GEOTHERMAL HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEM

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 63/671,313, filed Jul. 15, 2024, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated entirely herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Technical Field

This invention relates generally to a geothermal heating and cooling system, in particular a geothermal heating and cooling system for a house or building structure.

State of the Art

Generally geothermal heating and cooling systems use a ground heat exchanger as a replacement for an air heat exchanger. Some geothermal heating and cooling systems use a horizontal loop, well water loop or pond loop design. However, most geothermal heating and cooling systems use a vertical loop design. The vertical loop design involves multiple bore holes per residential house and more for multi-unit and commercial buildings.

Accordingly, there is a need for a lower cost geothermal heating and cooling system that does not involve drilling, trenching, water circulation, and/or a heat pump. Further, there is a need for a geothermal heating and cooling system with no moving parts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a geothermal heating and cooling system. The system uses the ground as a heat exchanger.

An embodiment includes a geothermal heating and cooling system for a house or building structure comprising: a roof structure having a plurality of roof portions; a sidewall structure having a plurality of sidewall portions supporting the plurality of roof portions; a foundation structure having a plurality of foundation portions supporting the plurality of sidewall portions; a slab structure having at least one slab portion extending between the plurality of foundation portions; a footing structure having a plurality of footing portions provided along a lower portion of the foundation structure in order to provide support for the foundation structure; and an insulation material provided about outer surfaces of the roof structure, the sidewall structure, the foundation structure, and the footing structure.

The insulation material may have an R-value in the range of from about 40 to about 60. The foundation structure may extend from a ground surface through a ground surface layer and into a ground stable layer. The ground surface layer may extend to a depth of about 6 feet from the ground surface. The ground stable layer may extend to a depth in the range of from about 9 feet to about 10 feet from the ground surface. The footing structure may be positioned within the ground stable layer. A foundation insulation portion of the insulation material may terminate at the footing structure.

The system may further comprise a veneer structure having a plurality of veneer portions. The plurality of veneer portions may extend along inner surface portions of the plurality of roof portions, the plurality of sidewall portions and the plurality of foundation portions, respectively. The plurality of veneer portions may extend to an inner surface of the plurality of footing portions.

Another embodiment includes a method of assembling a house or building structure, the method comprises: providing a roof structure having a plurality of roof portions; providing a sidewall structure having a plurality of sidewall portions supporting the plurality of roof portions; providing a foundation structure having a plurality of foundation portions supporting the plurality of sidewall portions; extending a slab structure having at least one slab portion between the plurality of foundation portions; providing a footing structure having a plurality of footing portions along a lower portion of the foundation structure in order to provide support for the foundation structure; and providing an insulation material about outer surfaces of the roof structure, the sidewall structure, the foundation structure, and the footing structure.

The insulation material may have an R-value in the range of about 40 to about 60. The method may further comprise extending the foundation structure from a ground surface through a ground surface layer and into a ground stable layer. The ground surface layer may extend to a depth of about 6 feet from the ground surface. The ground stable layer may extend to a depth in the range of from about 9 feet to about 10 feet from the ground surface. The method may further comprise positioning the footing structure within the ground stable layer. The method may further comprise terminating a foundation insulation portion of the insulation material at the footing structure.

The method may further comprise providing a veneer structure having a plurality of veneer portions. The plurality of veneer portions may extend along inner surface portions of the plurality of roof portions, the plurality of sidewall portions and the plurality of foundation portions, respectively. The plurality of veneer portions may extend to an inner surface of the plurality of footing portions.

The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following more detailed description of the particular embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention may be derived by referring to the detailed description and claims when considered in connection with the Figures, wherein like reference numbers refer to similar items throughout the Figures, and:

FIG. 1 is a partial cross sectional view of a house or building structure in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a partial cross sectional view of a swimming pool structure in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a partial cross sectional view of a water tank structure in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a partial cross sectional view of a house or building structure having a water tank structure therein in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a partial cross sectional view of a house or building structure in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a partial cross sectional view of a house or building structure in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a schematical view of a house or building structure in accordance with an embodiment; and

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of steps of a method of assembling a house or building structure in accordance with an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to a geothermal heating and cooling system. The geothermal heating and cooling system provides cooling for a house or building structure. The geothermal heating and cooling system may be used in hot climate regions, generally having a ground temperature at least about 60° F.

In the present invention, the external walls, slab, and foundation of a house or building structure are constructed using a concrete type material to achieve the availability of thermal mass around the internal space of the house or building structure. The concrete type material acts as a passive conductive heat exchanger with the ground. The house or building structure may be any type of building, such as a residential house, multi-unit building and/or a commercial building. The first about 6 feet layer of ground is referred to as the ground surface layer. Below the ground surface layer is referred to as the ground stable layer. The foundation is extended below the ground surface layer for a distance of at least about 9 feet. The foundation is extended to at least about 9 feet to bypass the ground surface layer, thereby creating an isolated continuous pocket under the slab of the building.

