the absolute value of the temperature difference, energy delivered (e.g. in kilowatt hours) (and/or heat extracted from a facility) can be calculated using only one energy meter in the system, whether the system is operating in a heating mode or a cooling mode.

In certain aspects systems according to the present invention use known metering systems provided by ABB Metering SVM AB Company of Sweden, e.g. The commercially available Model SVM 840 energy meter system which includes a pair of temperature sensors (resistance thermometers), a flow sensor (water meter), a calculator unit and, optionally, apparatus for power calculation, printing, and connection to a computer. In one aspect a commercially available SVMV431 flow sensor and SVM F2 or F3 calculator from ABB Metering is used. For the various quantifying, calculations, and recording functions of systems according to the present invention, any known suitable computer (appropriately programmed with known software) or electronic calculator may be used. In certain aspects, the invoice production function of systems according to the present invention are done by known computer systems programmed with appropriate software and capable of receiving input from the metering system regarding the basis for invoices. The transmission function of systems according to the present invention may be accomplished by any suitable known transmitter and/or transmitting system which transmits any and/or all system records and/or outputs, including, but not limited to recorded data and/or calculations. Transmission can be to an adjacent, nearby, and/or remote system and/or location.

The present invention discloses, in certain aspects, a wellbore heat loop system including 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 comprised of heat loop pipe, filler material around the heat loop in the wellbore, the filler material including a gel with an amount of water, and an amount of a gel material mixed with the water. In certain aspects the filler material has a thermal conductivity of at least 1.2 or at least 1.4 and includes gelling polymer, solids and water present, by weight, in the ranges of polymer--about 0.3% to about 5%, water--about 25% to about 50%, and solids--about 50% to about 80%.

The present invention also discloses, in certain embodiments, a bottom member for an earth bore heat loop system, the bottom member having 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 heat loop pipe, a second bore having at least one opening on the body, the second bore sized and configured for securement thereat of an end of coil tubing; and at least one fluid exit port in fluid communication with the second bore for jetting fluid from the bottom member.

The present invention, in certain aspects, discloses a ground heat exchange system filler material which, in one aspect, includes a gel material and water; and, in another aspect, includes a gel material, water and thermally conductive material or solids (e.g. but not limited to sand; powdered metal, e.g. aluminum, zinc, aluminum alloys, zinc alloys, iron, steel; and/or crushed granite). In particular aspects, either the gel/water or gel/water/solids mixture also includes a biocide and/or a cross-linking agent when the gel material is a polymer.

In certain aspects the gel material is a polymer, e.g. but not limited to xanthan gum, guar gum or polyacrylamide polymers; and in certain particular embodiments the resulting filler material does not crack when it shrinks and/or is rehydrateable. In other aspects the polymer is a rehydrateable polymer. Suitable gel materials include, but are not limited to xanthan biopolymers; commercially available Xanvis L.TM. material from Kelco Oil Field Group; Kelzan L.TM. material from Kelco Oil Field Group; ASP 700 polymer from Exxon-Nalco Co.; known drilling fluid polymers that form a gel with water; and synthetic polymers with suitable gelling characteristics; including, but not limited to, polyacrylamide polymers.

Such filler materials mentioned above may be used in any invention described below using grout, either instead of the grout or in combination with grout; and any grouting pipe and method described below may employ such filler material instead of and/or in addition to grout.

The present invention, in one embodiment, discloses a system for simultaneously installing a heat exchange fluid pipe loop and a grouting pipe in a wellbore. The system, in one embodiment, has a bottom member to which both pipes are attached and to which the grouting pipe is releasably attached. The bottom member may be of sufficient mass itself or it may have weights connected thereto so it will easily move down the wellbore. In another embodiment an integral loop of pipe is used with an inlet pipe secured to one side of the loop and an outlet pipe secured to the other side of the loop.

In one aspect the bottom member has an inlet connection and an outlet connection to which are secured inlet and outlet pipe of the pipe loop. A passageway through the bottom member provides for fluid communication between the inlet and outlet pipes so that heat exchange fluid may flow down the inlet pipe, through the passageway in the bottom member, and up through the outlet pipe.

In one aspect such a bottom member has a hole in which the grouting pipe is held. Pulling on the grouting pipe releases it from the bottom member for removal from the wellbore as grout flows out from the bottom of the grouting pipe.

In certain embodiments the grouting pipe is made of commercially available coiled tubing, e.g. in one aspect with an inside diameter of about one and three-tenths inches and an outside diameter of about one and a half inches; and the pipe loop is, e.g., three quarters of an inch in inside diameter made of high density polyethylene. In certain embodiments a wellbore for such heat exchange systems is three to three-and-a-half inches in diameter. In one aspect the bottom member is made of plastic and is pointed to facilitate its downward movement in the wellbore.

In one system and method according to the present invention a coiled tubing unit (CTU) is used to drill heat loop bore holes. The CTU has a reel on which is wrapped continuous flexible steel tubing, an injector which transports the tubing into and out of the hole, a drill bit on the end of a down hole motor, and a pump which supplies fluid for drilling. The motor is rotated by the pump pressure from the surface, which allows the unit to drill without rotating the drill string. This feature results in several benefits not possible with conventional drilling rigs. Directional drilling allows multiple wells to be drilled from one location. It also reduces the space required between bore holes and allows them to be drilled in a very close proximity to the subject building. This process not only reduces 80 percent of trenching on some jobs, but allows the unit to drill under existing slabs, driveways, parking lots and buildings. The compact design and directional drilling capabilities opens the retrofit market to geothermal systems.

With a method according to the present invention a relatively short surface trench is excavated before drilling is started. The drilling machine straddles the trench, drilling bore holes in the bottom of the trench as it moves over the length of the trench. A solids control system which cleans the drilling fluid as it is pumped from the hole, allowing cuttings to be dry discharged in a designated area, thereby maintaining a clean, dry drill site. As each hole is drilled, a track mounted rig moves approximately two to three feet down the trench to the next drilling location. A grout reel is then positioned over the previously drilled hole. This reel has a flexible grout pipe wrapped around a powered reel. As the grout pipe is pushed down the bore hole, it takes a plastic heat loop with it to the bottom of the hole. In certain preferred embodiments the loop is secured in the hole with an anchor apparatus; then the grout pipe is retracted while filling the hole with grout. Since a sinker bar is not required in this process, a 3 to 31/4 inch diameter hole is drilled, in certain embodiments, compared to a conventional 4 to 41/2 inch hole. This results in faster penetration, improved fuel efficiency, and improved heat transfer to the earth.

After installation of heat loops in multiple adjacent holes, the loops are heat fused into a common manifold. A return line to a facility or building is attached to the manifold and purged of all remaining air. The system is then pressure tested before being attached to a heat pump.

This invention provides these benefits: shorter surface trench and dry discharge results in less site damage; smaller bore hole increases system efficiency by improved heat transfer; total system installation time is reduced by at least 50 percent as compared to some prior art methods; and usable space is increased by drilling under slabs and other surface structures.

The U.S. Department of Energy states in a recent report that a system with these capabilities is needed to meet its goal of 400,000 installations by the year 2000.

In certain embodiments, the present invention discloses a system with coil tubing and a grout pipe with a curved member or members or a solid or hollow ball or partial ball at the end of the pipes to facilitate movement of the system through a wellbore and to prevent the lower end of the system from hanging up on or being caught by a ledge or uneven portion of the wellbore.

What follows are some of, but not all, the objects of this invention. In addition to the specific objects stated below for at least certain preferred embodiments of the invention, other objects and purposes will be readily apparent to one of skill in this art who has the benefit of this invention's teachings and disclosures. It is, therefore, an object of at least certain preferred embodiments of the present invention to provide:

New, useful, unique, efficient, nonobvious methods for providing energy to an end user from a ground energy transfer system and, in one aspect, from an energy transfer loop system;

Such method that include metering and quantifying energy delivery and the calculation, recordation, and/or transmission (to a nearby or remote location) of data related thereto;

Such methods that include the transmission of data regarding the measurement of energy and delivery of energy to an end user;

Such methods including invoicing an end user for energy delivered to it; and

Such methods which determine an absolute value of energy transferred;

New, useful, unique, efficient, nonobvious devices and methods for systems and methods for installing heat exchange pipe loops in wellbores; filler materials for emplacement around such loops and methods employing such materials; for grouting and/or adding filler material to such wellbores; and for drilling such wellbores;

Such systems using a filler material that includes a thermally conductive material in suspension with a gel material such as a suitable polymer and, in one aspect, with a cross-linking agent to assist in maintaining solids of the thermally conductive material in suspension with the polymer;

Such systems including a bottom member to which a pipe loop and a filler or grouting pipe are secured, the bottom member for releasably holding the pipe, the bottom member for facilitating entry of the pipes into the wellbore, and, in one aspect, a curved member or members at the end of the pipes and tubing to facilitate movement of the system through a wellbore;

Such systems with a bottom member having a bore for receiving two pieces of a heat loop and coil tubing (or a connector for connecting coil tubing to the bottom member and, in one aspect, such a bottom member with a hole therethrough for pumping material through the coil tubing and out from the bottom member; and

Heat exchange systems with a plurality of heat exchange pipe loops drilled relatively close to each other with simultaneous filling and/or grouting of one wellbore while another wellbore is being drilled.

Certain embodiments of this invention are not limited to any particular individual feature disclosed here, but include combinations of them distinguished from the prior art in their structures and functions. Features of the invention have been broadly described so that the detailed descriptions that follow may be better understood, and in order that the contributions of this invention to the arts may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional aspects of the invention described below and which may be included in the subject matter of the claims to this invention. Those skilled in the art who have the benefit of this invention, its teachings, and suggestions will appreciate that the conceptions of this disclosure may be used as a creative basis for designing other structures, methods and systems for carrying out and practicing the present invention. The claims of this invention are to be read to include any legally equivalent devices or methods which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

The present invention recognizes and addresses the previously-mentioned problems and long-felt needs and provides a solution to those problems and a satisfactory meeting of those needs in its various possible embodiments and equivalents thereof. To one of skill in this art who has the benefits of this invention's realizations, teachings, disclosures, and suggestions, other purposes and advantages will be appreciated from the following description of preferred embodiments, given for the purpose of disclosure, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The detail in these descriptions is not intended to thwart this patent's object to claim this invention no matter how others may later disguise it by variations in form or additions of further improvements.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more particular description of embodiments of the invention briefly summarized above may be had by references to the embodiments which are shown in the drawings which form a part of this specification. These drawings illustrate certain preferred embodiments and are not to be used to improperly limit the scope of the invention which may have other equally effective or legally equivalent embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a prior art underground pipe loop heat exchange system.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a prior art wellbore grouting system.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an underground pipe loop heat exchange system according to the present invention.

FIG. 4A is a top view of a bottom member according to the present invention; FIG. 4B is a side view of the bottom member of FIG. 4A.

FIGS. 5A-5C are side schematic views of a system according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a top schematic view of a system according to the present invention.

FIG. 7A is a top schematic view of the grouting unit of the system of FIG. 6. FIG. 7B is a side view of the grouting unit of FIG. 7A. FIG. 7C is a top view of the drilling unit of the system of FIG. 6. FIG. 7D is a side view of the drilling unit of FIG. 7C.

FIG. 8A is a front view of a pipe heat exchange loop and related items according to the present invention. FIG. 8B is a side view of the items of FIG. 8A.

FIG. 9A is a front view of a pipe heat exchange loop and related items according to the present invention. FIG. 9B is a cross-section side view along line 9B--9B of FIG. 9A.

FIG. 10 is a schematic side view of a system according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a front view of a system according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a side cross-section view of a system according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a system according to the present invention.

FIG. 14A is a perspective view of a heat loop bottom member according to the present invention.

FIG. 14B is a side cross-section view.

FIG. 14C is a front cross-section view, and

FIG. 14D is a top cross-section view of the bottom member of FIG. 14A.

FIG. 14E is a perspective end view of the bottom member of FIG. 14A.

FIGS. 14F and 14G is a perspective top view of the bottom member of FIG. 14A.

FIG. 14H is a plan view of one side of the bottom member of FIG. 14A.

FIGS. 14I and 14J are end views of the bottom member of FIG. 14A.

FIG. 14K shows the bottom member of FIG. 14A with a coil tubing connector installed therein. FIG. 14L is a perspective view of the coil tubing connector of FIG. 14K. FIG. 14M is an end view of the connector of FIG. 14L. FIG. 14N is a perspective view of a heat loop bottom member according to the present invention.

FIG. 15A is a side cross-section view of a heat loop bottom member according to the present invention. FIG. 15B is a front cross-section view, and FIG. 15C is a top cross-section view of the bottom member of FIG. 15A.

FIG. 16A is a side view of a heat loop installation system according to the present invention. FIG. 16B is a top perspective view showing a top of a wellbore above which is the system of FIG. 16A.

FIG. 17 is a side view of a spool apparatus according to the present invention.

FIGS. 18A-18C are schematic side views illustrating steps in a method according to the present invention.

FIGS. 19, 20, and 21 are schematic views of systems according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS PREFERRED AT THE TIME OF FILING FOR THIS PATENT

Referring now to FIG. 1, a prior art underground heat exchange pipe loop system S has a plurality of wellbores W, each e.g. about 250 feet deep and 4 to 4.5 inches in diameter, which are preferably, between about ten feet to fifteen feet apart. Water flows from a building's processing unit U in an inlet pipe I into each inlet side of a plurality of pipe heat exchange loops L and then flows up in each outlet side of the loops L to an outlet pipe O which is in fluid communication with the processing unit U. Pipes I and O are typically about 45 feet long for a three loop system as shown (preferably about ten to fifteen feet between each loop).

FIG. 2 illustrates a prior art system and method for grouting a wellbore such as the wellbores W in FIG. 1. After a pipe heat excha