CA1114700A - Method of storing thermal energy in a ground storage device - Google Patents
Method of storing thermal energy in a ground storage deviceInfo
- Publication number
- CA1114700A CA1114700A CA324,022A CA324022A CA1114700A CA 1114700 A CA1114700 A CA 1114700A CA 324022 A CA324022 A CA 324022A CA 1114700 A CA1114700 A CA 1114700A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- water
- heat
- mass
- storage device
- ground storage
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
- 238000003860 storage Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 21
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 8
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 24
- 239000011810 insulating material Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 description 7
- 238000005338 heat storage Methods 0.000 description 5
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000014759 maintenance of location Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000001105 regulatory effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001502 supplementing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
Landscapes
- Central Heating Systems (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
In a method of storing thermal energy in a ground storage device a large volume, including a ground body for circulating water in a circuit comprising passages in said body, there are used heat-absorbing and heat-emitting means.
The heat-absorbing means has the form of a large, natural or artificial water-mass, such as a lake, sea-inlet or the like, whose water is heated to above a given temperature during warm periods of the year - is charged to the ground storage device. The supply of water to said ground storage device is interrupted when there is equilibrium between the tempera-ture of the water supplies and the temperature of the ground storage device.
In a method of storing thermal energy in a ground storage device a large volume, including a ground body for circulating water in a circuit comprising passages in said body, there are used heat-absorbing and heat-emitting means.
The heat-absorbing means has the form of a large, natural or artificial water-mass, such as a lake, sea-inlet or the like, whose water is heated to above a given temperature during warm periods of the year - is charged to the ground storage device. The supply of water to said ground storage device is interrupted when there is equilibrium between the tempera-ture of the water supplies and the temperature of the ground storage device.
Description
1~47~
The present invention relates to a method of storing thermal energy in a ground stora~e device of relatively large volume, preferably in a ground storage device which is in direct thermal connection with the surrounding earth and which includes a ground body provided with passages through which water can be circulated in a circuit which includes said passages and external heat-absorbing and heat-emitting devices.
An example of such storage of thermal energy is that described in Belgian Patent No. 182,228, issued May 2, 1978. The heat-absorbing device primarily considered is a solar energy collector, by means of which thermal energy can be stored during the warmer periods of the year, to be then taken out during the colder periods. As disclosed in the description of the said Belgian Patent, thermal energy must be charged to the device over several years before the storage device can be used to the fullest extent with respect to its economic yield, despite the fact that the ground storage need only be heated to a temperature moderately above the ground temperature, which may be 8C, for example.
Temporary solar energy collectors or special energy sources are required for a number of years to effect this initial heating of the storage device, which must be considered to constitute an additional investment for ensuring that the storage device can be utilized efficiently within a reasonable period of time.
The same circumstances prevail in the arrangement of other, similar, large ground storage devices. For reasons of an economic and practical nature, there is a limit to the size and costs that heat-absorbing devices intended for initially heating ground storage devices and maintaining the level of said heat lh~7'~
may have, in order to reduce the preparatory time or to increase the capacity of such devices.
An object of the present invention is to provide a solution to the problem, such as to enable a large quantity of heat of limited temperature to be supplied to a ground storage device of the kind described herein over short periods during the summertime at relatively low costs.
According to the present invention, then,there is provided a method of storing thermal energy in ground storage devices of large volume, preferably in such a device which is in direct thermal contact with surrounding earth and which includes a ground body having passages for circulating water in a circuit which includes said passages and external heat-absorb-ing and heat-emitting means, characterized in that the heat-absorbing means has the form of a large water-mass, having a surface exposed to the sun, which water-mass may be a natural or artificial water-mass, and that water of a given minimum temperature is charged from said water-mass to said ground stor-age device until, at latest, equilibrium is reached between the water charged to said ground storage device and said heat-absorbing means.
In principle, this type of heat-absorbing device is also a solar energy collector, although it has integrated factor, insomuch as - subsequent to a fair delay during spring -it is active twentyfour hours a day well into the autumn months with a temperature of from 18 to 22C. By applying different, simple methods, the water of such natural or artificial water masses can be heated to much higher temperatures, e.g. by covering part of the surface of such a water-mass with a layer of heat-insulating material and supplementing said layer with means forheating the water therebeneath by known solar-energy collecting s~
1~4~JE'~
systems.
