U.S. patent application number 13/203036 was filed with the patent office on 2011-12-15 for system and method for using recyclables for thermal storage.
Invention is credited to Martin Mittelmark, Henry T. Nordberg, Paul St. John.
Application Number | 20110303388 13/203036 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42341423 |
Filed Date | 2011-12-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110303388 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mittelmark; Martin ; et
al. |
December 15, 2011 |
System and Method for Using Recyclables for Thermal Storage
Abstract
A thermal storage system (100) and related method, comprising: a
thermal collector (101); a thermal storage sink (102); at least one
thermal storage transport conduit (8) for transporting thermal
energy from the thermal collector to the thermal storage sink for
storage therein; at least one thermal delivery conduit (11) for
transporting the thermal energy from the thermal storage sink to an
indoor-air space for use therein; a thermal storage liquid (21)
within the thermal storage sink; and baled waste tires (14) for
enhancing thermal storage. Also, a thermal storage sink and related
method comprising: a sink (102); liquid (21) within the sink; and
at least one recyclable material comprising baled tires (14) for at
least one of the following functions: providing insulation,
providing a free flow of liquid therethrough, providing thermal
mass, providing structural support to a said sink, resisting
settling of a surface above said sink, buffering shock to said
sink, protecting pipes or conduits located within or serving said
sink, averting deflection, eliminating or reducing costly drilling,
reducing a need for plastic tubing, eliminating casing, reducing
thermal sink construction costs.
Inventors: |
Mittelmark; Martin;
(Schuylerville, NY) ; St. John; Paul; (Charlston,
NY) ; Nordberg; Henry T.; (Oneida, NY) |
Family ID: |
42341423 |
Appl. No.: |
13/203036 |
Filed: |
February 27, 2010 |
PCT Filed: |
February 27, 2010 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US2010/025696 |
371 Date: |
August 24, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61156488 |
Feb 28, 2009 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
165/10 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F28D 20/0056 20130101;
F28D 20/0043 20130101; F24S 60/30 20180501; Y02E 10/40 20130101;
Y02E 60/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
165/10 |
International
Class: |
F28D 20/00 20060101
F28D020/00 |
Claims
1. A thermal storage system (100), comprising: a thermal collector
(101); a thermal storage sink (6,102,1000); at least one thermal
storage transport conduit (8,11,12,22,1108,1302,1503,1505) for
transporting thermal energy from said thermal collector (101) to
said thermal storage sink (6,102,1000) for storage therein; at
least one thermal delivery conduit (8,11,12,22,1108,1302,1503,1505)
for transporting said thermal energy from said thermal storage sink
(6,102,1000) to an indoor-air space (901) for use therein; a
thermal storage liquid (20,21,26) within said thermal storage sink
(6,102,1000); and baled waste tires (14, 301) for enhancing thermal
storage.
2. The system (100) of claim 1, further comprising a liner (18) for
substantially containing said thermal storage liquid (20,21,26)
from within said thermal storage sink (6,102,1000).
3. The system (100) of claim 1, wherein said baled waste tires (14,
301) are within said thermal storage sink (6,102,1000).
4. The system of claim 1, wherein said baled waste tires (14, 301)
are substantially around a perimeter of said thermal storage sink
(6,102,1000).
5. The system (100) of claim 1, wherein said baled waste tires (14,
301) are both within said thermal storage sink (6,102,1000) and
around a perimeter of said thermal storage sink (6,102,1000).
6. The system (100) of claim 1, further comprising: at least some
of said baled waste tires (14, 301) outside of said liner (18)
relative to said thermal storage sink (6,102,1000).
7. The system (100) of claim 1, further comprising some of said
baled waste tires (14, 301) positioned about an outer perimeter of
said a thermal storage sink (6,102,1000) for insulating said
thermal storage sink (6,102,1000) from its outside environs
(504).
8. The system (100) of claim 1, further comprising some of said
baled waste tires (14, 301) positioned to provide structural
support to said thermal storage sink (6,102,1000).
9. The system (100) of claim 1, further comprising some of said
baled waste tires (14, 301) positioned within said thermal storage
sink (6,102,1000) for adding thermal mass to said thermal storage
sink (6,102,1000).
10. The system (100) of claim 1, wherein said thermal storage sink
(6,102,1000) is underground (504).
11. The system (100) of claim 1, said at least one thermal storage
transport conduit (8,11,12,22,1108,1302,1503,1505) utilizing said
thermal storage liquid (20,21,26) for transporting said thermal
energy from said thermal collector (101) to said thermal storage
sink (6,102,1000).
12. The system (100) of claim 1, said at least one thermal delivery
conduit (8,11,12,22,1108,1302,1503,1505) utilizing said thermal
storage liquid (20,21,26) for transporting said thermal energy from
said thermal storage sink (6,102,1000) to the indoor air space
(901).
13. The system (100) of claim 1, said at least one thermal storage
transport conduit (8,11,12,22,1108,1302,1503,1505) utilizing a
liquid (20,21,26) other than said thermal storage liquid (21,26)
for transporting said thermal energy from said thermal collector
(101) to said thermal storage sink (6,102,1000).
14. The system (100) of claim 1, said at least one thermal delivery
conduit (8,11,12,22,1108,1302,1503,1505) utilizing a liquid
(20,21,26) other than said thermal storage liquid (21,26) for
transporting said thermal energy from said thermal storage sink
(6,102,1000) to the indoor-air space (901).
15. The system (100) of claim 1, wherein at least part of said
thermal collector (101) is above said thermal storage sink
(6,102,1000).
16. The system (100) of claim 1, further comprising at least some
of said baled waste tires (14, 301) baled into substantially
rectangular parallelepipeds.
17. The system (100) of claim 1, further comprising at least some
of said baled waste tires (14, 301) baled such that open centers of
said tires align to form a substantially pipelike configuration,
thereby forming pipelike passages within these pipelike bales
(14).
18. The system (100) of claim 1, further comprising: waste tires
placed around at least part of said conduits
8,11,12,22,1108,1302,1503,1505), outside of said thermal storage
sink (6,102,1000), with at least some air spaces (503) between said
waste tires and said conduits (8,11,12,22,1108,1302,1503,1505),
whereby: said waste tires (14,301) and air spaces (503) insulate
said conduit 8,11,12,22,1108,1302,1503,1505)s from exchanging heat
with ground proximate thereto; and simultaneously, said waste tires
(14,301) and air spaces (503) protect said conduit
(8,11,12,22,1108,1302,1503,1505)s from damage due to ground
shifting or heaving.
19. The system (100) of claim 1, further comprising at least a
portion of said conduits (8,11,12,22,1108,1302,1503,1505) running
through spaces within said baled waste tires (14, 301).
20. The system (100) of claim 1, further comprising at least a
portion of said conduits (8,11,12,22,1108,1302,1503,1505) running
through spaces between said baled waste tires (14, 301).
21. The system (100) of claim 1, further comprising at least some
recyclable fill material (14,301,402,403) placed above a top liquid
(20,21,26) line (16) of said thermal storage liquid (20,21,26).
22. The system (100) of claim 21, said recyclable fill material
(14,301,402,403) insulating said thermal storage sink
(6,102,1000).
23. The system (100) of claim 21, wherein: said recyclable fill
material (14,301,402,403) is substantially non-organic; said
recyclable fill material (14,301,402,403) is substantially
non-biodegradable; and said recyclable fill material
(14,301,402,403) also provides structural support to said thermal
storage sink (6,102,1000).
24. The system (100) of claim 1, further comprising a vapor barrier
(13) above a top liquid (20,21,26) line (16) of said thermal
storage sink (6,102,1000) for preventing liquid 20,21,26) or vapor
from entering said thermal storage sink (6,102,1000) from
above.
25. The system (100) of claim 1, further comprising: a protective
barrier placed above a top liquid (20,21,26) line (16) of said
thermal storage liquid (20,21,26) for preventing materials (5)
above said thermal storage liquid (20,21,26) from falling into said
thermal storage liquid (20,21,26); said protective barrier (7)
comprising protective barrier materials (7) selected from at least
one of the protective barrier material group consisting of: a
geogrid (7), tar paper (7), and a filter fabric (7).
26. The system (100) of claim 1, further comprising concrete blocks
(404) substantially containing at least some of baled waste tires
(14, 301).
27. The system (100) of claim 1, further comprising baled waste
plastic (402,403) substantially filling portions of said thermal
storage sink (6,102,1000).
28. The system (100) of claim 1, further comprising at least one
air pump (202) for purging liquid (20,21,26) from portions of said
conduits (8,11,12,22,1108,1302,1503,1505) which are subjected to
freezing temperatures during cold weather, in response to expecting
said cold weather.
29. The system (100) of claim 1, said thermal storage liquid
(20,21,26) comprising water (21).
30. The system (100) of claim 1, wherein a thermal transport liquid
(20,21,26) used to transport said thermal energy through at least
some of said conduits (8,11,12,22,1108,1302,1503,1505) is selected
from the thermal transport liquid (20,21,26) group consisting of at
least one of: glycol, antifreeze, brine (26), and water (21).
31. The system (100) of claim 1, at least part of said thermal
collector (101) comprising a surface (2) selected from at least one
of the surface group consisting of: a driveway (2), a roadway (2),
a parking lot (2), and a walkway (2).
32. The system (100) of claim 31, further comprising said at least
one thermal storage transport conduit
(8,11,12,22,1108,1302,1503,1505) for further transporting thermal
heat energy from said thermal storage sink (6,102,1000) to said
thermal collector (101) to melt frozen precipitate upon said
surface (2), in response to weather conditions requiring said
frozen precipitate to be melted.
33. The system (100) of claim 1, said thermal collector (101)
comprising solar collectors (101).
34. The system (100) of claim 1, further comprising a firefighting
conduit (24) for using said thermal storage liquid (21,26) within
said thermal storage sink (6,102,1000) to fight a fire.
35. A thermal storage system (100), comprising: a thermal collector
(101); a thermal storage sink (6,102,1000) located at least
partially underground (504); at least one thermal storage transport
conduit (8,11,12,22,1108,1302,1503,1505) for transporting thermal
energy from said thermal collector (101) to said thermal storage
sink (6,102,1000) for storage therein; at least one thermal
delivery conduit (8,11,12,22,1108,1302,1503,1505) for transporting
said thermal energy from said thermal storage sink (6,102,1000) to
an indoor-air space (901) for use therein; a thermal storage liquid
(20,21,26) within said thermal storage sink (6,102,1000); and
recyclable fill material (14,301,402,403) within said thermal
storage sink (6,102,1000).
36. The system (100) of claim 35, wherein: said recyclable fill
material (14,301,402,403) is substantially non-organic; said
recyclable fill material (14,301,402,403) is substantially
non-biodegradable; and said recyclable fill material
(14,301,402,403) also provides structural support to said thermal
storage sink (6,102,1000).
37. The system (100) of claim 35, said recyclable fill material
(14,301,402,403) comprising ground recycled glass (502).
38. The system (100) of claim 35, said recyclable fill material
(14,301,402,403) comprising construction debris (501).
39. The system (100) of claim 35, said recyclable fill material
(14,301,402,403) comprising waste plastic (402,403).
40. The system (100) of claim 35, further comprising at least one
air pump (202) for purging liquid (20,21,26) from portions of said
conduits (8,11,12,22,1108,1302,1503,1505) which are subjected to
freezing temperatures during cold weather, in response to expecting
said cold weather.
