Ground source heat pump heat exchanger

Abstract

A heat pump, heat pump exchanger component, and method of using a heat exchanger, the heat pump exchanger has long pipes arranged in at least one layer in fluid communication with one another, and spaced a minimum of about two (2) feet apart. Shorter pipes may be disposed between long pipes, and connectors between adjacent pipes. The long pipes are composed of high thermal conductive materials, such as aluminum, while the short pipes and/or connectors may be composed of flexible lower thermal conductive materials. Heat exchanger is placed a minimum of twenty-four (24) inches beneath the ground surface.

Claims

1. A heat exchanger for use with a heat pump system in which the heat pump system has a heat pump with a refrigerant carrying coil to which the heat exchanger exchanges in ground heat using water or water-antifreeze fluids pumped through a heat exchanger loop in the heat pump, in which the heat exchanger loop has an input/output extending from the heat pump in fluid communication with the heat exchanger forming a closed loop, the heat exchanger comprising: input and output terminuses for fluid communication with the input/output extending from the heat pump in series or in parallel with at least two lengths of thermally conductive aluminum or aluminum alloy long pipes, including an input long pipe extending from the input terminus and an output long pipe extending from the output terminus; each of the long pipes being spaced at least two feet (2) apart from any other long pipe and connected on end with at least a pair of connectors, the pair of connectors having a short length of short pipe disposed therebetween; wherein a total combined length of the aluminum or aluminum alloy long pipes does not exceed one hundred twenty (120) feet between input and output terminuses; the long pipes have an outer diameter, the outer diameter being from about three (3) inches to about four (4) inches, and the connectors and short pipe are composed of thermally conductive material, HDPE, flexible material, or combinations thereof, wherein the thermally conductive material is taken from the group consisting of aluminum, copper, iron, or alloys thereof; and wherein the heat exchanger consists essentially of six long pipes disposed in parallel in which a layer of three parallel long pipes forming a row are disposed above a layer of three parallel long pipes forming a row, with five short pipes connected therebetween by the pairs of connectors to define the heat exchanger having upper and lower rows of the long pipes connected via the short pipes and the pairs of connectors, with each of the long pipes in the upper row disposed from about two (2) to about three (3) feet above a long pipe in the lower row.

2. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein: the at least one of the pair of connectors alternately consists of straight connectors, flexible connectors, angled connectors, corner adapters, transition adapters to connect pipes and connectors of different diameters, or combinations thereof.

3. The heat exchanger of claim 1, further comprising: braces disposed between layers of long pipe to maintain separation therebetween.

4. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein: the heat exchanger is connected at the input terminus and/or the output terminus to at least another adjacent heat exchanger forming larger and larger matrices of heat exchangers.

5. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein: the connectors are joined to pipe or other connectors by being butt adapted, threaded, crimped, clamped, friction welded, or combinations thereof.

6. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein: each long pipe has an internal diameter of about three (3) inches.

7. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein: at least one of the connectors or short pipes are composed of HDPE.

8. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein: the long pipes are about twenty (20) feet long.

9. A heat exchanger for use with a heat pump system in which the heat pump system has a heat pump with a refrigerant carrying coil to which the heat exchanger exchanges in ground heat using water or water-antifreeze fluids pumped through a heat exchanger coil in the heat pump, in which the heat exchanger coil has an input/output extending from the heat pump in fluid communication with the heat exchanger, the heat exchanger comprising: input and output terminuses for fluid communication with the input/output extending from the heat pump in series or in parallel with at least two lengths of long pipes, including an input long pipe extending from the input terminus and an output long pipe extending from the output terminus; each of the long pipes being spaced at least two feet (2) apart from any other long pipe and connected on end with at least a pair of connectors, the pair of connectors having a short length of short pipe disposed therebetween; wherein the long pipes have an outer diameter, the outer diameter being from about three (3) inch to about four (4) inches, the long pipes are composed of a thermally conductive material taken from the group consisting of aluminum, copper, iron, or alloys thereof, and the connectors and short pipe are composed of HDPE.

