U.S. patent application number 12/566295 was filed with the patent office on 2010-08-12 for geothermal heating and cooling system and method.
This patent application is currently assigned to AMERICAN ECOTHERMAL, INC.. Invention is credited to Andy Livingston.
Application Number | 20100200191 12/566295 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42539419 |
Filed Date | 2010-08-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100200191 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Livingston; Andy |
August 12, 2010 |
GEOTHERMAL HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEM AND METHOD
Abstract
A method of providing a geothermal heating and cooling system
for a building having the steps of designing and installing a
geothermal heat pump and loop field system to a customer's
building; calculating a periodic fee to be charged to the customer;
measuring the actual geothermal system usage; and charging the
customer the periodic fee which is comprised of a base fee and a
usage charge based on the amount the system is in operation.
Inventors: |
Livingston; Andy;
(Portsmouth, NH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MESMER & DELEAULT, PLLC
1 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE., SUITE 125
PORTSMOUTH
NH
03801
US
|
Assignee: |
AMERICAN ECOTHERMAL, INC.
Portsmouth
NH
|
Family ID: |
42539419 |
Appl. No.: |
12/566295 |
Filed: |
September 24, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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61151713 |
Feb 11, 2009 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
165/45 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02E 10/10 20130101;
F24T 10/10 20180501; F24T 2201/00 20180501; Y02E 10/12
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
165/45 |
International
Class: |
F24J 3/08 20060101
F24J003/08 |
Claims
1. A geothermal heating and cooling system comprising: a geothermal
heat pump; a warm leg connected to the geothermal heat pump, the
warm leg being substantially covered by ground for collecting heat
from the ground; a cold leg connected to the geothermal heat pump
and the warm leg, the cold leg being substantially covered by
ground; an inlet duct connected to the geothermal heat pump drawing
cool air in; an outlet duct connected to the geothermal heat pump
for warm air to exit; a sensor connected to the geothermal heat
pump system that detects the amount that the system is in
operation; means for calculating a periodic usage fee to a user
based on the amount the system is in operation; and means for
turning off the system in the event the periodic usage fee is not
paid.
2. The geothermal heat pump system of claim 1, wherein the sensor
is selected from the group consisting of a flow meter, a
temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, a timer, and a power
meter.
3. The geothermal heat pump system of claim 1 further comprising a
warm leg circulation pump connected to the warm leg for pumping a
heat transfer medium through the geothermal heat pump.
4. The geothermal heat pump system of claim 1 further comprising a
cold leg circulation pump connected to the cold leg for pumping a
heat transfer medium through the geothermal heat pump.
5. The geothermal heat pump system of claim 3 wherein the means for
turning off the system is an electric switch connected to the warm
leg circulation pump.
6. The geothermal heat pump system of claim 4 wherein the means for
turning off the system is an electric switch connected to the cold
leg circulation pump.
7. The geothermal heat pump system of claim 1, wherein the means
for turning off the system is a fluid valve connected to the warm
leg or the cold leg.
8. The geothermal heat pump system of claim 1, wherein the means
for turning off the system is a fluid valve connected to the warm
leg.
9. The geothermal heat pump system of claim 1, wherein the means
for turning off the system is a fluid valve connected to the cold
leg.
10. The geothermal heat pump system of claim 1, the means for
calculating a periodic usage fee to a user comprising computer
storage media electrically connected to the sensor, the computer
storage media containing software programming steps that calculates
the periodic usage fee to a user based on the amount the system is
in operation.
11. A method of providing a geothermal heating and cooling system
for a building comprising the steps of: designing and installing a
geothermal heating and cooling system to a customer's building;
calculating a periodic fee to be charged to the customer; measuring
the actual geothermal system usage; and charging the customer the
periodic fee, the periodic fee comprising a base fee and a usage
charge based on the amount the system is in operation.
12. The method of claim 11, where the measuring step is at least
one selected from the group consisting of measuring flow, measuring
temperature, measuring pressure, measuring time the system is used,
and measuring power.
13. The method of claim 11 wherein the calculating step calculates
a base fee based on cost of equipment, cost of designing and
installing the system, rate of return to the vendor, predicted use
of a geothermal system, service costs, and maintenance costs.
14. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of shutting
off the geothermal heat pump system if the customer does not remit
the fee charged.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of shutting off the
geothermal heating and cooling system is turning off an electric
switch or closing a fluid valve.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention is in the field of providing a utility and
determining the rate that should be charged.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] The price of using fossil fuel or electricity to heat and
cool buildings has been increasing, and is expected to increase for
the foreseeable future. Therefore, many people are turning to
geothermal energy for a less expensive alternative.
[0005] Over the life of a building, geothermal heating and cooling
is less expensive than many alternatives. However, the up front
cost of installing geothermal systems is considerably higher
compared to alternative heating and cooling systems. For this
reason, many people do not consider installing geothermal in their
buildings.
[0006] In the field of solar hot water systems, one solution that
has been tried is disclosed in US Pat. App. Pub. No. 2008/0027883
A1 by Reddy et al. Reddy discloses a business method for providing
a utility and calculating a rate to charge the customer that is not
based on energy usage. Reddy only discusses solar hot water, and
specifically that the rate charged is not based on the amount of
energy used.
[0007] Another example in the solar field is disclosed in US Pat.
App. Pub. No. 2008/0091626 A1 and US App. Pub. No. 2008/0091626 A1,
both by Kremen. The primary examples in these publications involve
photovoltaic solar power, not geothermal heating and cooling. The
disclosures teach the creation of financial instruments to
purchase, lease, and maintain consumer premises equipment, and
provides for shutting off the power of the consumer stops
paying.
[0008] None of these references apply directly to geothermal heat
pumps or geothermal loop fields, and none provide any incentive for
the customer to save energy. What is needed, therefore, is a system
and method for financing the installation of a geothermal heating
and cooling systems and charging a fee based on an output related
to energy usage.
SUMMARY
[0009] The invention is a system and method that satisfies the need
for financing the installation of geothermal heating and cooling
systems and charging a fee, and is based on an output related to
energy usage. A system according to the present invention comprises
a geothermal heat pump; a warm leg connected to the geothermal heat
pump, the warm leg being substantially covered by ground for
collecting heat from the ground; a cold leg connected to the
geothermal heat pump and the warm leg, the cold leg being
substantially covered by ground; an inlet duct connected to the
geothermal heat pump drawing cool air in; an outlet duct connected
to the geothermal heat pump for warm air to exit; a sensor
connected to the geothermal heat pump system that detects the
amount that the system is in operation; calculating means for
calculating a periodic usage fee to a user based on the amount the
system is in operation; and means for turning off the system in the
event the periodic fees are not paid. A method according to the
present invention comprises the steps of designing and installing a
geothermal heat pump and loop field system to a customer's
building; calculating a periodic usage fee to be charged to the
customer; measuring the actual geothermal system usage; and
charging the customer the periodic usage fee. These and other
features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will
become better understood with regard to the following drawings,
description, and claim.
DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system and apparatus
according to the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a process flow chart showing the method of the
present invention.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a process flow chart showing details of one of the
steps in the method of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION
[0013] Turning to FIG. 1, a geothermal heat pump ("GHP") system
that is used in the present invention has a GHP 102 at its core. If
the GHP system is used for heating, a heat transfer medium is
warmed by the ground or a loop field 108 or other geothermal heat
source, and travels up its warm leg 104 to the GHP 102. As used in
this specification and claims the term "ground" and "loop field"
are synonymous. The heat is transferred to air, for example, in an
outlet duct 112. Cool air is returned via an inlet duct 110, and is
cleaned by an optional air filter 118. The heat transfer medium,
after transferring its heat, is returned to the earth down a cold
leg 106 for reheating. If the GHP system is used for cooling, the
flows are reversed. It is intended that this specification,
drawings, and claims cover the reversed cycle as if they were
rewritten to show the reverse cycle, even though only the forward,
heating cycle is shown.