41. The system (100) of claim 35, at least part of said thermal
collector (101) comprising a surface (2) selected from at least one
of the surface group consisting of: a driveway (2), a roadway (2),
a parking lot (2), and a walkway (2).
42. The system (100) of claim 41, further comprising said at least
one thermal storage transport conduit
(8,11,12,22,1108,1302,1503,1505) for further transporting thermal
heat energy from said thermal storage sink (6,102,1000) to said
thermal collector (101) to melt frozen precipitate upon said
surface, in response to weather conditions requiring said frozen
precipitate to be melted.
43. The system (100) of claim 35, further comprising a firefighting
conduit (24) for using said thermal storage liquid (20,21,26)
within said thermal storage sink (6,102,1000) to fight a fire.
44. A thermal storage method, comprising: transporting thermal
energy from a thermal collector (101) to a thermal storage sink
(6,102,1000) for storage therein, using at least one thermal
storage transport conduit (8,11,12,22,1108,1302,1503,1505)
therefor; transporting said thermal energy from said thermal
storage sink (6,102,1000) to an indoor-air space (901) for use
therein, using at least one thermal delivery conduit
(8,11,12,22,1108,1302,1503,1505) therefor; providing a thermal
storage liquid (20,21,26) within said thermal storage sink
(6,102,1000); and enhancing thermal storage using baled waste tires
(14, 301).
45. The method of claim 44, further comprising substantially
containing said thermal storage liquid (20,21,26) from within said
thermal storage sink (6,102,1000), using a liner (18) therefor.
46. The method of claim 44, further comprising providing said baled
waste tires (14, 301) within said thermal storage sink
(6,102,1000).
47. The method of claim 44, further comprising providing said baled
waste tires (14, 301) substantially around a perimeter of said
thermal storage sink (6,102,1000).
48. The method of claim 44, further comprising providing said baled
waste tires (14, 301) both within said thermal storage sink
(6,102,1000) and around a perimeter of said thermal storage sink
(6,102,1000).
49. The method of claim 44, further comprising: providing at least
some of said baled waste tires (14, 301) outside of said liner (18)
relative to said thermal storage sink (6,102,1000).
50. The method of claim 44, further comprising insulating said
thermal storage sink (6,102,1000) from its outside environs (504)
by positioning some of said baled waste tires (14, 301) about an
outer perimeter of said thermal storage sink (6,102,1000).
51. The method of claim 44, further comprising positioning some of
said baled waste tires (14, 301) to provide structural support to
said thermal storage sink (6,102,1000).
52. The method of claim 44, further comprising adding thermal mass
to said thermal storage sink by positioning some of said baled
waste tires (14, 301) within said thermal storage sink
(6,102,1000).
53. The method of claim 44, wherein said thermal storage sink
(6,102,1000) is underground (504).
54. The method of claim 44, further comprising utilizing said
thermal storage liquid (20,21,26) for transporting said thermal
energy from said thermal collector (101) to said thermal storage
sink (6,102,1000) via said at least one thermal storage transport
conduit (8,11,12,22,1108,1302,1503,1505).
55. The method of claim 44, further comprising utilizing said
thermal storage liquid (20,21,26) for transporting said thermal
energy from said thermal storage sink (6,102,1000) to the
indoor-air space (901) via said at least one thermal delivery
conduit (8,11,12,22,1108,1302,1503,1505).
56. The method of claim 44, further comprising utilizing a liquid
(20,21,26) other than said thermal storage liquid (20,21,26) for
transporting said thermal energy from said thermal collector (101)
to said thermal storage sink (6,102,1000) via said at least one
thermal storage transport conduit
(8,11,12,22,1108,1302,1503,1505).
57. The method of claim 44, further comprising utilizing a liquid
(20,21,26) other than said thermal storage liquid (20,21,26) for
transporting said thermal energy from said thermal storage sink
(6,102,1000) to the indoor air space (901) via said at least one
thermal delivery conduit (8,11,12,22,1108,1302,1503,1505).
58. The method of claim 44, wherein at least part of said thermal
collector (101) is above said thermal storage sink
(6,102,1000).
59. The method of claim 44, further comprising providing at least
some of said baled waste tires (14, 301) baled into substantially
rectangular parallelepipeds (301).
60. The method of claim 44, further comprising baling at least some
of said baled waste tires (14, 301) such that open centers of said
tires align to form a substantially pipelike configuration (14,
1001), thereby forming pipelike passages within these pipelike
bales (14,1001).
61. The method of claim 44, further comprising: placing waste tires
(402,403) around at least part of said conduits
(8,11,12,22,1108,1302,1503,1505), outside of said thermal storage
sink (6,102,1000), with at least some air spaces (503) between said
waste tires (14,301) and said conduits
(8,11,12,22,1108,1302,1503,1505): said waste tires (14,301) and air
spaces (503) thereby insulating said conduit
(8,11,12,22,1108,1302,1503,1505)s from exchanging heat with ground
(504) proximate thereto; and simultaneously, said waste tires
(14,301) and air spaces (503) thereby protecting said conduits
(8,11,12,22,1108,1302,1503,1505) from damage due to ground shifting
or heaving.
62. The method of claim 44, further comprising running at least a
portion of said conduits (8,11,12,22,1108,1302,1503,1505) running
through spaces within said baled waste tires (14, 301).
63. The method of claim 44, further comprising running at least a
portion of said conduits (8,11,12,22,1108,1302,1503,1505) through
spaces between said baled waste tires (14, 301).
64. The method of claim 44, further comprising placing at least
some recyclable fill material (14,301,402,403) above a top liquid
(20,21,26) line (16) of said thermal storage liquid (20,21,26).
65. The method of claim 64, insulating said thermal storage sink
(6,102,1000) using said recyclable fill material
(14,301,402,403).
66. The method of claim 64, wherein: said recyclable fill material
(14,301,402,403) is substantially non-organic; said recyclable fill
material (14,301,402,403) is substantially non-biodegradable; and
said recyclable fill material (14,301,402,403) also provides
structural support to said thermal storage sink (6,102,1000).
67. The method of claim 44, further comprising preventing liquid
(20,21,26) or vapor (13) from entering said thermal storage sink
(6,102,1000) from above, using a vapor barrier (13) situated above
a top liquid (20,21,26) line (16) of said thermal storage sink
(6,102,1000).
68. The method of claim 44, further comprising: placing a
protective barrier (7) above a top liquid (20,21,26) line (16) of
said thermal storage liquid (20,21,26) for preventing materials (5)
above said thermal storage liquid (20,21,26) from falling into said
thermal storage liquid (20,21,26); wherein: said protective barrier
(7) comprises protective barrier materials selected from at least
one of the protective barrier material group consisting of: a
geogrid (7), tar paper (7), and a filter fabric (7).
69. The method of claim 44, further comprising providing concrete
blocks (404) substantially containing at least some of baled waste
tires (14, 301).
70. The method of claim 44, further comprising substantially
filling portions of said thermal storage sink (6,102,1000) with
baled waste plastic (402,403).
71. The method of claim 44, further comprising purging liquid
(20,21,26) from portions of said conduits
(8,11,12,22,1108,1302,1503,1505) which are subjected to freezing
temperatures during cold weather, using at least one air pump (202)
therefor, responsive to expecting said cold weather.
72. The method of claim 44, said thermal storage liquid (20,21,26)
comprising water (21).
73. The method of claim 44, further comprising selecting a thermal
transport liquid (20,21,26) used to transport said thermal energy
through at least some of said conduits
(8,11,12,22,1108,1302,1503,1505) from the thermal transport liquid
(20,21,26) group consisting of at least one of: glycol (20),
antifreeze (20), brine (26), and water (21).
74. The method of claim 44, at least part of said thermal collector
(101) comprising a surface (2) selected from at least one of the
surface group consisting of: a driveway (2), a roadway (2), a
parking lot (2), and a walkway (2).
75. The method of claim 74, further comprising further transporting
thermal heat energy from said thermal storage sink (6,102,1000) to
said thermal collector (101) to melt frozen precipitate upon said
surface via said at least one thermal storage transport conduit
(8,11,12,22,1108,1302,1503,1505), in response to weather conditions
requiring said frozen precipitate to be melted.
76. The method of claim 44, said thermal collector (101) comprising
solar collectors (101).
77. The method of claim 44, further comprising using said thermal
storage liquid (20,21,26) within said thermal storage sink
(6,102,1000) to fight a fire, using a firefighting conduit (24)
therefor.
78. A thermal storage method, comprising: transporting thermal
energy from a thermal collector (101) to a thermal storage sink
(6,102,1000) for storage therein, using at least one thermal
storage transport conduit (8,11,12,22,1108,1302,1503,1505)
therefor; transporting said thermal energy from said thermal
storage sink (6,102,1000) to an indoor-air space (901) for use
therein, using at least one thermal delivery conduit
(8,11,12,22,1108,1302,1503,1505) therefor; providing a thermal
storage liquid (20,21,26) within said thermal storage sink
(6,102,1000); and providing recyclable fill material
(14,301,402,403) within said thermal storage sink (6,102,1000).
79. The method of claim 78, wherein: said recyclable fill material
(14,301,402,403) is substantially non-organic; said recyclable fill
material (14,301,402,403) is substantially non-biodegradable; and
said recyclable fill material (14,301,402,403) also provides
structural support to said thermal storage sink (6,102,1000).
80. The method of claim 78, said recyclable fill material
(14,301,402,403) comprising construction debris (501).
81. The method of claim 78, said recyclable fill material
comprising construction debris.
82. The method of claim 78, said recyclable fill material
(14,301,402,403) comprising waste plastic (402,403).
83. The method of claim 78, further comprising purging liquid
(20,21,26) from portions of said conduits
(8,11,12,22,1108,1302,1503,1505) which are subjected to freezing
temperatures during cold weather, using at least one air pump (202)
therefor, responsive to expecting said cold weather.
84. The method of claim 78, at least part of said thermal collector
(101) comprising a surface (2) selected from at least one of the
surface group (2) consisting of: a driveway (2), a roadway (2), a
parking lot (2), and a walkway (2).
85. The method of claim 84, further comprising further transporting
thermal heat energy from said thermal storage sink (6,102,1000) to
said thermal collector (101) to melt frozen precipitate upon said
surface (2) via said at least one thermal storage transport conduit
(8,11,12,22,1108,1302,1503,1505), in response to weather conditions
requiring said frozen precipitate to be melted.
86. The method of claim 78, further comprising using said thermal
storage liquid (20,21,26) within said thermal storage sink
(6,102,1000) to fight a fire, using a firefighting conduit (24)
therefor.
87. A thermal storage sink (6,102,1000), comprising: a sink
(6,102,1000); liquid (20,21,26) within said sink (6,102,1000); and
at least one recyclable material comprising baled tires (14,301)
for at least one of the following functions: providing insulation,
providing a free flow of liquid therethrough, providing thermal
mass, providing structural support to a said sink, resisting
settling of a surface above said sink, buffering shock to said
sink, protecting pipes or conduits located within or serving said
sink, averting deflection, eliminating or reducing costly drilling,
reducing a need for plastic tubing, eliminating casing, reducing
thermal sink construction costs.
88. The thermal storage sink (6,102,1000) of claim 87, further
comprising a refill chamber (1301) for refilling said sink
(6,102,1000) when said liquid (20,21,26) is removed therefrom for
transporting said thermal energy.