10. The heat exchanger of claim 9, wherein: the thermally conductive material is taken from the group consisting of aluminum or aluminum alloys.

11. The heat exchanger of claim 9, wherein: the heat exchanger consists essentially of six long pipes disposed in parallel in which a layer of three parallel long pipes forming a row are disposed above a layer of three parallel long pipes forming a row, with five short pipes connected therebetween by the pair of connectors to define the heat exchanger having upper and lower rows of the long pipes connected via the short pipes and the pairs of connectors, with each of the long pipes in the upper row disposed from about two (2) to about three (3) feet above a long pipe in the lower row.

12. The heat exchanger of claim 11, further comprising: braces disposed between layers of long pipe to maintain separation therebetween.

13. The heat exchanger of claim 11, wherein: the heat exchanger is configured at the input terminus and/or the output terminus to connect to adjacent heat exchangers for forming larger and larger matrices of heat exchangers.

14. The heat exchanger of claim 11, wherein: the heat exchanger is configured at the input terminus and/or the output terminus to connect to adjacent heat exchangers for forming larger and larger matrices of heat exchangers.

15. The heat exchanger of claim 9, wherein: the at least one of the pair of connectors alternately consists of straight connectors, flexible connectors, angled connectors, corner adapters, transition adapters to connect pipes and connectors of different diameters, or combinations thereof.

16. The heat exchanger of claim 9, wherein: the long pipes have a combined length of six lengths of pipe at 20 feet long for a total of 120 feet of thermally conductive piping per heat exchanger.

17. A heat exchanger for use with a heat pump system in which the heat pump system has a heat pump with a refrigerant carrying coil to which the heat exchanger exchanges in ground heat using water or water-antifreeze fluids pumped through a heat exchanger loop in the heat pump, in which the heat exchanger loop has an input/output extending from the heat pump in fluid communication with the heat exchanger, the heat exchanger comprising: input and output terminuses for fluid communication with the input/output extending from the heat pump heat exchanger loop in series or in parallel with six lengths of thermally conductive aluminum or aluminum alloy long pipes, including an input long pipe extending from the input terminus and an output long pipe extending from the output terminus; each of the long pipes being spaced at least two feet (2) apart from any other long pipe and connected on end with at least a pair of connectors, the pair of connectors having a short length of short pipe disposed therebetween; wherein a total combined length of the aluminum or aluminum alloy long pipes does not exceed about one hundred twenty (120) feet between input and output terminuses; the long pipes have an outer diameter, the outer diameter being from about three (3) inches to about four (4) inches, and the connectors and the short pipe are composed of high-density polyethylene (HDPE); wherein: the aluminum or aluminum alloy long pipes are disposed in parallel which a layer of three of the parallel long pipes forming a row are disposed above a layer of three of the parallel long pipes forming a row, with five of the short pipes connected therebetween by the pairs of connectors to define the heat exchanger having upper and lower rows of the long pipes connected via the short pipes and the pairs of connectors, with each of the long pipes in the upper row disposed from about two (2) to about three (3) feet above each of the long pipes in the lower row.

18. The of claim 17, further comprising: braces disposed between layers of long pipe to maintain separation therebetween.

19. The heat exchanger of claim 17, wherein: the at least one of the pair of connectors alternately consists of straight connectors, flexible connectors, angled connectors, corner adapters, transition adapters to connect pipes and connectors of different diameters, or combinations thereof.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The novel features of the described embodiments are specifically set forth in the appended claims; however, embodiments relating to the structure and process of making the present invention, may best be understood with reference to the following description and accompanying drawings.

(2) FIG. 1A is an environmental view of alternative embodiments of present design showing a building with the component configured as a U-shape.

(3) FIG. 1B is an environmental view of alternative embodiments of present design shows a home with heat exchanger component disposed in a hill.