Thus, by means of -the invention, the initial heating of a ground heat-storage device can be accomplished rapidly and cheaply, and the temperature of said device maintained during the warmer periods of the year in a very efficient and economic manner. The only limitation of the initial heating source used in accordance with the invention vis-a-vis a more co~ventional type of solar energy collector is the temperature, which is normally limited. This is of little significance, for initial-heating purposes, and is o~ no importance at all when the ground heat-storage device is to be used in areas where only relatively low temperatures are required, i.e. water temperatures ranging up to 15-20 C in said device. ~xamples of such areas are roads, sidewalks and football fields which are to be kept dry and free from snow, and the heating of buildings sufficiently to protect them against frost damage. The temperatures achieved are also sufficient to improve the cultivation of crops and so on during cold periods.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, differences in altitude between the body of water from which heat is derived and the heat-storage device itself may be utilized to transport the water ~rom said mass to said device, thereby obviating the need for pumps.
So that the invention will be more readily understood and optional features thereof made apparent, an exemplary embodi-ment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying schematic drawing.
In the single figure of the drawing there is illustrated a ground heat-storage device l of the kind described and illus-trated in Belgian Patent 182,228 said device including a plurality of vertically extending mutually parallel pipes 2 which are , ~
connected to a common outlet line 3. Each of the pipes 2 has extending coaxially therein a respective inner pipe which is open at the bottom thereof, said inner pipes being connected in parallel to an inlet line ~. The inlet line communicates Wit}
a lake 5 which is located at a higher level than the device 1, while the outlet line 3 communicates with a lake 6 located at a lower level than said device. The flow of water through the device 1 is regulated by means of valves V which may be thermo-statically controlled, and no pumps are required. If pumps are used, however, it will be possible, of course, to move the water to and from the lakes 5 and 6. It is also possible to connect the lines 3 and 4 to a water-course located between the lakes 5 and 6.
If the temperature of the water in lake 5 is too low, part of the surface of the lake can be covered with a buoyant layer 7 of insulating material, such as a plastics material optionally supplemented with auxiliary means for heating the water by means of solar energy. Such means are well known.
The ground heat-storage device may be arranged, for example, beneath the surface of a football field, enabling the surface of the field to be kept relatively free of ice due to the heat derived directly from said device, at least during a greater part of the winter months. The field can thus be used much earlier in the spring than would normally be the case.
As shown in the fiyure, water may be pumped, by means of a pump 8, around a circuit which includes the device 1 and a footpath 10.
The invention is not restricted to the described and illustrated embodiment, but can be modified within the scope 10 of the claims.
, ~ ' ~ '- ' ' '' " . ~
The present invention relates to a method of storing thermal energy in a ground stora~e device of relatively large volume, preferably in a ground storage device which is in direct thermal connection with the surrounding earth and which includes a ground body provided with passages through which water can be circulated in a circuit which includes said passages and external heat-absorbing and heat-emitting devices.
An example of such storage of thermal energy is that described in Belgian Patent No. 182,228, issued May 2, 1978. The heat-absorbing device primarily considered is a solar energy collector, by means of which thermal energy can be stored during the warmer periods of the year, to be then taken out during the colder periods. As disclosed in the description of the said Belgian Patent, thermal energy must be charged to the device over several years before the storage device can be used to the fullest extent with respect to its economic yield, despite the fact that the ground storage need only be heated to a temperature moderately above the ground temperature, which may be 8C, for example.
Temporary solar energy collectors or special energy sources are required for a number of years to effect this initial heating of the storage device, which must be considered to constitute an additional investment for ensuring that the storage device can be utilized efficiently within a reasonable period of time.
The same circumstances prevail in the arrangement of other, similar, large ground storage devices. For reasons of an economic and practical nature, there is a limit to the size and costs that heat-absorbing devices intended for initially heating ground storage devices and maintaining the level of said heat lh~7'~
may have, in order to reduce the preparatory time or to increase the capacity of such devices.
An object of the present invention is to provide a solution to the problem, such as to enable a large quantity of heat of limited temperature to be supplied to a ground storage device of the kind described herein over short periods during the summertime at relatively low costs.
According to the present invention, then,there is provided a method of storing thermal energy in ground storage devices of large volume, preferably in such a device which is in direct thermal contact with surrounding earth and which includes a ground body having passages for circulating water in a circuit which includes said passages and external heat-absorb-ing and heat-emitting means, characterized in that the heat-absorbing means has the form of a large water-mass, having a surface exposed to the sun, which water-mass may be a natural or artificial water-mass, and that water of a given minimum temperature is charged from said water-mass to said ground stor-age device until, at latest, equilibrium is reached between the water charged to said ground storage device and said heat-absorbing means.