89. The thermal storage sink (6,102,1000) of claim 87, further
comprising at least some of said baled tires (14, 301) baled into
at least one of: pipe like bales (14), rectangular bales (301),
square bales (301).
90. The thermal storage sink (6,102,1000) of claim 87, further
comprising rectangular tire bales (301) situated on at least one
side of its perimeter.
91. The thermal storage sink (6,102,1000) of claim 87, wherein:
said thermal storage sink (6,102,1000) is connected with an
acclimation sink (1202); and said liquid (20,21,26) after
utilization for transporting thermal energy to said indoor-air
space (901) is returned to said acclimation sink (1202) and
prevented from reentering said sink (6,102,1000) until a
temperature of water in said acclimation tank is detected to be
substantially equal to that of liquid in said sink
(6,102,1000).
92. The thermal storage sink (6,102,1000) of claim 87, further
comprising a fluidic attachment of said sink (6,102,1000) to at
least one of a well (1501) or underground stream (1504) for
replenishing any fluid taken from said sink (6,102,1000).
93. The thermal storage sink (6,102,1000) of claim 87, further
comprising a firefighting conduit (24) for using said thermal
storage liquid (20,21,26) within said sink (6,102,1000) to fight a
fire.
94. The thermal storage sink (6,102,1000) of claim 87, said sink
(6,102,1000) further comprising at least 10,000 gallons of liquid
(20,21,26) therein during at least 90 days of the year.
95. The thermal storage sink (6,102,1000) of claim 87, further
comprising at least one additional recyclable material selected
from the group consisting of: construction debris (501), baled
waste plastic (402,403), and waste glass (502).
96. The thermal storage sink (6,102,1000) of claim 87, said bailed
tires (301) substantially covering a roof of said sink (6,102,1000)
for insulating said sink (6,102,1000) from temperatures above
ground.
97. The thermal storage sink (6,102,1000) of claim 87, comprising a
thermal added (102) sink.
98. The thermal storage sink (6,102,1000) of claim 87, comprising a
geothermal (1000) sink.
99. A method of using a thermal storage sink (6,102,1000),
comprising: providing a sink (6,102,1000); providing liquid
(20,21,26) within said sink (6,102,1000); and using least one
recyclable material comprising baled tires (14,301) for at least
one of the following functions: providing insulation, providing a
free flow of liquid therethrough, providing thermal mass, providing
structural support to a said sink, resisting settling of a surface
above said sink, buffering shock to said sink, protecting pipes or
conduits located within or serving said sink, averting deflection,
eliminating or reducing costly drilling, reducing a need for
plastic tubing, eliminating casing, reducing thermal sink
construction costs.
100. The method of claim 99, further comprising refilling said sink
(6,102,1000) when said liquid (20,21,26) is removed therefrom for
transporting said thermal energy, using a refill chamber (1301)
therefor.
101. The method of claim 99, further comprising at least some of
said baled tires (14, 301) baled into at least one of: pipe like
bales (14), rectangular bales (301), square bales (301).
102. The method of claim 99, further comprising situating
rectangular tire bales (301) on at least one side of a perimeter of
said sink (6,102,1000).
103. The method of claim 99, further comprising: connecting said
sink (6,102,1000) with an acclimation sink (1202); and after
utilizing said liquid (20,21,26) for transporting thermal energy to
said indoor-air space (901), returning said liquid (20,21,26) to
said acclimation sink (1202) and preventing said liquid (20,21,26)
from reentering said sink (6,102,1000) until a temperature of water
in said acclimation tank is detected to be substantially equal to
that of liquid in said sink (6,102,1000).
104. The method of claim 99, further comprising replenishing any
fluid taken from said sink (6,102,1000) using a fluidic attachment
of said sink (6,102,1000) to at least one of a well (1501) or
underground stream (1504) therefor.
105. The method of claim 99, further comprising fight a fire using
said thermal storage liquid (20,21,26) within said sink
(6,102,1000), via using a firefighting conduit (24) therefor.
106. The method of claim 99, said sink (6,102,1000) further
comprising at least 10,000 gallons of liquid (20,21,26) therein
during at least 90 days of the year.
107. The method of claim 99, further comprising using at least one
additional recyclable material selected from the group consisting
of: construction debris (501), baled waste plastic (402,403), and
waste glass (502).
108. The method of claim 99, further comprising substantially
covering a roof of said sink (6,102,1000) for insulating said sink
(6,102,1000) from temperatures above ground, using said bailed
tires (301) therefor.
109. The method of claim 99, said thermal storage sink (6,102,1000)
comprising a thermal added (102) sink.
110. The method of claim 99, said thermal storage sink (6,102,1000)
comprising a geothermal (1000) sink.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims benefit of pending provisional
application 61/156,488 filed Feb. 28, 2009, hereby incorporated by
reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates generally to the use of baled used
tires, baled recycled plastic, glass waste and/or construction
debris in the construction of a thermal storage sink or aquifer,
often placed under a road, highway, driveway or parking lot.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In the past large thermal storage sinks, herein defined as
containing at least 10,000 gallons of liquid, have been mostly
natural, because of cost constraints. However, this invention which
does away with drilling and uses recyclable material with thermal
liquid filling void spaces, which can be placed anywhere.
This"green technology" has the potential to simultaneously provide
new manmade sources of thermal energy, and overcome certain waste
and recycling problems.
[0004] Heat or cold (the absence of heat) can be stored in a
liquid, solid, or gas. The body that stores this thermal energy is
known as a thermal storage sink. These sinks are part of a thermal
storage system, natural or manmade. Thermal storage systems include
a thermal source such as the sun or under the earth's surface for
heat, and outer space for cold. Such systems may include a
collector, often a transport mechanism, a sink and a utilization
point. Many of these components can be one and the same as in the
case of the ground itself which can serve as both the collector of
heat or cold and the storage facility or sink in which the thermal
energy is contained, as in the case of a geothermal system. Often
thermal sinks have within them a transport medium such as water or
some other liquid which can transport the thermal energy from or to
the sink.
[0005] This disclosure is concerned with large thermal sinks
holding at least 10,000 gallons of liquid within one or more cell,
which has a liner, natural or otherwise, at least one compartment,
and makes use of a recyclable material which structurally supports
the sink, or adds thermal mass or insulation to it. For the sake of
this disclosure the term sink can include a series of sinks or
compartments which need not be immediately contiguous to one
another but which in aggregate include at least 10,000 gallons or
more of liquid, and usually find themselves in the same thermal
storage system. Thus, for example, if we were to have a hot sink
which housed 5,000 gallons and a cold sink which housed 5,000
gallons and the two were within a system that provided for the
heating and cooling needs of a structure, then the combined total
of 10,000 gallons would so classify as elements of a thermal sink
of 10,000 gallons even though the sink or sink system itself had
separate compartments such that the liquid within each amounted to
less than 10,000 gallons.
[0006] A thermal storage sink can be natural or manmade. It can be
above ground. It can be a depression in the earth with an open or
covered top. Or, it can be below ground. For the sake of this
disclosure there are two different types of thermal sinks: one type
is where the natural heat or cold of a body is simply utilized and
the other where additional heat or cold is added to the sink,
stored there, and then extracted therefrom, with a minimum of
thermal loss due to insulation. We shall differentiate the two
types of sinks by calling the former a "geo thermal" sink and the
latter a "thermal added" sink.
[0007] While all sinks have some sort of insulation, usually the
earth itself, "thermal added" sinks seek to enhance natural
insulation with some form of manmade material. Thermal sinks in
this disclosure concern themselves with a body or reservoir made by
man, or improved on by man, where there is thermal storage capacity
and where a great body of liquid (of at least 10,000 gallons in
total) is contained therein. Thermal mass, insulation and
structural support are all important qualities which relate to
manmade thermal sinks. Such sinks often utilize a liner, manmade or
natural. They are often partially or completely below ground, where
cave in can be a problem. If at least a part of the material is
located within the sink, it can help to support the sink
itself.
[0008] Manmade thermal storage sinks are costly and the larger they
are the more costly they become. Recyclable material can be had at
little or no cost. Some recyclable materials have good insulation
properties, some can provide structural support, some can provide
thermal mass, and some can provide all three such benefits. Waste
tires or plastic (often in baled form), ground waste glass and
construction debris, if used in a thermal storage sink, can serve a
useful purpose and need not be placed in a landfill, thus providing
the above-noted benefits while simultaneously freeing up valuable
space for other materials man disposes of. In addition, using these
waste materials in manmade thermal storage sinks, eliminates the
danger of some of these wastes catching fire or serving as a
breeding ground for mosquitoes and rats, which can give rise to
disease.
[0009] Many different types of waste products have been used in
thermal storage systems comprising thermal sinks. As often as not
they are placed within such systems as much to get rid of the waste
as to enhance the thermal sink or system due to tipping fees
involved. One such waste product is tires which have excellent
insulating properties and can, when utilized properly, also provide
excellent structural support.
[0010] Unbaled waste tires have been used as part of a thermal
storage sink and collector in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,223,666, and
4,248,209. There, they are housed within a manmade structure above
ground where minimal thermal loss occurs.
[0011] In U.S. Pat. No. 5,941,238 unbaled waste tires were also
used as part of a thermal storage vessel which could be placed
above or below ground. Here, the heat storage vessel is actually
formed by attaching two metal plates, one to each end of a stack of
waste tires, and the bead of each tire is firmly anchored to the
next in the stack while a sealant is used to make a watertight
container in which liquid is placed, while foam or vermiculite is
placed about the heat storage container itself for insulation of
the liquid within.
[0012] Plastic jugs, glass jars, metal cans, paper clips, garbage
bags, and newspaper are all used in the construction of a solar
thermal storage system in application US 2007/0012313, which even
uses a plastic garbage can as a thermal storage sink. U.S. Pat. No.
5,201,606 uses fly ash in concrete. U.S. Pat. No. 4,411,255 uses
masonry blocks with a hollow space therein loosely filled with
cylindrical metal, plastic or glass containers that contain
water.
[0013] Up until now the prior art dealing with insulation of a
thermal sink is very sparse in its specifics, more often than not
referring to the general category of a layer of insulation. U.S.
Pat. No. 3,418,812 refers to polyurethane foam or foam panels for
insulation. U.S. Pat. No. 3,556,917 discloses a rigid polyurethane
foam block for insulation purposes. U.S. Pat. No. 6,994,156 refers
to fiberglass, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,129,177 uses rigid insulation
blocks. U.S. Pat. No. 6,000,438 uses phase change material
insulation. U.S. Pat. No. 6,192,703 uses an insulated vacuum panel.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,491,910 and 3,481,504 suggest using expanded
perlite. But in most cases, for example, as in U.S. Pat. No.
4,577,679, the earth alone acts as the thermal buffer for the
thermal storage sink.
[0014] When it comes to structural support of a manmade thermal
sink, concrete is used, as is metal, earth, or fill of a porous
material such as sand and/or gravel. But no teaching or suggestion
has been made of using recyclable material such as bales of plastic
or tires, ground glass, construction debris, or concrete blocks
filled with tires, baled or otherwise, as structural support for a
thermal storage sink. Baled tires have been used for support for
retaining wall systems, see U.S. Pat. No. 5,795,106, but do not
appear to have ever been employed in connection with a thermal
storage system, for enhancing thermal storage via structural
support, insulation and thermal mass.