(4) FIG. 2 shows a basic configuration of the components of the heat exchanger according to alternative embodiment of the present invention.

(5) FIG. 3 shows a heat exchanger coil according to the present design composed of a combination of basic components of the heat exchanger.

(6) FIGS. 4A through 4D show a basic heat exchanger component coil and supports according to an alternative embodiment of the present design.

(7) FIGS. 5A through 5C show perspective, side, and exploded views respectively of connector and pipe components according to an embodiment of the present design.

(8) FIGS. 6A through 6C show side and perspective views of connector and short pipe components according to an embodiment of the present design.

(9) FIG. 7 is a pipe connection having internal threads to mate with a pipe having external threads.

(10) FIG. 8 is a pipe connection having external threads to mate with a pipe having internal threads, e.g., FIG. 7.

(11) FIG. 9 is a side view of a long to short pipe with connector.

(12) FIG. 10 is a side view of another long to short pipe with connector mechanism shown.

(13) Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(14) The present invention is directed in part to a ground source heat pump heat exchanger 12 utilizing one or more small vertically or horizontally oriented water or antifreeze water mixture ground loop heat exchanger component(s) 12 which is disposed in the ground adjacent to a building as shown in FIG. 1A, or in close proximity to the ground surface adjacent to a house as shown in FIG. 1B. The embodiment of the heat exchanger 12, shown in FIG. 1A, is the simplest arrangements of the present invention in which two vertical layers of multiple long pipes 14 connected end to end by a straight connector 13 with a short pipe 18, and two corners 16 disposed at the distant end. All of the pipes 14, 18, connectors 13, and corners 16 are in fluid communication therethrough. The long pipes 14 are disposed of thermally conductive materials, e.g., aluminum, copper, iron and alloys thereof, or appropriate thermally conductive plastic/polymers.

(15) The heat pump 10 may include any suitable heat pump design which are well known in the art, and may be conventional ground source heat pump. The present heat pump system, encompassing the heat pump 10 and the in ground heat exchanger 12 as shown in FIG. 1A utilizes two loops. The ground heat exchanger 12 is disposed underground or under packed down fill. In operation, the cooling mode disperse heat into the ground, while in heating mode heat is absorbed from the ground. A ground source heat exchanger 12 has two or more layers of horizontally oriented long pipes 14, which upon assembly are in closed fluid communication with output 17 and an input 15 terminuses. The output 17 and input 15 terminuses form a closed loop when attached to the corresponding output O and input I of the heat pump 10. Water, or antifreeze/water solution, is pumped through the closed loop to alternatively exchange heat with the ground or heat pump as appropriate. Alternatively, the pipes are spaced about two (2) feet apart to moderate undesirable heat transfer interference between pipes 18.

(16) A desirable basic embodiment of the present invention, used in the example of FIG. 2, incorporates six (6) twenty (20) foot long aluminum pipes with 3.5 outer diameter, and larger than about a three inch (3.0) inner diameter. FIG. 3 shows two basic embodiments of FIG. 2 combined for a larger unit, and FIGS. 4A through 4D show a basic structure in more detail. The long pipes 14 are placed two (2) feet apart on center, and connected together by two corners 16 and one short pipe 18 in series flow. Aluminum welded, and/or fuse welded High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) may be utilized as corner connectors 16 and short pipes 18 disposed between pipes 14. The piping system is then stabilized using supports placed to give maximum structural strength, the supports being two (2) long.

(17) An embodiment has a pipe basket, or component 12, placed in an excavated ditch or a hole in the ground at a depth to allow the top of the basket to be twenty-four (24) inches to thirty (30) inches below the surface of the earth for conditions similar to those in Charleston, W. Va. The excavated ditch or hole, containing the pipe basket 12 disposed therein, is refilled with earth well compacted to insure maximum contact with the earth/pipe interface. A small perforated sprinkler, or soaker hose, may be placed at the top of the basket 12, and connected to a heat pump condensate line, house downspout, and/or other water supply, to insure proper soil/moisture concentrations that enhance heat transfer especially in the cooling season.

