A geothermal probe for exchanging heat between ground surrounding the geothermal probe, in which the geothermal probe is arranged in the operating state, and a heat transfer fluid includes inflow and outflow pipes. The inflow pipe has an inflow pipe inner surface and the outflow pipe, arranged therein, has an outflow pipe outer surface. Between the inflow pipe inner surface and the outflow pipe outer surface and annular space is formed that is entered by the heat transfer fluid in laminar flow. At least two mixing elements are arranged at a distance from one another in the annular space. The mixing elements bring about a repeated alternation between laminar flow of the heat transfer fluid and mixing.

A geothermal probe for exchanging heat between ground surrounding the geothermal probe, in which the geothermal probe is arranged in the operating state, and a heat transfer fluid includes inflow and outflow pipes. The inflow pipe has an inflow pipe inner surface and the outflow pipe, arranged therein, has an outflow pipe outer surface. Between the inflow pipe inner surface and the outflow pipe outer surface and annular space is formed that is entered by the heat transfer fluid in laminar flow. At least two mixing elements are arranged at a distance from one another in the annular space. The mixing elements bring about a repeated alternation between laminar flow of the heat transfer fluid and mixing.

The invention provides a heat pump system and method heat pump system comprising a first Shape-Memory Alloy (SMA) or Negative Thermal Expansion (NTE) elastocaloric material core positioned in a housing and adapted to change state in response a temperature change supplied by a fluid. A second Shape-Memory Alloy (SMA) or Negative Thermal Expansion (NTE) elastocaloric material core positioned in a housing and adapted to change state in response a temperature change supplied by the fluid. A pump mechanism connected in a fluid communication with the first core and second core and adapted to control delivery of the fluid to the first and second core.

The invention provides a heat pump system and method heat pump system comprising a first Shape-Memory Alloy (SMA) or Negative Thermal Expansion (NTE) elastocaloric material core positioned in a housing and adapted to change state in response a temperature change supplied by a fluid. A second Shape-Memory Alloy (SMA) or Negative Thermal Expansion (NTE) elastocaloric material core positioned in a housing and adapted to change state in response a temperature change supplied by the fluid. A pump mechanism connected in a fluid communication with the first core and second core and adapted to control delivery of the fluid to the first and second core.

A four-process cycle is disclosed for a Vuilleumier heat pump that has mechatronically-controlled displacers. Vuilleumier heat pumps that use a crank to drive the displacers have been previously developed. However, mechatronic controls provides a greater degree of freedom to control the displacers. The four-process cycle provides a higher coefficient of performance than prior cycles in the crank-driven Vuilleumier heat pump and those previously disclosed for a mechatronically-driven Vuilleumier heat pump.

A four-process cycle is disclosed for a Vuilleumier heat pump that has mechatronically-controlled displacers. Vuilleumier heat pumps that use a crank to drive the displacers have been previously developed. However, mechatronic controls provides a greater degree of freedom to control the displacers. The four-process cycle provides a higher coefficient of performance than prior cycles in the crank-driven Vuilleumier heat pump and those previously disclosed for a mechatronically-driven Vuilleumier heat pump.

A heat equilibration system and method transfer heat between ambient air and a liquid heat exchange medium. Conduits have plate-like walls spaced apart by a small distance to contain a thin, film-like stream of liquid heat exchange medium and the conduits are spaced apart from one another to establish a path for exposure of the walls to ambient air. Liquid heat exchange medium is passed through each conduit, flowing in a thin, film-like stream to transfer heat between the ambient air and the liquid heat exchange medium. In one embodiment, the liquid heat exchange medium is water, circulated through a heat equilibration system and a water source heat pump.

A management device manages plural heat pump systems to bring a total amount of energy consumed by the heat pump systems closer to a target value. The management device includes a request transmitting unit, a consumption information receiving unit, a database, and a learning unit. The request transmitting unit transmits requested values of energy consumption to each of the heat pump systems. The consumption information receiving unit receives actual values of energy consumption from each of the heat pump systems. The database stores response characteristics of consumers having each of the heat pump systems with respect to the requested values of energy consumption. The learning unit learns the response characteristics and reflects learning results based on past records of responses of each of the consumers with respect to the requested values of energy consumption in the database.

A management device manages plural heat pump systems to bring a total amount of energy consumed by the heat pump systems closer to a target value. The management device includes a request transmitting unit, a consumption information receiving unit, a database, and a learning unit. The request transmitting unit transmits requested values of energy consumption to each of the heat pump systems. The consumption information receiving unit receives actual values of energy consumption from each of the heat pump systems. The database stores response characteristics of consumers having each of the heat pump systems with respect to the requested values of energy consumption. The learning unit learns the response characteristics and reflects learning results based on past records of responses of each of the consumers with respect to the requested values of energy consumption in the database.

An induced groundwater flow closed loop geothermal system provides safety associated with closed loop geothermal systems (e.g., no mixing of surface water, closed system fluid, and groundwater) and efficiency associated with open loop geothermal systems (e.g., increased heat transfer provided by groundwater flow). A heat exchanger connected to an external system is located in a hole in a geological formation. The hole has a depth below where groundwater is located. A fluid from the external system is routed through the heat exchanger. A pump is utilized to induce groundwater flow from the geological formation, across the heat exchanger and back to the geological formation to enable thermal transfer between the fluid and the groundwater and the groundwater and the geological formation. A casing may be located in the hole to provide structural support and grouting materials may be used to fill space around the casing enabling a groundwater flow path.