[0015] Manmade thermal storage sinks usually are made in one of
three ways. First, they may be made by scooping out a depression in
the earth, placing a liner on the surface of the depression,
placing sand or gravel in the depression and then filling the
cavity (thermal storage sink) with water. Second, they are made by
leaving out the fill within the thermal storage sink and so contain
water alone. By placing in the fill, however, the sink receives
additional structural support and now can easily have an insulated
roof overhead and so make use of the ground above--for a pond, a
parking lot, a roadway, a structure, an ice rink, a tennis court or
just grass and shrubs. A third alternative is to build a thermal
storage unit above the ground such as a swimming pool, or to use an
above-ground tank.
[0016] Manmade aquifers can serve as thermal storage sinks and are
constructed in two ways: In the first method, the manmade aquifer
is constructed by making an excavation, lining the excavation with
a plastic pond liner and filling on top of the liner with a round,
uniformly-sized gravel. A geotextile (fabric designed for use in
earthwork) is placed over the gravel, and then a lawn, parking lot,
roadway or tennis court can be constructed on top. Water is stored
in the openings between the stones. This method has been used for
many years and was reported of in 1997 in the San Antonio Business
Journal in an article entitled "New methods provide less costly
ways to conserve water." It has also been utilized in U.S. Pat. No.
6,994,156.
[0017] In the second method, known as the drumstick, a manmade
aquifer is constructed by auguring a deep hole and under-reaming
(flaring) it at the lower end. A corrugated metal pipe with a
welded end cap is placed into the hole and grouted in place, and a
lid system is added for safety.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0018] Disclosed herein is a thermal storage system and related
method, comprising: a thermal collector; a thermal storage sink; at
least one thermal storage transport conduit for transporting
thermal energy from the thermal collector to the thermal storage
sink for storage therein; at least one thermal delivery conduit for
transporting the thermal energy from the thermal storage sink to an
indoor-air space for use therein; a thermal storage liquid within
the thermal storage sink; and baled waste tires for enhancing
thermal storage.
[0019] Also disclosed herein is a thermal storage sink and related
method comprising: a sink; liquid within the sink; and at least one
recyclable material comprising baled tires for at least one of the
following functions: providing insulation, providing a free flow of
liquid therethrough, providing thermal mass, providing structural
support to a said sink, resisting settling of a surface above said
sink, buffering shock to said sink, protecting pipes or conduits
located within or serving said sink, averting deflection,
eliminating or reducing costly drilling, reducing a need for
plastic tubing, eliminating casing, reducing thermal sink
construction costs.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0020] The features of the invention believed to be novel are set
forth in the appended claims. The invention, however, together with
further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by
reference to the following description taken in conjunction with
the accompanying drawing(s) summarized below:
[0021] FIG. 1 is a side plan view illustrating how a heat sink in a
preferred embodiment of the invention is supplied with heat and how
it stores the heat.
[0022] FIG. 2 is a side plan view illustrating how a cold sink in a
preferred embodiment of the invention is supplied with and stores
the cold (absence of heat).
[0023] FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating two possible
configurations of baled waste tires within the thermal sink, for
example, not limitation.
[0024] FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating how the rectangular bales
of various recyclable materials can insulate the thermal storage
sink from the surrounding environs, e.g., earth.
[0025] FIG. 5 is a plan view illustrating another embodiment for
insulating the thermal storage sink from the surrounding environs,
e.g., earth.
[0026] FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating an embodiment comprising
a large thermal mass of individual bales of recyclables.
[0027] FIG. 7 is a plan view illustrating yet another embodiment,
comprising recyclables only along the perimeter of the heat/cool
sink. Note that the features of FIGS. 7 and 8 may be combined, to
provide baled tires and/or recyclables within and/or around the
perimeter.
[0028] FIG. 8 is a plan view illustrating yet another embodiment,
comprising bales of plastic which float while providing
insulation.
[0029] FIG. 9 is a plan view illustrating the use of recyclables to
insulate the conduits running to and from a heat/cold collector,
and/or to and from the building or other indoor air space to be
heated or cooled.
[0030] FIG. 10A is a side view of a manmade geo thermal sink
wherein baled tires provide structural support.
[0031] FIG. 10B is a side view of a man made geo thermal sink
wherein construction debris provides structural support.
[0032] FIG. 11 is a top down view of a geo thermal system wherein
baled tires provide structural support.
[0033] FIG. 12 is a top down view of a geo thermal system wherein
there are a series of geo thermal sinks.
[0034] FIG. 13 shows a side view of a manmade geo thermal sink
wherein baled tires and construction debris provide structural
support both to the sink itself and allows for a means of
replenishment of the sink with groundwater from close by.
[0035] FIG. 14 shows a side view of a manmade geo thermal sink
wherein construction debris provides structural support both to the
sink itself and allows for a means of replenishment of the sink
with groundwater close by.
[0036] FIG. 15 is a side view of a structure which is connected via
a pipe to a thermal sink which is connected to an underground
spring.
[0037] FIG. 16 is a side view of a structure which is connected via
pipes to both a thermal sink and an underground stream.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0038] The present invention uses baled tires, baled plastic,
ground recycled glass and construction debris in varying
combinations in either a thermal storage sink or a thermal storage
system within which a thermal storage sink is contained. It uses
these items to provide thermal storage mass, structural support,
and/or insulation.
[0039] A novel feature of the present invention, with reference to
the usual ways of making a thermal storage sink, is to replace the
fill material inside the thermal storage sink with baled tires,
baled plastic, ground recycled glass, construction debris or to
place loose plastic or ground waste glass within a block and to add
one or all of these forms of recycled fill inside a thermal storage
sink if fill had not been used. Fill can add thermal mass and can
simultaneously provide structural support. Also, by using recycled
fill, it is easy to bring the baled material close to the surface
on which people can walk. Therefore, a cover can be placed over the
sink for added insulation if a roof to the sink has not already
been used. In one embodiment of this invention, recycled baled fill
is placed around the outer perimeter of a thermal sink in block
form. Blocks, or bales made from recyclables, or either containing
recyclables within them, can also be the foundation for an
above-ground thermal sink. As used herein, recyclable fill material
may include baled, or unbaled waste tires, which are of particular
interest for use in this invention, as will be discussed at length
below.
[0040] Throughout this disclosure and claims, reference will often
be made to the term "baled waste tires." It is to be understood
that "baled" refers to tires which have been compacted into a
bundle and then tied together in some manner or form, such as
through a wire fastening device, and/or a fastening device of
plastic, rope, cord, cable etc. Further it refers to such bundles
even if--after being installed into the thermal storage sink--the
fastening device has been purposely removed or has deteriorated and
broken as a result of wear, tear, or time. As long as the bundle
was tied together at any time in the process whether it be during
initial compression, transport or installation within the thermal
storage system, it shall be regarded as "baled."
[0041] These baled waste tires are used for enhancing thermal
storage, which as used herein, include increasing the thermal mass
of the thermal storage sink. Tire bales have a predicted Specific
Heat (Heat Capacity) of 0.18 Btu/lb .degree. F., which compares
favorably with other common thermal mass materials like sand
(0.20), stone (0.20), and concrete (0.15). So, the heat or cold
storage capacity of tire bales should be excellent as well. For
instance the tire bales alone--at a 10.degree. F. temperature drop
should have a storage capacity of: 130 bales*1 T/bale*2000 lbs/T*10
deg F.*0.18=468,000 Btu, which is quite excellent.
[0042] Baled tires have excellent insulating characteristics as
well. A Colorado School of Mines study, predicts that the thermal
conductivity (U) of tire bales can range from 0.120-0.124 Btu/hr
.degree. F. ft, which converts to an R-value range of 0.694-0.672
per inch, or a total R-value of 40.0-41.6 for a 60'' tire bale
wall. This would equate to approximately 11.75 inches of fiberglass
batt insulation--about what one could put into a 12'' thick stud
wall. This is about 3 time as much insulation as goes into a
standard 4'' stud wall, and is very good wall insulation by
conventional standards. This material should yield
super-insulation-like performance if the entire wall is assembled
and completed properly from interior to exterior. Thus a thermal
storage sink which is lined with baled tires should provide
excellent insulation against heat (or cold) loss.
[0043] The thermal insulation capabilities of baled tires increase
further when they are above the water table. In fact baled tires
with air within the voids have a thermal conductivity, k
(effective) of 0.15 to 0.21 W/m-degree C. (or of 0.085 to 0.120
Btu/hr-ft-degree F.) when the bales hold 50 to 10 percent air
therein. (This measurement was taken from Report Number
CDOT-DTD-R-2005-2 from the Colorado Department of Transportation
Research Branch entitled"Tire Bales in Highway Applications:
Feasibility and Properties Evaluation".) According to this report
"Such a level of thermal conductivity is approximately eight times
lower than typical granular soils." So this tire "waste" is more
valuable when used in a thermal added storage sink than the very
soils it replaces. Air itself has a thermal conductivity of 0.024
while water has a thermal conductivity of 0.58 at 25 degrees C. In
other words air is 24 times better as an insulator than water. Thus
tire bales placed above the water line have a significantly better
insulation factor than if placed below the water line. Yet either
way they still offer very good insulation, and remain far better
than granular soils placed in a similar location or a similar
environment.
[0044] As an added benefit, these baled waste tires add structural
support so the system does not disintegrate, and they have
excellent load bearing capabilities. Studies have shown that when
used as a structural element, they will deflect much like any other
piece of rubber. However, tests have proven they have been
"deflected" considerably to become "bales" in the first place, and
the load required to deflect them further than is acceptable (more
than even a house will ever weigh). Their deflection rate is
roughly 1/20.sup.th of what has been called a "failure" (150,000#
on an unsupported bale; usually when a wire breaks). In other
words, one will never exert that much load on a tire bale wall used
as a foundation wall. Further, all tests run in the single-bale or
single-stack of bales mode do not reflect the true usage/deflection
of the bale in practice (constrained by other bales in the
wall).
[0045] It should also be noted that when a stack of bales
containing baled tires, ten high, covered by local earth
distributed by a 70,000# front-end loader is ridden over by heavy
equipment, the bottom bales show no apparent compression or effect
of bearing that load. Tests have shown that there is little (1/2''
or so) if any measurable difference between the bales at the top of
the stack and the ones at the bottom. This is while being under a
load of more than 9 tons each (bales contained by stacking
immediately adjacent to each other as a wall). The bale at the
bottom is bearing more than 720#psf with little measurable
deflection.
[0046] In this disclosure, when reference is made, particularly in
the claims, to "unbaled" waste tires, or to "waste tires" simply by
itself, this refers to waste tires which had not been baled and had
not been compacted, but still have their original shape and volume.
For instance if a pipe or thermal conduit is placed through a bunch
of tires which have no fastening device connecting one to another
and where the tires still retain their original size and shape,
then these shall be considered "unbaled."
[0047] "Waste tires" refer to tires which are not new but have been
used on some sort of vehicle previously, whether it be a car,
truck, farm implement, construction or mining vehicle, or
airplane.
[0048] It should also be pointed out that the terms tubing or
piping may be used interchangeably, and may refer to plastic,
copper, or any other suitable material. For example, while, e.g.,
plastic or copper tubes/pipes might be arrayed on the surface of a
parking lot to gather heat or cold, copper piping is about 62 times
superior as a conductor and so it is preferable as opposed to
plastic.
[0049] Finally, "recyclable fill" specifies material recyclable in
nature such as tires, baled tires, rubber, plastic, construction
debris, ground glass, etc. but not limited thereto, used to fill up
a space within the thermal storage system. Said fill material may
replace dirt, gravel, stone, sand, etc. preexisting in the location
where the thermal storage system is constructed.