[0014] The warm leg 104 may have a warm leg circulation pump 114 to
pump the heat transfer medium through the GHP 102. The cold leg may
also have a cold leg circulation pump 116 to pump the heat transfer
medium through the GHP 102. It is understood that one or more pumps
may be needed. Sensors and meters that directly or indirectly
measure the amount the system is used may also be coupled with the
warm leg 104, its pump 114, the cold leg 106, or its pump 116.
Examples include, but are not limited to, flow meters, temperature
sensors, pressure sensors, timers that count how long a pump is
operating, and power meters for the pumps.
[0015] In one embodiment, a warm leg sensor 120 can be provided
connected to the geothermal heat pump system. The warm leg sensor
could be a flow meter, temperature sensor, or a pressure sensor. A
cold leg sensor 122 can also be provided, which could also be a
flow meter, temperature sensor, or a pressure sensor.
[0016] In the same or another embodiment, a warm leg circulation
pump sensor 124 and/or a cold leg circulation pump sensor 126 could
be provided. They would be connected to the respective pumps can
could be timers or power meters.
[0017] In the same or yet another embodiment, a GHP sensor 132
could be connected elsewhere in the system, and could be one of the
types listed above.
[0018] A calculating means for calculating a periodic usage fee to
a user based on the amount the system is in operation is also
provided. The calculating means is preferably a computer storage
media electrically connected to at least one of the sensors, the
computer storage media containing software programming steps that
calculate the periodic usage fee to a user based on the amount the
system is in operation.
[0019] Furthermore, a means for turning off the system in the event
the periodic fees are not paid is also connected to the system. The
means for turning off the system could be a means 118 connected to
the warm leg circulation pump 114. The means for turning off the
system could also be a means 130 connected to the cold leg
circulation pump 116. Another means 132 could be connected to the
GHP elsewhere in the system. The means 118, 130, 132 used could be
at least one electric switch or fluid valve. It might also be a
computer command issued to those devices from a computer.
[0020] The method of the invention is to provide the system shown
in FIG. 1 with no up front cost to the customer while generating a
profit to the vendor. Turning to FIG. 2, a vendor will evaluate,
design, and install a geothermal system for heating and/or cooling
a building 202. The design, equipment, and labor are provided as a
package. The designer will calculate the expected periodic usage
rate for the equipment and location as a part of the design. The
vendor and customer will likely enter into a long-term contract
before the vendor does any installation.
[0021] The vendor, either before or after the design and
installation, must calculate a periodic fee to charge the customer
204. The periodic fee would be based on regular periodic payments,
for example, monthly. The base fee would be calculated using a base
fee, item 220 in FIG. 3, and a usage charge, described below.
[0022] While the system is in use, the amount of actual use would
be measured 206 by sensors and meters, such as those listed above.
Then the periodic usage fee will be determined and actually charged
to the customer 208. The periodic usage fee is calculated by
multiplying the periodic fee by the actual use during the period
typically monthly.
[0023] Finally, the vendor will be able to turn off system if the
customer does not pay in a timely manner 210. The means for turning
off the system would preferably be by disabling the GHP 102 or
circulation pumps 114, 116, although other means could be used,
like electric switches or fluid control valves.
[0024] FIG. 3 provides details about the step of calculating the
periodic base fee 204. It is an economic calculation having as
inputs the cost of the equipment 212, cost of design and
installation 214, required rate of return for the vendor 216,
predicted usage 218, and service and maintenance costs 222 for the
equipment and location. All of these factors and possibly more go
into calculating the base fee 220.
[0025] There are many benefits of the system and method of the
present invention over the prior art. One of the benefits is that
the customer does not have to pay for the up front capital costs,
which typically includes a high cost for drilling. Also, the vendor
receives a long-term, predictable stream of income. In addition,
the customer and/or vendor may be able to take advantage of
financing and tax incentives for the installation of a clean energy
system that replaces a fossil-fueled furnace. Finally, the customer
has some control over the amount he or she pays by changing the
amount of usage. There is some incentive for conservation and for
turning down the heat or air conditioning when the building is
unoccupied.
[0026] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention
have been described herein, the above description is merely
illustrative. Further modification of the invention herein
disclosed will occur to those skilled in the respective arts and
all such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the
invention as defined by the appended claim.
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