(18) The fluid flowing through the heat exchanger 12 may be an antifreeze and water mixture, sufficient to protect from freezing down to fifteen (15 F.) degrees Fahrenheit or lower. The velocity will be such as to maintain turbulent flow at all times that maximizes heat transfer between the fluid and the pipe. Since most heat pump systems are two or three tons in size more than one of these baskets can be connected together in series to provide adequate heat transfer.

(19) The bundle 12 is fitted together at a manufacturer as a discrete all-in-one basket, in a shop, or in the field from the components. The components may be sold separately or as a bundle in a kit to be put together in a shop or in the field. If not assembled at the manufacturer, the long pipes, short pipes, polyethylene fittings, connectors, corner connectors, and flexible pipes are fused together in a shop or in the field. The pipes and fittings are connected to each other using fitted ends, the sections may be butt connected, complimentary male/female threading, and the like, including any other well known or conventional means of connecting or fusing two pipes together to prevent leakage. Threaded connections and/or pipe ends plus a binder may be used.

(20) The present design is not restricted to the particular dimension relationship shown in the figures, but may be arranged however is appropriate for the location. The long pipes 14 in the bundle may simply be disposed with one short pipe and two corner connectors, or no short pipes and four corner connectors (to circumnavigate a building and return to the heat pump 10 from opposing sides)with straight connectors 13 disposed between long pipes 18.

(21) The thermally conductive composition of the long pipes 14 is essential to shortening the overall length of the heat exchanger 12. For example, aluminum thermal conductivity is about one hundred twenty BTU/hr F. ft, while conventional plastic, e.g., for a HDPE pipe, is an insulator having a thermal conductivity of about 0.25 Btu/hr F. ft. A three (3) inch internal diameter and 3.5 outer diameter aluminum pipes may be optimum. The outside diameter of the pipes 14 is not particularly limited. Smaller size pipes will work. In some embodiments, the outside diameter of the pipes may range from about 0.75 inches to more than four (4) inches.

(22) Pipes of a twenty (20) foot length are desirable for convenience of handling and transport, construction, and economy and because such pipes are standard sizes. A four (4) foot by four (4) foot trench that is twenty (20) feet long is desirable for the most compact version of the present invention. Three (3) inch internal diameter marine grade aluminum alloy pipes are also standard, and assure turbulent flow at twelve (12) GPM, and in some cases a mechanical or permanent fixture to assure turbulent flow (not shown), to provide a maximum heat flow rate from the fluid to the pipe. In some cases, a mechanical or permanent fixture to increase turbulent flow may be present. A condensate line may also be attached to the heat pump 10 to return water to the ground, and may be attached to a soaker line (not shown) disposed above or along the pipes 14 to assure moist soil in direct contact with the conductive pipe 14. In an embodiment of the present design, the pipes 18 have a 3.33 internal diameter.

(23) The required heat flow between the ground and the heat exchanger 12 can be realized with multiple aluminum alloy pipes, but little additional benefits are realized with more than six (6) pipes per basket. Calculations show that comparatively, a two (2) pipe heat exchanger requires the shortest pipe length (168) but the longest trench (84) length, while a six pipe heat exchanger basket requires the longest pipe length (260) but the shortest trench length (43) for the ambient conditions in Charleston, W. Va.

(24) Each long pipe 14 is connected to an adjacent long pipe 14 by two corner connectors 16, and one short pipe 18. The shorter pipes 18 may be composed of a thermally conductive material, or they may be composed of HDPE piping, or other flexible piping material that may or may not be thermally conductive. The corner connectors 16, and the shorter pipes 18, are preferably flexible so that upon placement in the ground G, the entire heat exchange component 12 may be malformed without leaking or breaking. This feature not only prevents the danger of breaking as ground settles, it facilitates filling in the space about the pipes 14 and 18 without fear of breaking them or having the fill be perfect. Settling of the fill dirt will not rupture the heat exchanger's 12 pipes 14 since the constructed line of pipes 14, 18 is flexible. With the relatively shallow depth of the pipes, the basket will not be damaged by the weight of the ground above them. In some embodiments of the present invention, the short pipes 18 will be composed of a more rigid thermally conductive material like the long pipes 14.