[0050] One embodiment of the present invention uses bales of tires
within the thermal storage sink in place of porous fill. The
remainder of the sink and pipes contains water which brings either
heat or cold into the chamber of the thermal sink and store the
heat or cold. (Thermodynamically, of course, it is only heat which
is stored, and cold is the absence of heat. With that
understanding, we shall at times refer in this disclosure to
"storing heat or cold" with the understanding that "storing cold"
really means preventing or minimizing the intrusion of heat energy
into a thermal storage medium which is cold. Similarly, it is to be
understood that "storing" or "transporting" "thermal energy" is
intended to refer to both the storage and transport of heat, and to
the storage and transport of the absence of heat (cold).)
[0051] Tire bales are preferably either cylindrical in shape or
square or rectangular. These fill the inner core and act as support
around their outer boundary and simultaneously provide good
insulation and heat mass so that thermal energy is not lost in a
thermal added storage sink. These also act as support in the event
a roof or cover is to be put over the sink and provide footing so
that a thermal cover can be placed over the sink or taken off if
the space above is not going to be utilized.
[0052] Bales of waste plastic often have a specific gravity less
than water and so will float, and so may be employed where no fill
heavier than water is used. Floating bales are also advantageous
because they reduce upward heat loss.
[0053] Construction debris and ground glass can be used as fill or
added to the bales themselves for added weight and the blocks
themselves can encapsulate this form of waste material.
[0054] Insulation for a thermal added storage sink is tremendously
important, where additional thermal energy is added to the sink
above what would naturally occur there. Without proper insulation,
vast quantities of thermal energy can escape into the atmosphere or
ground in a thermal added storage sink, whereupon far more thermal
energy has to be pumped into the sink than would ordinarily be the
case if all the thermal energy could be easily contained and then
extracted when necessary from the core or the sink itself.
Presently in underground thermal added storage sinks, it is
necessary that the sink be heated or cooled, as well as the area
around the sink, up to as much as 30 to 50 feet beyond the
perimeter of the sink. The surrounding environs often absorb a good
deal of thermal energy and over a period of 6 months to a year as
much as 30% of the heat or cold added to the sink can be lost to
these environs. This buffer then keeps the core insulated, but
unfortunately a great deal of the thermal energy is lost in the
process. Therefore a good insulating material must be found to do
away with much of the thermal loss and to lessen ramp up time
before the thermal heat sink can operate effectively. This
insulating material must also be very inexpensive if the sink is of
any size.
[0055] Thermal storage sinks are often ponds or containers holding
liquid or at least partially holding liquid. Such sinks are known
as thermal reservoirs. Most liquids tend to absorb heat or cold
more quickly than solids and more quickly give it up. Plus, liquids
tend to store more thermal energy than gases. Since the thermal
collector, the thermal sink and the end use location are not often
the same, liquid also serves as a very good transport medium for
taking the heat or cold to another point.
[0056] Without insulation a thermal added storage sink, will lose
thermal energy to the surrounding environment over time. This is
good in a geo thermal sink but is a negative influence in an added
energy thermal storage sink. In construction of this invention,
bulldozers and other construction equipment dig out a depression or
a large trench in the earth. This depression can be quite deep
(perhaps 30 to 50 feet) below the surface, but at the very least
the chamber, aquifer or thermal storage sink should be below the
frost line. The earth taken from the hole is placed to one side to
be used later. Since the hole will retain water, it must have a
liner which can be of a natural material such as clay of sufficient
depth to prevent leakage from the thermal storage sink, or it must
include a manmade impermeable liner (i.e., a physical barrier), or
it may have both. This skin is placed over the surface of the
depression and along its sides. For purposes of this disclosure a
liner may refer to a natural or manmade barrier which prevents
leakage or it may refer to a combination of manmade and natural
barriers. In most cases pipes are laid on top of this. Within these
pipes will be water or glycol which will take heated or cold liquid
down into the chamber from the surface directly overhead or from
some other location in close proximity thereto. The hole is then
filled with a fill which may have a recyclable porous material,
some of which may be a baled recyclable material which will allow
water to seep around it and/or through it. Over the top of this
material is placed a geo-grid, tar paper, and/or a filter fabric,
which will prevent the soil or other material placed above it from
drifting down into the chamber and eventually filling the chamber.
Earth which had been taken from the hole when it was made is placed
back over the geo-grid, tar paper, and/or filter fabric, and in
most cases pavement or equivalent material suitable for a roadway,
driveway, parking lot or walkway is constructed directly above this
manmade thermal added storage sink or in close proximity thereto.
As an alternative, grass could be grown overhead or the ground
might serve just about any other purpose. Drains with catch basins
allow water to seep into and fill the thermal storage sink. Vents
are needed to allow air to escape when water is filling the storage
area. Permanent openings must be screened to prevent insect
infestation. Filters, diversions or settling tanks are needed on
the inflow line to prevent trash and organics from entering the
storage area. Once the aquifer is filled, normal intake openings
are shut and water is shunted elsewhere.
[0057] One advantage of the present invention is that the water
does not have to be entirely clean because water within the aquifer
does not serve as a drinking source. Thus, it is not a concern if
some leeching occurs from the recyclables into the water. In fact
the aquifer can accept storm water runoff which might contain
pollutants from asphalt or tar which would have drained elsewhere
and would have otherwise polluted rivers and streams, although it
might be originally filled from an underground stream or by making
use of ground water.
[0058] The present invention makes use of baled recyclable
material, more specifically baled and compacted tires and plastic.
It can make use of used inner tubes and almost any waste product
which might find its way into a landfill which would take an
inordinately long time to bio-degrade and which could be used as a
structural support for the roof of a manmade thermal storage sink
or to keep the sides from caving in. It can make use of concrete,
used pavement, asphalt shingles, tires, etc. If the material itself
does not lend itself to acting as a support, the compacting and
baling processes will enhance that material's supportive
capabilities.
[0059] By placing recyclable material in a bailer and compacting it
under great pressure heat is built up. This causes the plastic to
combine. In the event the bale is found to be too light, and if the
way in which the bales are placed in the aquifer would lead to
these bales floating, heavier waste material can be added, and when
all the ingredients are compacted together, the binding process
would make the bale into one heavier than water unit. Compacting
and binding also prevent the bale from disintegrating back into its
various components over time. When pressure is applied, these
materials will quickly spring back and restore the chamber to its
full capacity once again.
[0060] Tires can, for example not limitation, be baled into two
different forms: first into long hollow tubes, and secondly into a
rectangular configuration. By placing tires one next to another so
as to form long hollow tubes, the tires themselves become a pipe.
By placing these pipes close to one another within a hole where the
ends of these pipes butt up against the outer earthen walls, they
prevent the outer walls from collapsing. By compacting the tires
and then using the compacted tires to make the pipe, the strength
of the pipe is enhanced markedly. By placing rows of this piping
material next to one another and on top of one another, the size of
the underground reservoir can become immense and the depth of the
aquifer can be increased significantly.
[0061] Besides being baled as long pipes, the tires can be
compacted and baled into a rectangular shape, much like a concrete
block. This adds to their construction capability. They can be laid
one on top of another more easily and so made to form a wall or a
block-like inner core for the heat or cold sink itself. Drawings of
various configurations will now be discussed below.
Heat Sink Aquifer
[0062] FIG. 1 illustrates how the thermal added sink 102 is part of
a thermal added system 100, which is supplied with heat, and how it
stores said heat. Specifically, rays 1 from the sun strike the
upper layer of the finished asphalt surface 15 or darkened concrete
surface 25 of the parking lot, driveway, or roadway 2. (This
surface 15, 25 will be referred to as a thermal gathering surface
comprising a thermal collector (heat collector) 101 which may be
the surface itself or a separate device for enhancing energy
collection including solar energy collection, though it may also
include any other ground surface substantially atop the sink.)
These rays 1, once having made contact with that surface, heat it
to as high as 54.45 Celsius (130 degrees Fahrenheit) in summertime,
and further energy is provided in the event of enhancement by solar
collectors. Tubing 8, configured in an array, is placed within the
asphalt or concrete close to the upper surface which absorbs heat
from roadway 2. The heat from the concrete or asphalt warms the
liquid 20 within the tubes and this liquid is pumped through the
underlayment 3 of the roadway through the fill 5 and down into the
reservoir or manmade aquifer 6 containing water 21 or brine 26
where the liquid 20 discharges that heat. Also illustrated is the
top waterline 16. The heat discharging liquid 20 than passes
through the bottom layer of compacted tires 14 just above a liner
18 by means of a pipe 22 within the lower level tire pipes and
transfers heat to the water in the reservoir or aquifer or thermal
storage sink itself 6. This same liquid then goes into a reservoir
23 and from there is drawn up again by means of a pump 4 back into
the array of tubes 8 within the upper layer of asphalt 2, or
darkened concrete 25, just below the parking lot's surface.
Whereupon the liquid gains heat once more from the parking lot's
surface and takes it down into the aquifer, in a continuous,
iterative process. This process continues ad infinitum until such
time as one or more heat sensors 9 placed within the parking lot's
surface signals (17) the pump 4 to shut off because the temperature
of the asphalt or darkened concrete does not exceed that of the
manmade aquifer, or does not exceed that of the manmade aquifer by
a predetermined amount. The pump 4 is turned on again once the
asphalt or darkened concrete is detected by sensors 9 to be at a
higher temperature than water within the aquifer, or higher by a
predetermined amount.
[0063] In addition, in summertime any heat source within a building
can allow heat to be transferred to the heat sink aquifer as
well.
[0064] In winter time when heat is required to heat a nearby
building (indoor air space), water from the aquifer passes through
a filter 10 through a thermal sink water supply line 11 to a heat
exchanger which than supplies heat to the building (indoor space to
be heated). This indoor air space is schematically illustrated as
905 in FIG. 9. After aquifer water has passed through the heat
exchanger it is returned to the aquifer through a return pipe 12.
(Most often pipes 11 and 12 are separate and operate on a
continuous loop, but for the sake of this drawing and simplicity
the drawing shows the two pipes as one). Thus, the heat stored
during the summer is used to heat an indoor air space during the
winter, and the only energy required is that which is needed to
move the liquid between the upper surface of the parking lot and
the manmade reservoir, and to move the fluid within the heat sink
to the heating system of the indoor air space and back.
[0065] Because the aquifer is below the frost line, and because of
the thermal mass of earth around and on top of the aquifer, heat
loss of the water within the aquifer is kept to a minimum, and the
aquifer will remain hot for months. The compacted tires within the
aquifer add to the thermal mass of the system. Over time the
reservoirs temperature will drop down in the colder months as heat
is drawn from it. But that temperature will be raised again in the
summer time, or during periods of intense sunlight, in other
seasons. This system should function for years on end with minimal
maintenance, upkeep or expense.
[0066] It is also to be observed, because the heat sink aquifer of
FIG. 1 contains water 21, or brine 26, which is heated, and because
tubes 8 may already run beneath a roadway or driveway or walkway or
parking lot, etc., that during cold weather, the heat stored in the
aquifer can be circulated back through the tubes 8 so as to de-ice
the roadway, without the need for plowing, salt, or any of the
usual means for clearing a roadway of snow and/or sleet and/or ice
and/or frost (frozen precipitate). This is a second way in which
the stored heat may be applied to useful benefit.
