A heat transfer medium liquid circulation flow channel having a first heat exchange unit exchanging heat to a second heat exchange unit is provided, and a fixed amount of first heat transfer medium liquid circulates therein. A feed pipe couples heat source holding second heat transfer medium liquid having temperature difference from the first medium liquid to the heat transfer medium liquid circulation flow channel. The feed pipe is coupled to an inlet end side of the first heat exchange unit and a discharge pipe is coupled to an outlet end side thereof. A necessary amount of second medium liquid is supplied to the inlet end side via the feed pipe so that a detected temperature of the first medium liquid in the outlet end maintains required set temperature. The same amount of the first medium liquid as the supplied second medium liquid is discharged out of the discharge pipe.

The disclosed technology includes methods of extracting geothermal energy, generally comprising the steps of: insertion of a thermal mass into a Heat Absorption Zone, absorbing heat in thermal mass, raising the thermal mass to a Heat Transfer Zone, and transferring the heat from the thermal mass. The acquired heat can be used to generate electricity or to drive an industrial process. The thermal mass can have internal chambers containing a liquid such as molten salt, and can also have structures facilitating heat exchange using a thermal exchange fluid, such as a gas or a glycol-based fluid. In some embodiments, two thermal masses are used as counterweights, reducing the energy consumed in bringing the heat in the thermal masses to the surface. In other embodiments, solid or molten salt can be directly supplied to a well shaft to acquire geothermal heat and returned to the surface in a closed loop system.

The present invention provides improvements for heating and cooling of structures. In the exemplary embodiments reference is made to residential structures though light commercial buildings would be another option. The heat transfer systems of the exemplary embodiments are constructed and arranged as a way to provide supplemental heat transfer for geothermal systems. One improvement provided by the exemplary embodiments relative to current geothermal systems is the utilization of residential wastewater discharge as the heat sink. Another improvement provided by the exemplary embodiments relative to current geothermal systems is the installation method which can be performed at the same time when the geothermal system is being installed. By linking together these two system installations, cost savings should be realized.

A system for extracting geothermal heat energy includes a geothermal well in surrounding crust material, extending from a well top part down to a well bottom part at a depth where the surrounding crust material has elevated geothermal temperatures. The geothermal well further includes a heat medium contained within geothermal well walls. The heat medium is heated at the well bottom part by heat extracted from the surrounding crust material, evaporating and rising, carrying heat energy towards the well top part A heat extractor extracts the heat energy available at the well top part carried by the heat medium. At least one heat conductive path is provided in the surrounding crust material, the heat conductive path extending outwardly from the geothermal well into the crust material to conduct geothermal heat from the crust material surrounding the path towards the well bottom part.

A system for extracting geothermal heat energy includes a geothermal well in surrounding crust material, extending from a well top part down to a well bottom part at a depth where the surrounding crust material has elevated geothermal temperatures. The geothermal well further includes a heat medium contained within geothermal well walls. The heat medium is heated at the well bottom part by heat extracted from the surrounding crust material, evaporating and rising, carrying heat energy towards the well top part A heat extractor extracts the heat energy available at the well top part carried by the heat medium. At least one heat conductive path is provided in the surrounding crust material, the heat conductive path extending outwardly from the geothermal well into the crust material to conduct geothermal heat from the crust material surrounding the path towards the well bottom part.

Trench-confirmable geothermal reservoirs with flexible reservoir bodies that can snugly abut trench walls (that may be of virgin, compacted earth) for facilitating heat exchange and flow liquid from one lower end to an opposing top end, and vice versa, depending on desired heat exchange. The direction can be reversed for summer and winter heat/cooling configurations. A series of the reservoirs may be used for appropriate heat transfer. The water volume of the reservoirs is relatively large and slow moving for good earth heat conduction. The reservoirs include first and second ports, one of which has an elongate internal tube that has a bottom that resides adjacent a bottom of the reservoir body and a series of apertures on only a lower portion of the internal tube to intake or output liquid depending on flow direction.

Trench-confirmable geothermal reservoirs with flexible reservoir bodies that can snugly abut trench walls (that may be of virgin, compacted earth) for facilitating heat exchange and flow liquid from one lower end to an opposing top end, and vice versa, depending on desired heat exchange. The direction can be reversed for summer and winter heat/cooling configurations. A series of the reservoirs may be used for appropriate heat transfer. The water volume of the reservoirs is relatively large and slow moving for good earth heat conduction. The reservoirs include first and second ports, one of which has an elongate internal tube that has a bottom that resides adjacent a bottom of the reservoir body and a series of apertures on only a lower portion of the internal tube to intake or output liquid depending on flow direction.

Embodiments in the current disclosure relate to improving the efficiencies of geothermal heating and cooling systems, solar based energy production and other green-energy generators by linking them together for increasing the usable energy which is extractable from each generator and/or energy storage reservoir. In some embodiments, increased efficiencies of both geothermal solutions and systems exploiting solar energy or other energy generators are achieved by linking them together. Preferably but not necessarily the linking includes smart-contacts which automatically enhance the links according to temporal measurable values characterizing the connectable modules and devices. A geothermal reservoir may include an inlet with a large surface area between a shell of the reservoir and the ground.

Embodiments in the current disclosure relate to improving the efficiencies of geothermal heating and cooling systems, solar based energy production and other green-energy generators by linking them together for increasing the usable energy which is extractable from each generator and/or energy storage reservoir. In some embodiments, increased efficiencies of both geothermal solutions and systems exploiting solar energy or other energy generators are achieved by linking them together. Preferably but not necessarily the linking includes smart-contacts which automatically enhance the links according to temporal measurable values characterizing the connectable modules and devices. A geothermal reservoir may include an inlet with a large surface area between a shell of the reservoir and the ground.

The present disclosure describes a system and a method for generating energy from geothermal sources. The system includes an injection well and a production well extending underground into a rock formation, a first lateral section connected to the injection well and a second lateral section connected to the production well, the first and second lateral sections connected with a multilateral connector, defining a pressure-tested downhole well loop within the rock formation and in a heat transfer arrangement therewith. The downhole well loop cased in steel and cemented in place within the rock formation. The downhole well loop to receive working fluid capable of undergoing phase change between liquid and gas within the downhole well loop as a result of heat transferred from the rock formation. The system also includes a pump to circulate working fluid, a turbine system to convert the flow of working fluid into electricity, and a cooler.