(25) The heat exchanger 12 may be placed against the bottom of a cliff, hill, or other incline, and then be covered with fill instead of being buried, as shown in FIG. 1B. Furthermore, the heat exchanger 12 may be buried in the side of an incline, e.g., mountainside, hill, or the like, as long as the fill dirt covers the pipes 14, 18 to a minimum of about two (2) feet on all sides. It is also preferable for the heat exchanger 12 to be placed in a moist area. In more arid environments, underground sprinklers (not shown) may be used to maintain the moisture level about the exchanger 12 pipes 14, 18. Alternatively, or additionally, the heat exchanger 12 may be placed under the eaves of the roof line along the path of the down spouts, which may also be connected to or allowed to drain above the heat exchangers 12.

(26) The heat exchanger 12 comprises a pipe bundle, which may be sold as a kit, containing a plurality of long pipes 14, which upon construction are in fluid communication with one another. The horizontal long pipes 14 may be configured in one or more layers positioned below one another, and are spaced a minimum of about two (2) feet apart. The long pipes 14 may be placed alternatively in a horizontal or vertical arrangement. The vertical installation requires a deeper area to be excavated, but would represent a smaller foot print on the ground surface. A further alternative arrangement involves, simply placing the heat exchanger component against a geological feature and burying it with at least two (2) feet on all sides.

(27) With reference to FIG. 2, there is illustrated a horizontally oriented ground loop heat exchanger component 12 in accordance with alternative designs of the present invention having an upper and lower layer of long pipes 14, as shown. The horizontally oriented ground loop heat exchanger 12 includes a first layer of horizontally oriented long pipes 14 in fluid communication with one another. The first layer of long pipes 14 is positioned or installed about twenty-four (24) inches to about thirty (30) inches from the surface of the ground G. Further, the long pipes 14 are positioned at least about two (2) feet from one another. This spacing maximizes heat transfer with the ground G, while moderating thermal interference with adjacent long pipes 14.

(28) Additional layers of horizontally oriented pipes 14 may be used. FIG. 2 illustrates two layers of three horizontally oriented long pipes 14 with a second layer positioned below the first layer of three horizontally oriented pipes 14. The first layer of horizontally oriented pipes 12 and the second layer of three horizontally oriented pipes 14 are in fluid communication with one another, altogether having a single input terminus 17 and single output terminus 15. The second layer of horizontally oriented pipes 14 is spaced at least about two (2) feet from the first layer of horizontally oriented long pipes 14.

(29) While the FIG. 2 illustrates two layers of three horizontally oriented long pipes 14, more layers of horizontally oriented pipes may be utilized. FIG. 1A shows a single layer of long pipes 14, while FIG. 3 shows two components or baskets 12 of FIG. 2 depicted on top of one another in series so that one input terminus 17 and one output terminus 15 is present. It should be understood that the embodiments shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 may also be rotated ninety (90) degrees so that the long pipes 14 are disposed vertically, and that combinations of vertical, horizontal, and diagonally (at an angle) disposed long pipes 14 are also possible. The out pipe 20 and the in pipe 22 are shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and may be a nonconductive pipe 20, 22. An expansion tank (not shown) is typically provided to remove air from the closed tubing loop of the heat exchanger 12 and to facilitate the change in fluid volume due to thermal expansion and contraction.