[0067] Also illustrated, to be discussed later, is a conduit or
pipe 24 which is attached to a fire hydrant 19 which allows for a
fire truck to pump water from the thermal storage sink for a fire
emergency. This is an additional use for the water stored in the
aquifer.
[0068] Finally, it is also beneficial in all embodiments of the
invention, to provide an optional vapor barrier 13 or liner 18
above the top liquid line 16 of the thermal storage sink for
preventing liquid or vapor from entering said thermal storage sink
from above. It is further beneficial to provide a protective
barrier 7 of geotextile or equivalent material to prevent materials
from above the thermal sink from dropping down into the thermal
sink.
Cold Sink Aquifer
[0069] A thermal storage sink can also function in a way to store
cold as opposed to heat, as now illustrated in FIG. 2 which is a
slightly-modified version of FIG. 1. This too is another version of
a thermal added sink 102 within a thermal added system 100. Here, a
subterranean cold sink water reservoir 6 is constructed below the
frost line in the same manner as was the heat reservoir. Again,
this preferably uses baled tires 14 in a pipe-like configuration,
as illustrated. Water 21 or brine 26, within the underground
reservoir 6 is made colder during the late fall and wintertime by
tubes 8 in the thermal collector (cold collector) 201 which again
is a part of the overhead parking lot, roadway, or pathway. Again
illustrated is the top waterline 16. Tubes 8 are arrayed and placed
just below the asphalt 15 or concrete surface 25. (Again, this
surface 15, 25 may itself be a thermal collector (cold collector)
201, or may contain a separate associated apparatus to enhance cold
collection.) The parking lot, roadway, driveway or path serves as a
cold collector and is placed just above the thermal storage sink or
reservoir 6 or in close proximity thereto. Water or antifreeze or
brine or glycol or an equivalent substance 20 passes through the
tubes 8 and loses heat to the parking lot as it passes through the
array. This serves a dual purpose, simultaneously defrosting the
roadway because the liquid medium will be warmer than the parking
lot itself and over time making the aquifer itself colder and
colder. A pump 4 pushes the liquid through the tubes 8 which are
arrayed and embedded in the upper layer of the asphalt or concrete.
As the heat in the liquid within the tubes 8 is dissipated in this
process, the liquid in the tubes becomes lower in temperature. It
is then pumped back into the cold sink reservoir where it than
passes through one or more level of tires or pipes within the cold
sink where it then absorbs heat from the cold sink aquifer and so
lowers the temperature in the aquifer. Meanwhile the liquid 20 in
the tube or pipe 22, which is passing through the lower row of
compacted tire pipes, increases in temperature. That liquid passes
into the reservoir 23 and is pumped back up to the surface of the
parking lot until such time as the temperature in the cold sink
reservoir equals or is less than the temperature of the asphalt or
concrete surface (by a predetermined amount), and/or until such
time as the cold collector needs to be defrosted by the warmth in
the cold sink reservoir which is still higher than the overhead
cold collector. One added feature required for the cold sink that
is not needed for the heat sink is an air pump or compressor 202
which blows any liquid out of the array of pipes 8 once the water
pump 4 ceases to function. 204 is an air pipe leading between the
compressor and the pipe 8. This purging prevents liquid in those
pipes above the frost line from freezing and so allows water to be
used as a thermal transport medium in place of antifreeze or glycol
or brine, which is less costly. Attached to the reservoir is a
bleeder valve 203 which allows air to escape from the reservoir
when it is opened and so allows liquid to fill the reservoir rather
than be prevented from doing so by the air within the reservoir
itself.
[0070] In summer time or when there is a need for air conditioning
within a nearby structure, water within the cool sink aquifer 6
passes through a filter 10 and then via a conduit 11 into the
building (indoor space to be cooled, designated as 905 in FIG. 9)
where a heat exchanger uses the cold fluid to extract heat from the
building via a water and/or air circulation system within that
building. Thereafter, the water returns 12 to the aquifer having
risen somewhat in temperature.
[0071] Over the summer months the water within the cold sink
reservoir will rise somewhat but cold will be restored to it as
weather conditions moderate and as winter comes on.
[0072] In relation to FIGS. 1 and 2, while we refer to summer and
winter cycles, it is also understood that in general these systems
can be run based on hot and cold cycles which are not necessarily
seasonal. For example, not limitation, the cold storage system can
store cold overnight and then use the cold during the daytime, or
the heat storage system can store daytime heat and use the heat
overnight.
[0073] FIG. 3 shows two configurations of baled tires within the
thermal sink. The view is taken partially from the side of FIGS. 1
and 2, along view 3-3. First, toward the bottom of this Figure, and
not explicitly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, there is a
rectangular-shaped bale of compacted tires which keeps the bottom
insulated from the ground below. (To be precise,
three-dimensionally, these bales are really substantially shaped as
cuboids, i.e., rectangular parallelepipeds.) This type of bale 301
is different only in shape from the pipelike bales 14 shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2, in which the open "donut" centers of the tires align
to form a substantially pipelike configuration. In this exemplary
embodiment illustrated by FIG. 3, the pipe-like bales sit on top of
the layer of rectangular bales. If the rectangular bales 301 are
situated about the perimeter of the thermal storage sink as will
subsequently be illustrated in FIGS. 4-8, then these bales serve as
an insulation liner 302 about the thermal storage sink. As
mentioned previously, a Colorado School of Mines study predicts
that the thermal conductivity (U) of tire bales can range from
0.120-0.124 Btu/hr degrees Fahrenheit per foot, which converts to
an R-value range of 0.694-0.672 per inch, or a total R-value of
40.0-41.6 for a 60'' tire bale wall, which would equate to
approximately 11.75 inches of fiberglass batt insulation. Tire
bales 301 provide super-insulation-like performance when the
perimeter of the sink is so lined with them and should well contain
the thermal energy within the sink itself. Meanwhile water 21 fills
all voids within the thermal storage sink below the water line 16
both within the bales and in the empty spaces where there are no
bales. The pipe-like bales not only add thermal mass, but the shape
of the pipe-like bales allows for a natural nesting pattern which
simultaneously gives structural support to the interior of the
thermal storage sink itself and so prevents cave ins from the
ground outside.
[0074] FIG. 4 shows how the rectangular bales 301 can completely
insulate the thermal storage sink from the surrounding earth,
providing a thermal liner 302. In this illustration, the thermal
storage sink 6 is an open pond 400. Here, the cavity e.g., thermal
storage sink comprises a physical liner 18 placed on the floors and
walls thereof for simply containing water and deterring water from
passing through the perimeter of the thermal storage sink. On top
of this liner 18 is placed sand or gravel 401 so as to prevent any
sharp wires from the bales from perforating the liner if the liner
itself is made of plastic or some other material which could rip or
tear. The liner can also be an impervious clay if such is the
desire of the builder, or a combination of both clay and some
manmade substance. On top of this are the bales containing
recyclable material. These can comprise bales of plastic 402,
and/or bales of waste tires 301. Or, they may even comprise bales
containing plastic and some other material of a higher weight which
prevents the bales from floating to the surface 403. However, bales
of plastic can be placed below tire bales which have less of a
tendency to float. The bales can even be concrete blocks with
recycled tires, plastic or waste glass inside 404. It is understood
that while all of these materials are illustrated, one or more of
these materials or equivalent materials may be employed in any
particular implementation. The bales on the outer perimeter rise
clear to the ground surface 405. Within the thermal storage chamber
is water 21 or some other liquid such as brine 26. Baled waste
tires can also be situated within 30 feet of the thermal storage
sinks physical liner, including possibly some which are situated
within the thermal storage sink itself. In other words, the baled
waste tires may be within the thermal storage sink adding heat mass
thereto, or outside the thermal storage sink usually no more than
30 feet away for the greatest benefit thereby insulating the
thermal storage sink from the surrounding environment, or both.
[0075] FIG. 5 shows still another embodiment of a thermal storage
sink 6, e.g., pond. 400 In this embodiment the liner 18 wraps
around the rectangular bales on the walls of the thermal sink
situated on the outer perimeter. These recycled material bales may
be baled tires 301, baled plastic 402, weighted baled plastic 403,
concrete blocks with recycled material 404, or some other material.
The liner 18 than wraps around the outer perimeter as illustrated
so that there is a barrier of air which fills up the void spaces
503 in the outer perimeter's bales. This liner 18 serves as a
physical barrier to prevent water in the aquifer from entering the
surrounding earth 504 within which the cavity resides. The baled
waste tires, to the extent that they are situated near the liner
(proximate, and inside and/or outside thereof) serve to provide
insulation against heat (or cold) loss. Plastic or vinyl or similar
materials known in the art to be suitable may be employed for the
former function as a physical barrier). Meanwhile ground recycled
glass 502 serves as the porous material as well as construction
debris 501 within the sink itself. This embodiment of the
inventions shows a physical liner 18 and a thermal liner 302.
[0076] Below the ground level 405 within the sink 6 is water 21 or
brine 26, waste glass 502, and construction debris 501. Water 21,
or brine 26, fill the voids between the construction debris within
the sink.
[0077] FIG. 6 illustrates a thermal storage sink below ground level
405 which is a large thermal mass of individual recycled bales, be
they compacted tires 301, compacted waste plastic 402, or bales
with plastic and construction debris or something to make them
heavier such as ground glass or construction debris 403. Between
the bales are conduits or pipes 22 which take the thermal storage
energy from the thermal collector and other pipes which run through
the mass and transport it from the storage sink to heat exchangers
in the building itself (not shown). This thermal storage sink 6 has
a liner 18 and sand and/or gravel 401 and/or waste glass 502 below
the large block. This large thermal mass could just as easily be
above ground and the liner could wrap around the outer perimeter of
bales. Any of these large blocks of bales which make up the thermal
storage sink can contain water 21 within, or not. In the event they
do not contain water, they will not need a liner 18, especially if
they are above ground. In this case, earthen fill 504 surrounds the
sink.
[0078] FIG. 7 shows a thermal storage sink pond 400 which is above
ground level 405 much like an above ground swimming pool. In this
case there is no porous material inside. Schematically illustrated
here are bales of rubber tires 301 and/or other recycled plastic
402, concrete block with recycled materials therein 404, water 21,
and a liner 18.
[0079] FIG. 8 shows a thermal sink pond 400 where bales of plastic
402 which can float provide insulation so that thermal energy
stored in the sink does not escape into the atmosphere. A cover 801
can be placed over the bales 402 to prevent thermal energy from
escaping between the bales floating on the pond's surface.
Illustrated here also are a liner 18 and water 21.
[0080] FIG. 9 portrays an embodiment of the invention where the
thermal storage sink 6 and the thermal storage collector 101 are
some distance away from one another, and/or the thermal storage
sink 6 and the building or structure 901 (indoor air space), where
the thermal energy from the sink will be utilized, are somewhat
distant from one another, thermal energy will be lost to the ground
as thermal energy is transported through thermal medium conduits 22
unless some insulation is provided. Therefore unbaled waste tires
902 or baled tires 14 surround and/or insulate the conduits. These
tires are placed around the pipes when they are laid below ground
405 in a trench connecting the two components, so that the air
space within the tires or compacted tire pipes forms a pocket of
insulation which separates the pipes from being in contact with the
ground itself. Further the waste tires provide support and prevent
breakage of the pipes themselves were the ground to shift or heave
as a result of freeze thaw or for some other reason (e.g.,
earthquake). In such a case, shifting in the ground will not harm
the pipes because the tires serve as a physical buffer as well as
an insulator. These protect and insulate both the thermal storage
transports conduit for transporting thermal energy from the thermal
collector to said thermal storage sink for storage therein, and the
thermal delivery conduit for transporting thermal energy from the
thermal storage sink to an indoor-air space for use therein.