In principle, this type of heat-absorbing device is also a solar energy collector, although it has integrated factor, insomuch as - subsequent to a fair delay during spring -it is active twentyfour hours a day well into the autumn months with a temperature of from 18 to 22C. By applying different, simple methods, the water of such natural or artificial water masses can be heated to much higher temperatures, e.g. by covering part of the surface of such a water-mass with a layer of heat-insulating material and supplementing said layer with means forheating the water therebeneath by known solar-energy collecting s~
1~4~JE'~
systems.
Thus, by means of -the invention, the initial heating of a ground heat-storage device can be accomplished rapidly and cheaply, and the temperature of said device maintained during the warmer periods of the year in a very efficient and economic manner. The only limitation of the initial heating source used in accordance with the invention vis-a-vis a more co~ventional type of solar energy collector is the temperature, which is normally limited. This is of little significance, for initial-heating purposes, and is o~ no importance at all when the ground heat-storage device is to be used in areas where only relatively low temperatures are required, i.e. water temperatures ranging up to 15-20 C in said device. ~xamples of such areas are roads, sidewalks and football fields which are to be kept dry and free from snow, and the heating of buildings sufficiently to protect them against frost damage. The temperatures achieved are also sufficient to improve the cultivation of crops and so on during cold periods.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, differences in altitude between the body of water from which heat is derived and the heat-storage device itself may be utilized to transport the water ~rom said mass to said device, thereby obviating the need for pumps.
So that the invention will be more readily understood and optional features thereof made apparent, an exemplary embodi-ment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying schematic drawing.
In the single figure of the drawing there is illustrated a ground heat-storage device l of the kind described and illus-trated in Belgian Patent 182,228 said device including a plurality of vertically extending mutually parallel pipes 2 which are , ~
connected to a common outlet line 3. Each of the pipes 2 has extending coaxially therein a respective inner pipe which is open at the bottom thereof, said inner pipes being connected in parallel to an inlet line ~. The inlet line communicates Wit}
a lake 5 which is located at a higher level than the device 1, while the outlet line 3 communicates with a lake 6 located at a lower level than said device. The flow of water through the device 1 is regulated by means of valves V which may be thermo-statically controlled, and no pumps are required. If pumps are used, however, it will be possible, of course, to move the water to and from the lakes 5 and 6. It is also possible to connect the lines 3 and 4 to a water-course located between the lakes 5 and 6.
If the temperature of the water in lake 5 is too low, part of the surface of the lake can be covered with a buoyant layer 7 of insulating material, such as a plastics material optionally supplemented with auxiliary means for heating the water by means of solar energy. Such means are well known.
The ground heat-storage device may be arranged, for example, beneath the surface of a football field, enabling the surface of the field to be kept relatively free of ice due to the heat derived directly from said device, at least during a greater part of the winter months. The field can thus be used much earlier in the spring than would normally be the case.
As shown in the fiyure, water may be pumped, by means of a pump 8, around a circuit which includes the device 1 and a footpath 10.
The invention is not restricted to the described and illustrated embodiment, but can be modified within the scope 10 of the claims.
, ~ ' ~ '- ' ' '' " . ~
Claims (3)
1. A method of storing thermal energy in ground storage devices of large volume, preferably in such a device which is in direct thermal contact with surrounding earth and which includes a ground body having passages for circulating water in a circuit which includes said passages and external heat-absorbing and heat-emitting means, characterized in that the heat-absorbing means has the form of a large water-mass, having a surface exposed to the sun, which water-mass may be a natural or artificial water-mass, and that water of a given minimum temperature is charged from said water-mass to said ground storage device until, at latest, equilibrium is reached between the water charged to said ground storage de-vice and said heat-absorbing means.
2. A method according to Claim 1, characterized in that at least part of the surface of said water-mass is covered by a layer of heat-insulating material, and that measures are taken to heat the water beneath said layer by solar energy.
3. A method according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterized in that the drop of a water-course forming part of the water-mass, or the difference in level between said water-mass and said device, is used to transport heated water to said ground storage device.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA324,022A CA1114700A (en) | 1979-03-23 | 1979-03-23 | Method of storing thermal energy in a ground storage device |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA324,022A CA1114700A (en) | 1979-03-23 | 1979-03-23 | Method of storing thermal energy in a ground storage device |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1114700A true CA1114700A (en) | 1981-12-22 |
Family
ID=4113810
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA324,022A Expired CA1114700A (en) | 1979-03-23 | 1979-03-23 | Method of storing thermal energy in a ground storage device |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1114700A (en) |
-
1979
- 1979-03-23 CA CA324,022A patent/CA1114700A/en not_active Expired
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |