US Patent 7597138 Ground water heat transfer systems and deployment thereof

The present invention features ground water heat transfer systems utilizing polypipes. A typical system of the invention comprises (1) a water pump which is suspended or affixed in a deep well and connected to at least one inlet polypipe, where the inlet polypipe(s) is extended to the bottom of the well and comprises a bottom portion including one or more openings; (2) a heat exchange system connected to the water pump; and (3) a return pipe connected to the heat transfer system and having an outlet extending below the water level in the well. The opening(s) at or near the bottom of the inlet polypipe(s) allow water to enter the polypipe(s) and be pumped to the heat exchange system. After heat exchange, the water can be returned to the same well or different well(s) through the return pipe(s). In many cases, the systems of the invention are open-loop systems.