[0081] The thermal storage sinks shown so far in FIG. 1-9 are
"thermal added" storage systems/sinks where additional thermal
energy, be it additional heat or additional cold, is added to the
sink and stored there until the desired time arises for it to be
used. Those systems require insulation. But such is not the case in
a geo thermal sink. FIGS. 10A through 16 show various embodiments
of geo thermal sinks. In a geo thermal sink it is best that there
be as little insulation as possible, except, perhaps, for overhead.
In a geo thermal sink the intention is to take the heat or cold put
into the sink and get rid of it to the surrounding ground as soon
as possible so that the water within the sink can take on the
temperature of the ground around it, which stays quite constant
throughout the year. In geo thermal sinks pipe styled compacted
bales are much more suitable to the task than rectangular bales
since the rectangular bales provide far greater insulation. By
using pipe-like configurations of baled waste tires, the water
within the bale will come in direct contact with the sides of the
geo thermal sink, which are in close contact with the surrounding
ground. Meanwhile, if water is brought into the sink and is at a
temperature higher than ground temperature, that heat will quickly
dissipate into the cooler ground around the sink, if there is
little insulation. If water brought into the sink is lower in
temperature than the surrounding ground, that water within the sink
will quickly absorb heat from the surrounding ground.
[0082] Geo thermal sinks are pretty much the same as thermal added
sinks except for insulation, and except for their source of thermal
energy which in the case of geo thermal sinks comes from the ground
around the sink itself. Hence there should be as little of a
barrier between the sink and the ground around it as possible,
except for what is necessary to retain liquid within the sink
itself.
[0083] FIG. 10A illustrates a geothermal storage sink 1000 with
recyclables, in this case with pipe-like baled waste tires 14
within it so as to provide support for the sink itself, the tires
being placed in close proximity to the liner 18 so that the water
21 within the sink has minimal insulation between it and the
surrounding ground 504, thus allowing it more quickly to take on
ground temperature 1001 within. Because heat rises, the temperature
at the top of the sink will be higher than the bottom of the sink.
Consequently there are two transport pipes 1009 and 1010 within the
sink. An upper transport pipe 1009 is placed higher up and a lower
transport pipe 1010 is placed lower down. The former extracts
warmer water and the latter extracts colder water, depending on the
needs of the area to be heated or cooled. Each pipe can act as
either a water supply line 11 or a water return line 12. Both
usually operate simultaneously so that water levels within the sink
stay constant. If water entering the sink is at a higher
temperature than the ground temperature that higher temperature
will eventually be dispelled to the surrounding ground 504. If the
temperature of the water returning is of a lower temperature, the
water within the sink will absorb heat from the surrounding ground
504. Water temperature within the sink 1002 will eventually equal
ground temperature 1001 if the geo thermal system is inactive for
any length of time. Attached to these two entry exit pipes each
numbered both 11 and 12 are filters 10 and submersible pumps 4.
Also there is a rainwater intake pipe 1003 which is bifurcated so
that when water has reached an appropriate level within the sink, a
further flow of incoming water 1004 can be diverted elsewhere. The
high water mark 16 is naturally situated below the sink liner 18 or
vapor barrier 13 to prevent water from overhead from entering the
sink. A geo-grid 7 is placed above that to prevent earthen fill
from entering the sink itself. There is earthen fill 5 above the
sink for insulation from ambient air 1005. The sink is placed below
the frost line 1006 so as to better insulate it from seasonal
variation.
[0084] FIG. 10B illustrates another geo thermal sink 1000 where
construction debris 501 fills the interior of the geo thermal sink
in place of baled tires. As in FIG. 1 there is a fire hydrant 19
and a pipe 24 connected to the fire hydrant that allows water to be
drawn from the sink in times of a fire emergency. There is also a
rainwater intake pipe 1003 and a pump 4 which feeds water into the
sink itself. The pump 4 attached to the water feed line 11-12, in
the lower left side of the figure, is within a hollow shaft 1007 so
that maintenance can be done on the pump when necessary. The geo
thermal sink 1000 is stationed below the frost line 1006. Fill 5 is
placed over the sink as insulation and to prevent debris or other
forms of matter from entering the sink itself. A liner 18 is atop
the sink or vapor barrier 13 as a geo grid 7 which prevents dirt or
debris from falling into the geo thermal sink or from puncturing
the liner or vapor barrier. There is a thermal water feed from the
sink 1009 on the right side of the drawing which can act as both a
feed 11 or a water return 12. On the lower left side of the drawing
is another thermal water feed 1010 which can do the same. When one
is acting as a feed the other is acting as a return. The two are
stationed on different sides of the sink. Each has a filter 10 and
a reversible pump 4 for moving water either out of the sink or into
it.
[0085] FIG. 11 shows a top down view of a geothermal sink with
water feed and return lines entering and leaving a structure where
they provide heating and/or cooling to the inside space 901. In
this embodiment pipe like bales of waste tires 14 run within the
sink itself from top to bottom and come in direct contact with the
liner 18 substantially everywhere along the periphery. The tire
bales' donut openings provide even less thermal insulation than do
those sides where the belt alone comes in contact with the liner,
but because both belt and sidewall are quite thin, the insulation
properties of the tires in general are kept to a minimum. Also, the
bales themselves are such that water itself can readily move
between the compacted tires of each bale and between the bales
themselves. These bales provide structural support for fill
overhead (not shown). Outside of the liner are stationed additional
compacted waste tire pipes like those within the sink to further
support and protect the sink walls from caving in, as are those on
the east and west side of the sink which are placed in a vertical
position 1101. These vertical bales allow ground contact for this
outer perimeter and keep this area at ground temperature 1001. In
the upper part of the figure are an intake thermal feed 11 and
extraction pipe 12. The pipe 11 on the right is drawing water from
the sink 6, 1000, taking it into a building 901, passing it through
a cooling coil 1102 where a fan 1103 blows unconditioned air 1104
through holes or openings between the coils 1105 whereupon the air
leaves as conditioned air 1106 and cools the space within the
building, itself. Meanwhile, if heating is required a heat pump
1107 upstream of the coil 1102 heats the water 21 to a higher
temperature and the heated water now is able to pass through the
same coil 1102 where the fan 1103 again forces air 1104 through the
coil openings 1105 between the fins and so heats the area inside
the structure. After leaving the coil, the water than passes
through a pipe 1108 which allows the water to reenter the sink. A
second heat pump 1107 can be placed in a position, prior to reentry
to the sink, so that any thermal energy gained or lost in the
heating or cooling of the building could be retrieved prior to the
water reentering the sink. Meanwhile, water entering the sink, if
at a different temperature of whatever degree, will eventually
equalize with the ground temperature 1001 outside of the sink.
[0086] FIG. 12 shows us a top down view of a geothermal storage
sink 1000 where water 21 from the sink goes into a building 901, is
utilized for its thermal energy and thereafter becomes
post-utilization water 1201 with additional thermal energy or a
lack thereof. Thereafter this water exits the building, now goes
into another sink, an acclimation sink 1202, where over time it
returns to ground temperature, gaining or losing whatever thermal
energy it acquired when it entered the building or some other
utilization point, to the surrounding ground 504 around the
acclimation sink. A temperature sensor 9 placed near the exit port
of the acclimation sink monitors water temperature within the sink
and as long as the temperature of water leaving is at ground
temperature, water from within the acclimation sink is allowed to
leave. That is, the water is prevented from leaving the acclimation
tank until it is substantially equal to ground water temperature
1001, and thus is not allowed to leave if it is higher or lower,
irrespective of whether the application is heating or cooling. When
water is allowed to leave the acclimation sink 1202 and enter a
geothermal refill sink 1203, that replenishes whatever water is
lost to the main sink 1000 which supplies ground temperature water
21 to the building 901.
[0087] FIG. 13 shows another embodiment of a geothermal storage
sink where water 21 is not returned to the sink once it is utilized
for heating or cooling purposes. In this case a groundwater refill
chamber 1300, or two such chambers, are placed right outside the
liner 18 of the geo thermal sink itself. Water 21 from within the
geothermal sink leaves via a pipe 11 with a filter 10 attached. A
pump 4 pumps water through that pipe into a building 901 (not
shown) where the thermal energy within the water is utilized for
heating or cooling of the building. To return water from the
building directly into the sink would be counterproductive to the
sinks purpose because eventually the water temperature within the
sink would rise or fall to such a point that its ability to service
the needs of the building would cease, at least for a period of
time. So as to prevent that from happening, water taken from the
sink is replenished with groundwater 1301 from outside the sink,
from the refill chambers 1300 situated on the outside of the geo
thermal sinks liner. In this case there are two such chambers, one
on either side of the geo thermal sink 1000. Within each
groundwater chamber, baled tires 1101 are stacked outside the liner
18 of the geo thermal sink and a groundwater refill pipe 1302
extends between the compacted tire bale in the refill area 1300
upward until it then curves and enters the geothermal sink. The
groundwater refill pipe(s) supply the geothermal sink with whatever
water is taken out. A pump 4 is attached to the groundwater refill
pipe and as long as the bottom extremity of that pipe is below the
water table 1303 ground water is available for refill purposes. By
covering over the tires outside the liner with geo grid, or filter
fabric 7, a chamber is formed, the groundwater refill chamber 1300.
The grid 7 allows water from the surrounding soil 504 to enter into
the space 1300 where these upright tire stacks 1101 are located.
The geo-grid prevents fines (fine fragments or tiny particles,
e.g., of crushed rock) and other debris from entering the chamber.
Water permeates into the refill area from a lateral direction, from
below, and from any point outside the sink which is below the water
table, except for the area situated against the liner of the
geothermal sink. The stacked tires, not being watertight, allow
water to easily enter between each tire within the bales and fill
up all voids within the chamber below the water table. At the top
of the refill chamber is another pipe which leads to the surface
and attached to this pipe 1304 is a bleeder valve 203 so that when
the water rises within the chamber any trapped air inside the
chamber escapes up through the pipe. The valve also prevents
surface air from heating or cooling water within the groundwater
refill chamber. Failure to have such a bleeder valve and pipe would
result in air being trapped in the roof of the refill chamber
resulting in the chamber not being able to accumulate as much water
therein as might be possible as compared to when the bleeder valve
and pipe mechanism are so employed. Whatever water leaves the sink
to heat or cool the building is replaced by ground refill water
1301 which is then pumped into the sink, so there is always a full
supply of water within the sink so that it may fulfill its heating
or cooling needs for the building, just so long as the lower part
of the pipe within the chamber is below the water line and just so
long as water can quickly percolate into the chamber to the extent
that water is being removed. Meanwhile, the temperature of the
water within the sink remains constant at ground water temperature.
Water which leaves the geothermal sink to be used in the building
is returned to the ground elsewhere (not shown). Construction
debris 501 and baled tires 14 within the geothermal sink help to
support the sink itself.
[0088] FIG. 14 is much like FIG. 13 though the entire sink 1000 has
construction debris 501 and water 21 or brine 26 inside the liner
18. On either side of the sink are refill chambers 1300, are pieces
of gravel-sized construction debris 1401 in place of the vertical
pipe tire bales. The refill pipes 1302 are shown which connect the
refill area to the sink 1000. The geo grid 7 is utilized to
separate the ground around from the refill area and to allow ground
water to refill the refill area and to prevent fines from entering
the area. Air pipes 1304 with bleeder valves 203 are also present.
