A device for energy transfer and for energy storage in a liquid reservoir has a water heat exchanger arranged on a bottom and has an air heat exchanger arranged above the water heat exchanger, wherein the water heat exchanger is arranged in a liquid reservoir that is surrounded by an inner shell which delimits the device with respect to an outer shell covering the inner shell from the bottom, wherein the outer shell is at least partially inserted into an earth layer, and the device is closed upwardly by a lid in such a way as to make it possible to generate a flow of air from an air inlet to an air outlet of the air heat exchanger.

A system and method for converting non-potable water into potable water. Non-potable water, such as sea water or non-potable ground water, and the like, is fed down a conduit into a deep underground enclosure. Due to its extreme depth, the enclosure is geothermally heated above the boiling point of water at the pressure within the enclosure. The water boils and creates water vapor. The water vapor rises and can be drawn up through a vapor conduit to the surface. The water vapor can be condensed (and further purified, if necessary) into potable water. The steam can be used in a hybrid system, and condensed after being used for heating purposes or electrical production. Prior to being sent down into the enclosure, the source of non-potable water can be used in counter current heat exchange to reduce the temperature of the water vapor rising through the vapor conduit.

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.

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.

A geothermal system includes an outer vessel having a sidewall that is in contact with surrounding ground material. A geothermal pile is disposed within an interior volume of the outer vessel, wherein a first heat conducting liquid at least partially fills a space between an inner surface of the sidewall of the outer vessel and an outer surface of the geothermal pile when in an installed condition. A conduit disposed within an interior space of the geothermal pile conducts a second heat conducting liquid along a flow path within the geothermal pile toward a bottom end thereof and then back to an outlet at a top end thereof. During operation, heat is transferred from the surrounding ground to the second heat conducting liquid via the first heat conducting liquid within the space between the inner surface of the sidewall of the outer vessel and the outer surface of the geothermal pile.

A system and method of harvesting geothermal energy in a subterranean formation includes providing an injection wellbore that extends into the subterranean formation, positioning a plurality of selectively opening sleeves in the injection wellbore spaced apart the subterranean formation, providing at least one producing wellbore that extends into the subterranean formation in a predetermined location proximate to the injection wellbore, and fracturing the subterranean formation in a plurality of locations proximate to the plurality of selectively opening sleeves to enhance a fluid pathway between the injection wellbore and the at least one producing wellbore. Fluid is injected down the injection wellbore at a first temperature, and the fluid is produced from the at least one producing wellbore at a second temperature higher than said first temperature.

A system and method of harvesting geothermal energy in a subterranean formation includes providing an injection wellbore that extends into the subterranean formation, positioning a plurality of selectively opening sleeves in the injection wellbore spaced apart the subterranean formation, providing at least one producing wellbore that extends into the subterranean formation in a predetermined location proximate to the injection wellbore, and fracturing the subterranean formation in a plurality of locations proximate to the plurality of selectively opening sleeves to enhance a fluid pathway between the injection wellbore and the at least one producing wellbore. Fluid is injected down the injection wellbore at a first temperature, and the fluid is produced from the at least one producing wellbore at a second temperature higher than said first temperature.

A geothermal process for generating electricity includes: heating a primary fluid by absorbing thermal energy from a geothermal energy source to elevate thermal energy and kinetic energy of the primary fluid; increasing a pressure on the primary fluid to raise a boiling point and a temperature of the primary fluid and decrease latent heat of the primary fluid; driving a mechanical device via one of: the kinetic energy of the primary fluid; and a kinetic energy of a secondary working fluid that absorbs the thermal energy of the primary fluid in a heat exchanger; and driving an electricity generator by the mechanical device to generate electricity. The pressure on the primary fluid may be increased by restricting, a flow path of the primary fluid to create a backpressure, by increasing a density of the primary fluid, or by increasing a pumping pressure of the primary fluid into the geothermal well.

An economical ground heat exchanger system uses water-filled membrane liners in cylindrical augured holes. A submersible pump in a drain reservoir is shared by multiple boreholes. Thermal connection with a building or industrial process occurs through a heat exchanger thermally coupled to the reservoir. The pump sends water tempered by the heat exchanger to the water-filled holes, where it exchanges heat with the ground before overflowing through gravity drain piping back to the reservoir for continued recirculation. Heat transfer with the ground occurs through thermal contact between the water, the membrane liners, and earth supporting the liners. Optional raised borehole support rims maintain an “above grade” water level and allow removed soil to be re-used as a berm or planter over manifold pipes that connect the system components, thus eliminating the cost of trenching for the manifold pipes.