(30) The long pipes 14 making up the first and second layer of horizontally oriented long pipes 14 provide for a high rate of heat transfer between the fluid inside the pipe and the ground. In some embodiments, the pipes 14 are made of metal, including but not limited to, copper, aluminum, alloys of iron, such as steel, stainless steel, and combinations or alloys thereof. In other embodiments, the pipes may be made of carbon composites or polymer composite materials that provide for a high rate of heat exchange between the fluid inside the pipe and the ground.

(31) The length of the horizontal long pipes 14 is not particularly limited and may be based upon the anticipated heat transfer requirements. In some embodiments, the horizontal long pipes 14 may range from about ten (10) feet to about forty (40) feet in length. In other embodiments, the length of the horizontal pipes 14 may be about twenty (20) feet in length. The short pipes 18 may be two (2) or three (3) feet long.

(32) There will be a minor component of vertically extending short pipes 18 to fluidly connect the two or more layers of horizontal long pipes 14. It is anticipated that the overwhelming majority of ground loops will be oriented horizontally in typical applications, but the present invention is not limited thereby as there are embodiments of the current design in which the heat exchange component is merely placed upon the ground, hillside, or mountainside, and buried under two (2) feet of ground G cover or fill. In some embodiments, the horizontally oriented water/fluid ground loop heat exchanger 12 includes about one hundred twenty-eight (128) feet of horizontal pipe which is about sixty-four (64) feet in each layer, and about two (2) feet of vertical pipe, excluding the fluid inlet and fluid outlet piping leading to the horizontally oriented water/fluid ground loop heat exchanger 12.

(33) In some embodiments, the installed long pipes 14 are a horizontally oriented water/fluid ground loop heat exchanger 12 exhibiting a ratio of horizontal piping to vertical piping ranging from about 32:1 to about 128:1. In other embodiments, the ratio of horizontal piping to vertical piping ranging is about 64:1. It is to be understood that in alternative embodiments, the long pipes 14 are vertically oriented and the short pipes 18 are horizontal. Furthermore, in some circumstances, such as temporary structures for camp facilities, temporary medical facilities, or the like, the pipes 14 may be oriented simply according to the lay of the land so that they are neither horizontal nor vertical, and covered by fill to the proper local specs for the season or seasons to be used. The inlet and outlet pipe 22 and 20 locations and lengths must clearly be adjusted accordingly.

(34) In the simplest embodiment composed of two layers with one line of pipe(s) each, the horizontal long piping 14 is connected on end to other horizontal long piping 14 by a straight in line connection and may simply encircle the structure at least two (2) feet from the foundation in a well moistened area, at least two (2) feet from the surface of the ground G, in climates similar to Charleston, W. Va. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 2, however, the horizontally oriented water/fluid ground loop heat exchanger 12 includes a fluid inlet 22 which may be a reducer to accommodate the use of smaller polyethylene pipe to convey the fluid from the heat pump 10 heat exchanger (not shown) to the ground heat exchanger 12 in which heat exchanging fluid such as water or other heat exchanging fluid enters the second layer of horizontally oriented pipes 14. The fluid travels through the second layer of horizontally oriented pipes 14 and then through the first layer of horizontally oriented pipes 14 and on through the outlet pipe 15 to the heat pump 10.

(35) Heat is transferred between the heat exchanging fluid and the ground G as the fluid travels through the layers of horizontally oriented long pipes 14. The heat exchanging fluid then exits through a fluid outlet 20 which may be a reducer to accommodate the use of smaller polyethylene pipe to convey the fluid from the ground heat exchanger 12 to either additional bundles of heat exchangers 12 and then on to the heat pump 10 heat exchanger loop C2 or, directly to the heat pump 10 heat exchanger loop C2 where the heat exchanging fluid contacts the refrigerant carrying coil C1 of the heating or cooling system thereby exchanging heat between the heat exchanging fluid flowing through the heat exchanger C2 and the refrigerant coil C1 (using the appropriate ASHRAE Standard 34 refrigerant). The heat exchanger 12 has an input terminus 17 and an output terminus 15 for fluid communication with the input/output I/O of the heat pump 10.

(36) FIGS. 4A through 4D show a plan schematic of a favorite embodiment of the present design, representing a bundle, in which the basic ground loop heat exchanger 12 has two levels of long pipes 14 and short pipes 18 with six (6) lengths of long pipe 14 and five (5) lengths of short pipe 18. The bundles can be packaged and sold as a kit, with a heat pump 10 or as individual bundles. The three lengths of long pipe 14 are seen most clearly in FIG. 4A, while FIG. 4B shows the two levels. FIG. 4C shows the view from the end which demonstrates the location of the short lengths of pipes 18 and the braces 26. The corners 16 are omitted from 4C through 4D.

(37) Braces 26 may be disposed regularly along the length to maintain the two (2) foot space between long pipes 14. The length of the long pipes 14 relative to the short pipes 18 are not drawn to scale with the long pipes 14 shown as much shorter. In a favorite embodiment of the present design, the long pipes 14 are twenty (20) feet long, and the short pipes 18 are two (2) feet long. The braces 26 are disposed every three (3) feet to four (4) feet along the length of the long pipes 14 from end to end.

(38) Alternative embodiments of the present design may use longer or shorter lengths of long pipe 14, and the short pipe 18 may also be longer, but preferably not shorter unless the long pipes 14 are not disposed parallel to one another but instead are splayed so that the distance between long pipes 14 is at least two (2) feet apart (for Charleston, W. Va.) up to being disposed end to end in a substantial line.

(39) It may be desirable to have the corner connectors 16 pre attached to, or configured from, the short pipes 18. FIGS. 5A and 5B show two views of an alternative corner connection 16 arrangement. FIG. 5A is a perspective view of a butt joint. FIG. 5B is a side view in which the pipes are joined butt together fitting in which the fitting is crimped to hold the pipe 14, 18 sections together. There is a space of about twenty (20) between the ends of the crimping clamp. FIG. 5C is a side exploded view of a pipe 14, 18 with an connector 13 that is an HDPE insert 19 which fits into each end of the pipe 14 or 18. Each end shows that the pipe diameter is enlarged due to the insert 19 being forcibly shoved mechanically into the pipe 14 or 18. One end shows the pipe crimped and the other end show the pipe and insert 19 without being crimped. Alternatively, the insert 19 can be installed into the pipe by cooling the insert 19 sufficiently to shrink its outside diameter so that it will fit into the inside diameter of the pipe and will be tightly sealed when the insert's 19 diameter expands due to the increased diameter of the insert 19 as it warms up to the ambient temperature.

(40) Alternatively, the insert 19 may be installed into the end of the large 14 and small 18 aluminum pipe, or other pipe fitting or length of pipe, by cutting threads onto the outside of one end of the insert 19, cutting threads in the inside of an aluminum pipe end and screwing the HDPE insert 19 pipe into the threaded aluminum pipe end. Any HDPE pipe or fitting, such as, but not limited to, an elbow, reducer, tee, straight connector, or any other type of fitting, can be attached to the insert 19 by any type of joint connection device, including but not limited to butt fusion welding and threads, that seals the joint so that it won't leak under twice the operating pressure of the exchanger 12 fluid system.

(41) In an embodiment of the present design, the horizontal three inch (3) aluminum ground heat exchanger long pipes 14 are connected in one of two alternative configurations, each using alternative physical connection methods. In the first, the pipes 14 are connected in an end to end line of long pipes 14. Alternative physical connection methods include, but not limited to, butt welding the ends of the aluminum long pipes 14 together, and installing an internal HDPE pipe insert 19 into each end of the aluminum long pipe 14 and connecting them to HDPE pipes. In the second, parallel long pipes 14 utilize the alternative physical connection methods that includes miter welding the ends of the long pipes 14 to two foot (2) long vertical or horizontal short pipes 18 to make the transition from one horizontal long pipe 14 pipe to another horizontal long pipe 14, or installing an internal HDPE pipe insert 19 into each end of the aluminum long pipe 14 and connecting them to HDPE pipes.