Above the liner 18 at the top of the sink are placed rectangular
tire bales 301. Since heat rises and since the greatest loss of
heat occurs close to the surface of the ground 405 insulation
placed at the top of the sink will most probably be the most
advantageous place for situating such bales so as to maintain
ground temperature 1001 within the sink. The sink itself is placed
below the frost line 1006. Fill 5 is placed above the rectangular
bales of tires.
[0089] FIG. 15 shows a side view of a geo thermal sink 1000 with a
shallow well 1501 beside the sink itself where water from the well
with a fluidic connection to the sink replenishes any water taken
out of the geothermal sink utilized by a building for heating or
cooling purposes. A check valve 1502 is placed on the well water
feed pipe 1503 to the geothermal sink. Because in this case the
flow rate from the underground stream 1504 which supplies well
water is not nearly sufficient to take care of the needs of the
structure, which takes water from the geo thermal sink, the
remaining water needed comes from an additional water source feed
1505, or from the normal sink water supply feed 12 to the
geothermal sink source, such as a refill sink (not shown). Were
water flow from the underground stream sufficient to take care of
the structures needs year round then there would be no need for the
geo thermal sink. Of course there is recyclable material within the
sink itself, in this case construction debris 501. Earthen fill 504
is under the structure and around the sink and the sink itself is
situated below the frost line 1006. 18 shows the liner around the
geo thermal sink.
[0090] FIG. 16 provides a side view of a geo thermal sink 1000 and
an underground stream 1504 which either singly or in combination
feeds ground water at ground temperature to a building 901 for
heating or cooling purposes. When the stream 1504 is flowing
copiously and the water table is high 1601 the stream alone
supplies ground water at ground temperature to the building 901. As
the seasons change and the flow of water from the stream decreases
the geo thermal sink makes up the difference. When the low water
table mark 1602 is reached and water from the underground stream
drops to such a point that little or no water is flowing, the geo
thermal sink provides all water utilized by the building for
heating or cooling purposes. This figure shows the well water feed
1503 to the building, the geothermal sink 1000 with pipe like baled
tires 14 within the sink, the sinks liner 18, the sinks water feed
to the building 11 with a filter 10, so any sediment from the
geothermal sink does not enter the building and the ground surface
level 405 above the sink are all shown. With a geothermal sink and
an underground stream, the heating and cooling needs of a structure
can be taken care of on a year round basis, even if the stream
dries up during certain seasons of the year.
[0091] Having reviewed the drawings, let us now review some
additional benefits and features of the invention disclosed
herein.
[0092] In many instances, it is preferable and far less expensive
to use water in place of glycol in the circulation system of a
thermal storage system which runs through the paving surface for
the "thermal added" systems. Glycol is far more expensive than
water and if there is a leak in any of the hoses which run across
the parking lot it can cause environmental problems. Using water in
its place within the system is less costly and less dangerous. In
winter time when water is taken either from the heat or cold sink
and is pumped through tubes in the pavement either to defrost it or
to prevent snow build up some moisture would ordinarily remain
which could cause clogging and rupture. To prevent this a blower
system can be included in the system which is activated after water
ceases to flow through the tubes in the pavement. These blowers
removes any moisture droplets left in the upper surface tubes to
purge the system and eliminate any freezing danger.
[0093] Thermal energy storage systems are affected by the laws of
thermodynamics. Objects or materials gain or lose heat depending on
the elements around them and the density of each. Insulation can
slow down thermal energy loss or gain, temperature differentials
and movement. If an object is moving (e.g. if water is flowing) it
must give up more thermal energy before it can freeze than if it is
standing still. If an object or a substance, such as a liquid,
namely water or water droplets, are allowed to remain immobile in
the plastic or copper tubing in the upper surface of a parking lot
in the wintertime, when the parking lot is very cold, those water
droplets will soon turn to ice. But if those water droplets are
blown out of the tubing, located near the surface of the parking
lot, after the pump which pumps the water stops, then freezing will
not occur for they will drain back down to the storage tank or to
the sink itself below the frost line. Therefore if water is to be
used as a thermal medium in the parking lot array during the
winter, it must be kept from remaining immobile in the surface
tubing, or the only alternative is to use a far more costly liquid
such as glycol which will not freeze at the temperature water
does.
[0094] Thermal storage sinks are often manmade aquifers and so
contain a large body of water. In times of emergency such water can
be optionally tapped to extinguish a blaze. Referring to FIG. 1
(and similar capacity may be provided in relation to FIG. 2 or
FIGS. 10-14), a firefighting conduit (e.g., shaft or pipe) 24 can
extends from the surface down to where water is found in the
thermal storage sink, and preferably to provide maximum pressure,
all the way down almost to the liner. Over the shaft is a fire
hydrant or similar device 19 for tapping into and extracting the
water. In times of fire emergency, fire fighters can thus tap into
the water stored in the aquifer to help fight the blaze. Holes or
shafts of this nature could also be placed in parking lots where
there are underground retention ponds as well, below a roadway or
parking lot. In those cases, water available in the aquifer can be
used to help protect nearby buildings. If added pressure is
required, a pressure pump (not shown) may be provided to force air
down into the aquifer and increase pressure, so that water that is
drawn up through the shaft or pipe 24 will have pressure sufficient
for effective firefighting.
[0095] Finally, it is important to explore more thoroughly, the
particular structural advantages of baled tires, in addition to
their thermal characteristics. Thermal storage sinks of any type,
be they thermal added or geothermal, require that there be little
if any settling of the ground overhead. Otherwise uneven
depressions will form and the surface area will be unusable and
even dangerous. This can cause the asphalt or concrete overhead to
crack or buckle in short order and be useless or unsightly. Even if
only grass were planted overhead settling can create such an uneven
surface that people who walk upon it can trip and fall creating
liability issues for the owners of the property itself.
[0096] Baled tires whether in rectangular form or pipe like
configurations provide extremely stable and even reinforcement and
when put into a configuration with other bales of the same shape
their stabilizing capabilities are only enhanced, whereupon the
upper surface above the sink becomes even more stable and less
likely to cave in. Having already been compressed with as much as
36,000 lbs of pressure by hydraulic cylinders, baled tires cannot
be compressed much more, even under extreme loads. Hence there will
be little deflection even when greater amounts of weight are placed
upon them. If the bales are in a pipelike configuration they also
have nesting tendencies which add still further to the
reinforcement strength of the mass itself.
[0097] Baled tires also allow for large volumes of water to be
incorporated within the sink. The liquid can freely travel within
the bales themselves and between the spaces between one compact
tire and another within each bale. The liquid within a sink is one
of the main retainers of thermal energy and the transport mechanism
used by a sink to transport that energy either to or from another
location. For the most part this liquid takes on thermal energy
more quickly than solids and so a thermal sink should have the
capability of retaining and holding a great volume of liquid. Baled
tires allow for a high percentage of liquid volume within a sink
and provide for easy circulation of that liquid so that thermal
energy can be easily removed and easily acquired by the sink
itself.
[0098] Tire bales also limit the spaces within a sink where
unreachable pockets or voids might form, where the liquid therein
cannot be retrieved, since as mentioned, compacted tires, within
the bales, still allow for the free flow of a liquid between each
individual compacted tires and between the bales themselves.
Further the pipes within the sink are protected by the tire bales
since they can absorb shock. They buffer a shocks intensity and
dissipate the force so that even if an earthquake were to occur,
the liner should remain undamaged and the pipes unbroken.
Especially if tire bales are set about the perimeter of the sink or
if they are placed in a sinks interior, the ground above should not
cave in from such a natural disaster since the baled tires
dissipate the force of a quake to areas outside the sink itself.
Further, because of a tire bales large mass and extreme weight,
which is anywhere between 500 pounds and a ton or more each, they
prevent cave in or shifting of the pipes surrounded and protected
by the bales. Thus, any force that might have been placed on them
is mitigated to an extreme degree and such protection is only
enhanced when one tire bale is placed against another.
[0099] For all of the above reasons, baled tires make for an ideal
material to be used in a thermal storage sinks, be they geothermal
sinks or thermal added sinks. A compacted baled tires qualities
make this material unique and hard to find in other materials,
leaving them ideally suited for the construction of a thermal sink
of large size. And, when baled tires are used for this purpose, one
is simultaneously solving the waste problem that is otherwise
presented by baled tires sitting in landfills.
[0100] Even plastic pipes, which might be used as an inferior
replacement, are not as ideally suited to the job. Plastic pipes
lack the strength of baled tires which have steel reinforcement,
they do not last as long before they start to deteriorate, they do
not have the mass or weight, and they cost far more. In fact
utilizing plastic pipe as an alternative to the baled tires within
a thermal sink could cost as much as a quarter of a million dollars
more per acre and would make the construction of large manmade
thermal sinks prohibitively expensive.
[0101] Another benefit to the use of baled tires in large thermal
sinks, where millions of gallons of liquid may be contained, is
that baled tires, and the sinks in which they are used, eliminate
the need for drilling, which has to be done if a vertical open or
closed loop geothermal systems is to be constructed. Particularly,
geothermal systems, used for large commercial structures, require
large bodies of water to serve as a way to supply them with the
necessary thermal energy they need. Such a source of supply is
often an underground aquifer, river or stream. To reach such a
large water body, drilling is necessary. If the system utilizes
natural steam in place of water or goes through hot rock, drilling,
and the installation of a casing, is necessary so that the energy
from below the surface can be tapped. Where none of these natural
sources of thermal energy are available, then many drill holes are
dug, into the earth, often 25 feet or more. These often go down
about 200 hundred feet with miles of tubing installed, through
which a liquid travels which acquires the thermal properties of the
ground itself whose energy is necessary for a large structures
heating or cooling needs. All such methods are extremely costly and
all such methods become unnecessary when a large thermal sink is
constructed with baled tires. The result is that a thermal sink
which utilizes baled tires may cost only a fraction of what would
otherwise be the case.
[0102] The knowledge possessed by someone of ordinary skill in the
art at the time of this disclosure is understood to be part and
parcel of this disclosure and is implicitly incorporated by
reference herein, even if in the interest of economy express
statements about the specific knowledge understood to be possessed
by someone of ordinary skill are omitted from this disclosure.
While reference may be made in this disclosure to the invention
comprising a combination of a plurality of elements, it is also
understood that this invention is regarded to comprise combinations
which omit or exclude one or more of such elements, even if this
omission or exclusion of an element or elements is not expressly
stated herein, unless it is expressly stated herein that an element
is essential to applicant's combination and cannot be omitted. It
is further understood that the related prior art may include
elements from which this invention may be distinguished by negative
claim limitations, even without any express statement of such
negative limitations herein. It is to be understood, between the
positive statements of applicant's invention expressly stated
herein, and the prior art and knowledge of the prior art by those
of ordinary skill which is incorporated herein even if not
expressly reproduced here for reasons of economy, that any and all
such negative claim limitations supported by the prior art are also
considered to be within the scope of this disclosure and its
associated claims, even absent any express statement herein about
any particular negative claim limitations.
[0103] While only certain preferred features of the invention have
been illustrated and described, many modifications, changes and
substitutions will occur to those skilled in the art. It is,
therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended
to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true
spirit of the invention.
* * * * *