A building heating and cooling system includes a structural foundation member that extends into a borehole. A heat exchange loop is installed within the foundation member for heat exchange with ground surrounding the foundation member. The heat exchange hoop is interconnected with a heat pump for providing heating or cooling to the building by heat exchange with ground surrounding the foundation member.

A groundwater heat exchanger includes a distributor, a collector, a plurality of heat exchange pipes, and a housing. The distributor includes a first interior chamber and a first port. The collector includes a second interior chamber and a second port. Each heat exchange pipe includes a first end attached to the distributor and a second end attached to the collector, and defines a fluid passageway between the first and second interior chambers. The housing surrounds the heat exchange pipes and defines a groundwater passageway along the heat exchange pipes that is configured to receive a groundwater flow. In one example, a loop fluid flow received at the first port flows into the first interior chamber, then flows from the first interior chamber to the second interior chamber through the plurality of heat exchange pipes, and flows from the second interior chamber out the second port.

A method includes flowing, in a closed loop geothermal well residing in a target subterranean zone, a first heat transfer working fluid and flowing, in the geothermal well, a second working fluid from the surface inlet to the downhole location of the geothermal well. The second working fluid resides upstream of the first heat transfer working fluid. The second working fluid includes a fluid density greater than a fluid density of the first heat transfer working fluid. The method also includes circulating, in the geothermal well, the second working fluid pushing, with the second working fluid, the first heat transfer working fluid toward a surface outlet of the geothermal well. The method also includes collecting energy from the mobilized first heat transfer working fluid received at the surface outlet of the geothermal well.

A method includes flowing, in a closed loop geothermal well residing in a target subterranean zone, a first heat transfer working fluid and flowing, in the geothermal well, a second working fluid from the surface inlet to the downhole location of the geothermal well. The second working fluid resides upstream of the first heat transfer working fluid. The second working fluid includes a fluid density greater than a fluid density of the first heat transfer working fluid. The method also includes circulating, in the geothermal well, the second working fluid pushing, with the second working fluid, the first heat transfer working fluid toward a surface outlet of the geothermal well. The method also includes collecting energy from the mobilized first heat transfer working fluid received at the surface outlet of the geothermal well.

Systems and generating power in an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) operation to supply electrical power. In embodiments, an inlet temperature of a flow of gas from a source to an ORC unit may be determined. The source may connect to a main pipeline. The main pipeline may connect to a supply pipeline. The supply pipeline may connect to the ORC unit thereby to allow gas to flow from the source to the ORC unit. Heat from the flow of gas may cause the ORC unit to generate electrical power. The outlet temperature of the flow of the gas from the ORC unit to a return pipe may be determined. A bypass valve, positioned on a bypass pipeline connecting the supply pipeline to the return pipeline, may be adjusted to a position sufficient to maintain temperature of the flow of gas above a threshold based on the inlet and outlet temperature.

Systems and generating power in an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) operation to supply electrical power. In embodiments, an inlet temperature of a flow of gas from a source to an ORC unit may be determined. The source may connect to a main pipeline. The main pipeline may connect to a supply pipeline. The supply pipeline may connect to the ORC unit thereby to allow gas to flow from the source to the ORC unit. Heat from the flow of gas may cause the ORC unit to generate electrical power. The outlet temperature of the flow of the gas from the ORC unit to a return pipe may be determined. A bypass valve, positioned on a bypass pipeline connecting the supply pipeline to the return pipeline, may be adjusted to a position sufficient to maintain temperature of the flow of gas above a threshold based on the inlet and outlet temperature.

A geothermal energy storage/converting system utilizes hot water and pressure, such as steam, generated by the geothermal heat/ground water to store energy and/or generate electricity. The system utilizes a motion of a piston, driven by steam generated by geothermal heat, to control movement of an amount of water, which is used to store the energy by compressing gas as energy storage. When electricity is needed, the compressed gas provides a force to push the stored water to drive a hydrogenerator to generate electricity. In a geothermal energy converting embodiment, system utilizes a motion of a piston, driven by steam generated by geothermal heat, to control movement of an amount of water to drive a hydrogenerator to generate electricity.

A geothermal energy storage/converting system utilizes hot water and pressure, such as steam, generated by the geothermal heat/ground water to store energy and/or generate electricity. The system utilizes a motion of a piston, driven by steam generated by geothermal heat, to control movement of an amount of water, which is used to store the energy by compressing gas as energy storage. When electricity is needed, the compressed gas provides a force to push the stored water to drive a hydrogenerator to generate electricity. In a geothermal energy converting embodiment, system utilizes a motion of a piston, driven by steam generated by geothermal heat, to control movement of an amount of water to drive a hydrogenerator to generate electricity.

Method of operating a thermal energy system coupled to a building energy system which selectively provides heating and/or cooling to a building, the method comprising the steps of; (a) providing a thermal energy system comprising a heat pump system having an output side and an input side, a heat energy working fluid loop extending into the building, the output side being coupled to a building by the heat energy working fluid loop to provide heating to the building from the thermal energy system, a cooling demand working fluid loop extending into the building, a first geothermal system in which a working fluid is circulated and a second geothermal system in which a working fluid is circulated; (b) selectively thermally connecting the first geothermal system to the input side of the heat pump system, or to the heat energy working fluid loop to provide heating to the building; and (c) selectively thermally connecting the second geothermal system to the input side of the heat pump system, or to the cooling demand working fluid loop to provide cooling to the building.

Method of operating a thermal energy system coupled to a building energy system which selectively provides heating and/or cooling to a building, the method comprising the steps of; (a) providing a thermal energy system comprising a heat pump system having an output side and an input side, a heat energy working fluid loop extending into the building, the output side being coupled to a building by the heat energy working fluid loop to provide heating to the building from the thermal energy system, a cooling demand working fluid loop extending into the building, a first geothermal system in which a working fluid is circulated and a second geothermal system in which a working fluid is circulated; (b) selectively thermally connecting the first geothermal system to the input side of the heat pump system, or to the heat energy working fluid loop to provide heating to the building; and (c) selectively thermally connecting the second geothermal system to the input side of the heat pump system, or to the cooling demand working fluid loop to provide cooling to the building.