The external walls, slab, foundation, and ceiling are externally insulated with a high R-value insulation to surround the house or building structure, thereby avoiding thermal bridging with the elements. The external insulation further provides a thermally protected pocket below the house or building structure making it a continuation of the ground stable layer and eliminating the effects of the ground surface layer below the building. No other insulation is used.

Passive heat exchange takes place between the air inside the house or building structure and the ground stable layer, where the roof, sidewalls, slab, and foundation act to heat and cool via conduction and radiation. By thermally isolating the ground surface layer below the house or building structure acts to change the ground surface layer to effectively become part of the ground stable layer.

Heat transfer occurs through the ground stable layer to the foundation and slab (via conduction), continues to the external sidewalls of the house or building structure (conduction) and finally to the air inside the house or building structure (via radiation). The ground below the house or building structure effectively becomes a heat sink during hotter months and a heat source during cooler months providing the house with a constant average temperature, for example 75° F., all year round.

Referring to FIGS. 1-7, a house or building structure 10 as shown in FIG. 1 is provided with a roof structure 12, a sidewall structure 14, a foundation structure 16 and a slab structure 18. The roof structure 12 is provided with a plurality of roof portions 12a which are connected to a plurality of sidewall portions 14a of the sidewall structure 14. A plurality of foundation portions 16a extend downwardly from the slab structure 18 having at least one slab portion 18a. A footing structure 20 having a plurality of footing portions 20a is provided along a lower portion 16b of the foundation structure 16 to provide support for the foundation structure 16 and the house or building structure 10.

The house or building structure 10 which includes the roof structure 12, sidewall structure 14, foundation structure 16 and slab structure 18 is constructed of concrete type material 22. Insulation material 24 (high R-value) is provided about outside surfaces 12b of the roof structure 12 as roof insulation portions 24a. The insulation material 24 is provided about the sidewall structure 14 as sidewall insulation portions 24b. The insulation material 24 is provided about the foundation structure 16 as foundation insulation portions 24c.

The foundation structure 16 extends below a ground surface layer 26. The ground surface layer 26 extends to an approximate depth 26a of about 6 feet from the ground surface 28. The foundation structure 16 continues to extend into a ground stable layer 30 to an approximate ground stable layer depth 32 in the range of from about 9 feet to about 10 feet from ground surface 28 where the footing structure 20 resides. The foundation insulation portions 24c of the foundation structure 16 extends to an outer surface 20b of the plurality of footing portions 20a. The slab structure 18 having at least one slab portion 18a is not provided with any insulation material thereon.

In another embodiment, the geothermal heating and cooling system of the present invention is used to cool swimming pools during warm months. As shown in FIG. 2, a swimming pool structure 34 having a plurality of pool sidewall portions 34a extends through the ground surface layer 26 and into the ground stable layer 30 to the approximate ground stable layer depth 32 in the range of from about 9 feet to about 10 feet from ground surface 28. Pool insulation material 36 (high R-value) is provided about outer surfaces 34b of the plurality of the pool sidewall portions 34a of the swimming pool structure 34 as pool sidewall insulation portions 36a.

A lower end portion 36b of pool sidewall insulation portions 36a terminates with a lower bottom surface portion 34c of the swimming pool structure 34. A top portion 36c of the pool sidewall insulation portions 36a extends over an upper end surface portion 34d of the pool sidewall portion 34a. Including pool insulation material 36 to the approximate ground stable layer depth 32 in the range of from about 9 feet to about 10 feet around the exterior of the sidewall portions 34a of the swimming pool structure 34 insulates the sidewall portions 34a from the ground surface layer 26 and allows the lower bottom surface portion 34c (uninsulated) of the pool structure 34 to be in contact with the ground stable layer 30 through conductivity and resulting in thermal bridging to the water inside the pool structure 34.

In another embodiment, the geothermal heating and cooling system of the present invention is used to cool water storage tanks. As shown in FIG. 3, a water tank structure 38 is provided within an enclosed tank insulating structure 40 constructed of insulation material 42 (high R-value). The enclosed tank insulating structure 40 is provided with a plurality of insulating sidewall portions 40a and an insulating top wall portion 40b. The plurality of insulating sidewall portions 40a extends through the ground surface layer 26 and into the ground stable layer 30 to the approximate ground stable layer depth 32 in the range of from about 9 feet to about 10 feet from the ground surface 28. A bottom portion 38a (uninsulated) of the water tank structure 38 is positioned on a ground stable layer surface 30a within the enclosed tank insulating structure 40 at the approximate ground stable layer depth 32 in the range of from about 9 feet to about 10 feet from the ground surface 28, whereby the bottom portion 38a is effectively part of the ground stable layer 30 through conductivity resulting in thermal bridging to the water inside the water tank structure 38.

Referring to FIG. 4, the water tank structure 38 is positioned within the foundation structure 16 having the plurality of foundation portions 16a surrounding the water tank structure 38. The bottom portion 38a of the water tank structure 38 is positioned on the ground stable layer surface 30a at the approximate ground stable layer depth 32 in the range of from about 9 feet to about 10 feet from the ground surface 28, whereby the constant temperature of the ground stable layer 30 below the house or building structure 10 provides for moderate temperature water all year round. The water tank structure 38 is also positioned adjacent and below a slab lower surface portion 18b of the slab structure 18.

In another embodiment to accelerate the heat exchange rate between the air in the house or building structure 10 and the ground stable layer 30, a veneer structure 40, such as an aluminum veneer structure, having a plurality of veneer portions 40a, 40b is provided within the house or building structure 10 as shown in FIG. 5. The plurality of veneer portions 40a, 40b extend respectively along the plurality of sidewall portions 14a and the plurality of roof portions 12a. The plurality of veneer portions 40a, 40b extend respectively against sidewall inner surface portions 14c and roof inner surface portions 12c. The plurality of the veneer portions 40a extends through the ground surface layer 26 and into the ground stable layer 30 to the approximate ground stable layer depth 32 in the range of from about 9 feet to about 10 feet from the ground surface 28. The plurality of veneer portions 40a of the veneer structure 40 extends to an inner surface 20c of the plurality of footing portions 20a. The veneer portions 40a, 40b are a fast thermal conductor and will accelerate the heat exchange rate between the air in the house or building structure 10 and the ground stable layer 30.

In still other embodiments as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a pipe structure 42 having a first plurality of pipe members 42a, 42b and 42c, such as aluminum screw pipes, extending downwardly from a corner portion 44 of an interior space 46 within the house or building structure 10 is provided which may be used with any building material including concrete. A first pipe member 42a (uninsulated) of the first plurality of pipe members 42a, 42b and 42c extends to an approximate first pipe depth 46 of about 18 feet from the ground surface 28. A second pipe member 42b (externally insulated) of the first plurality of pipe members 42a, 42b and 42c extends to the approximate ground stable layer depth 32 in the range of from about 9 feet to about 10 feet from ground surface 28 and connects with the first pipe member 42a. A third pipe member 42c of the first plurality of pipe members 42a, 42b and 42c connects with the second pipe member 42b and extends above the at least one slab portion 18a to an approximate third pipe height 48 of about 9 feet above the at least one slab portion 18a of the slab structure 18.

As shown in FIG. 6, a top end 50 of the third pipe member 42c connects with a second plurality of pipe members 52 extending along an apex ceiling structure 54 of the interior space 46. In FIG. 7, a top end 50a of the third pipe member 42c connects with a third plurality of pipe members 56 extending along an upper corner perimeter 58 of an interior space 46a. The upper corner perimeter 58 of the interior space 46a may be provided with aluminum crowning (not shown).

The second pipe member 42b is provided with second pipe insulation portion 24d extending along the second pipe member 42b to the approximate ground stable layer depth 32 in the range of from about 9 feet to about 10 feet from the ground surface 28. A slab insulation portion 24e extends from side wall insulation portion 24b below the at least one slab portion 18a of the slab structure 18. The slab structure 18, the side wall structure 14 having the plurality of side wall portions 14a and the roof structure 12 having the plurality of roof portions 12a may be constructed of any type of building material, such as concrete and/or wood, as long as the side wall structure 14, the roof structure 12 and the bottom of the slab structure 18 are insulated with a high R-value insulation material. The first plurality of pipe members 42a, 42b and 42c, the second plurality of pipe members 52 and the third plurality of pipe embers 56 may be filled, for example, with bentonite grout, a liquid mix and/or a gas for maximum conductivity and thermal mass.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of steps of a method 100 of assembling a house or building structure. Method 100 comprises providing a roof structure having a plurality of roof portions (Step 110); providing a sidewall structure having a plurality of sidewall portions supporting the plurality of roof portions (Step 120); providing a foundation structure having a plurality of foundation portions supporting the plurality of sidewall portions (Step 130); extending a slab structure having at least one slab portion between the plurality of foundation portions (Step 140); providing a footing structure having a plurality of footing portions along a lower portion of the foundation structure in order to provide support for the foundation structure (Step 150); and providing an insulation material about outer surfaces of the roof structure, the sidewall structure, the foundation structure, and the footing structure (Step 160).

The method further comprises extending the foundation structure from a ground surface through a ground surface layer and into a ground stable layer; positioning the footing structure within the ground stable layer; terminating a foundation insulation portion of the insulation material at the footing structure; and providing a veneer structure having a plurality of veneer portions.

The embodiments and examples set forth herein were presented in order to best explain the present invention and its practical application and to thereby enable those of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention. However, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the foregoing description and examples have been presented for the purposes of illustration and example only. The description as set forth is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the teachings above without departing from the spirit and scope of the forthcoming claims.