(42) FIGS. 6A through 6C are elevated and environmental view of the short pipes 18 and corner connectors 16 relative to the ends of the thermally conductive long pipes 14. In detail, FIG. 6A shows a flexible short pipe 28, such as flexible high-density polyethylene tubes 28, which can be bent to mate with the ends of the long pipes 14. The ends of the long pipes 14 are narrower than along the length of the pipe 14 which may be about three (3) inches in diameter, as shown in the embodiment depicted therein.

(43) The flexible short pipe 28 mates at 30 with the ends of the long pipes 14 over a space, six (6) inches in the embodiment shown, and then are bent into the proper shape. A clamp 32 may be used to secure the flexible pipe 28 about the end of the long pipe 14, as shown. FIG. 6B shows an alternative embodiment in which a reducer coupling connector 13 is provided upon the end of a long pipe 14 which a reducer coupling connector 13 is disposed on the end of each pipe 14, and 18 as shown in FIG. 6B. FIG. 6C shows the reducer coupling 13 by itself. The flexible short pipe 18 is then bent to the proper position or the bends can be prefabricated into the shape of the short pipe 18.

(44) FIGS. 7 and 8 shows a threaded transition adaptor connector 13, U.S. Pat. No. 5,211,429 the contents of which are incorporated herein in their entirety and are available from Poly-Cam (Anoka, Minn.), in which the ends of the pipes 14, 18 have complementary inner and outer threads designed to mate by rotating one or the other pipe 14, 18. These mates are typically composed of metal or metal alloys, and may be disposed on the ends of either metal/metal alloy pipes used with the long pipes 14 or high-density polyethylene pipes used with the short pipes 18. A binder composition may be added to seal and bind the pipes 14, 18 and connectors 13 together. This transition adaptor connector 13, shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, is disposed where similar sized high-density polyethylene pipes 18 to metal pipes 14 are mated. The aluminum pipe 14 has a wall thickness of 0.83 with up to 20 long. A high-density polyethylene pipe connector 13 to connect to selected size of high-density polyethylene butt weld pipe or socket weld fittings which are well known in the art. Seal joints with either friction fit or pipe crimp stainless steel pipe clamp are also options as are well known in the art. Well known alternative sealing connectors between adjacent pipes, and corner connectors, may be utilized.

(45) FIG. 9 shows yet another alterative in which the corner connectors 16 are flexible, such as a flexible high-density polyethylene that is connected to another element which can then be butt welded in position, or the like. FIG. 10 shows another embodiment of a butt welded pipe. The flayed ends are a demonstration of the malformation of the pipe once it is fitted over the adjacent pipe.

(46) Without intending to be bound by theory, it is believed that several physical processes interact positively with a ground heat exchanger 12 at a depth relatively close to the ground surface, i.e., conduction, convection, radiation, moisture migration, evaporation, and to some extent biological transpirations (depending on type of soil vegetation), and combinations thereof.

(47) Another embodiment of the present design may include one or more of a plurality of water soaker or sprinkler pipes to enhance the heat exchange process, and to assure ground containing water. The water soaker pipes are positioned between the surface of the ground and the water/fluid ground loop heat exchanger, or simply along the length of the heat exchanger pipes 14. The water soaker pipes may be installed to facilitate saturating the ground around the heat exchanger bundle with water during the short period of the maximum heating load, and particularly during the short periods of the maximum cooling load, when moisture migrates away from the pipes, to maximize the thermal conductivity of the soil, and the heat transfer capacity of the bundle. Installation of the ground loop exchanger 12 of the present invention is simple and only requires simple earth moving equipment. Due to the horizontal orientation in most applications, and close proximity of the ground loop heat exchanger 12 to the surface of the ground, specialized drilling equipment and associated muddy water ground surface pollution is avoided.

(48) It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.