GB2072320A

GB2072320A - Inserting rod-shaped heat exchangers in the group

Info

Publication number: GB2072320A
Application number: GB8041289A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1979-12-28
Filing date: 1980-12-23
Publication date: 1981-09-30
Also published as: IT1134867B; DE2952593C2; GB2072320B; DK555480A; SE8009133L; IT8026887A0; DE2952593A1; NL8006993A

Abstract

A rod-like heat exchanger (1), consisting of segments (2, 3), is inserted into the ground by use of a hammer (9) actuated by a driving arrangement (8) supported by a beam (11) mounted for vertical movement on a mast (10). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for inserting rod-shaped heat exchangers in the ground The invention relates to an apparatus for inserting rod-shaped heat exchangers in the ground through holes which can be produced by drilling.

In order to utilise the heat of the earth it is known to insert pipes serving as heat exchangers horizontally into the ground to a depth of 1 to 2 metres. However, since considerable lengths of pipe have to be introduced into the ground, a relatively large surface must be available for facilitating the introduction. It is a further drawback that with the existing garden arrangements, the latter have to be destroyed when introducing the pipes into the ground.

Therefore, one is changing increasingly to introducing the heat exchangers vertically or approximately vertically into the ground. For this purpose, so called rod heat exchangers having a length of approximately 30 to 35 metres are known. These heat exchangers generally operate in a closed system. A heat carrier medium flows through an inner pipe into the heat exchanger and out again through the free annular cross section between both pipes, thus absorbing the heat of the earth.

The so called water-flush boring method has become known for inserting these rod heat exchangers in the ground. For this, the inner pipe is removed from the heat exchanger and the tip is provided with an open water-flush head provided with vanes. With continuous rotation of this system, water is forced through the pipe from above. The material removed by drilling which is flushed out in the bore hole then escapes upwards with the water between the earth and the outer walls of the pipe and is distributed on the surface of the ground.

With this method it is a drawback that due to the fact that the material removed by drilling is flushed upwards between the ground and the outer wall of the pipe, a free space is formed which leads to poor contact between the latter.

Even if this free space is subsequently filled in, it is not always possible to prevent the formation of a cavity, which results in a poor transfer of heat. It is a further drawback that if the garden layout was already complete, the latter is destroyed by the flushing equipment required or by the material removed by drilling which fiows over the garden.

However, the greatest problem in this method consists of the trouble-free sealing of the pipe required at its lower end, after it has been inserted in the ground.

This is very complicated and time consuming and the absolute seal cannot be checked directly.

Since the pipe must be rotated as it is introduced into the ground, in order that it remains resistant to torsion, it must be constructed with an appropriately thick wall, which once more causes a certain additional sluggishness of the transfer of heat from the ground to the heat carrier medium flowing in the pipe.

It was therefore the object of the invention to provide an apparatus which obviates the aforedescribed drawbacks and difficulties. This object is achieved according to the invention due to the fact that the holes may be produced according to the ram core probing method and that the rod-shaped heat exchangers are simultaneously constructed as ram core probes.

According to this apparatus, neither water nor a flushing appliance is necessary and what is particularly important is that the heat exchanger able to be inserted in this way can be closed on its underside previously, so that there are no longer any problems with subsequent sealing.

In this case, since the rod-like heat exchangers, which remain in the ground, are simultaneously constructed as ram core probes, no special appliances are required for removing the ram core probes from the ground, as was hitherto normal.

In one appropriate embodiment of the invention it is proposed that the rod-like heat exchangers consist of individual segments able to be arranged in succession and connected to each other, that the foremost segment is provided with a guide point and that an impact head can be detachably located by means of an adapter on the rear end of the segments, during the respective driving-in operation.

Advantageously, the means for connecting two segments are constructed so that there is no increase in the outer diameter of the rod-like heat exchanger in this region. This is necessary for good contact between the earth and the heat exchanger. On the other hand, when driving the rod-like heat exchanger into the ground, an increase in diameter would make the hole larger and would cause an air gap to be formed over the remaining length, which would cause poor transfer of heat.

One appropriate embodiment consists in that for connecting the individual segments to each other, the ends of the latter are constructed as independently sealing conical threaded couplings.

Normally mechanical driving arrangements are used for driving-in ram core probes. In order to be able to use these driving arrangements in this case also, in a further embodiment of the invention it is proposed that the impact head is constructed such that the hammer of a driving arrangement of known type can be attached thereto.

Driving arrangements are relatively heavy. In order to prevent them from having to be raised manually each time a new segment is introduced, it is proposed according to a further development of the invention that the driving arrangement of a mast construction which can be arranged to move is mounted to move vertically in a guide and that a rope winch is provided for raising the driving appliance vertically.

The mast construction is appropriately located on a retaining pile which can be driven into the ground.

The invention is described with reference to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings: Figure 1 is a general view of the apparatus Figure 2 shows the means for connecting two segments Figure 3 shows the mast construction along the section line a-a.

In Figures 1, 2 and 3, identical parts bear the same reference numerals. In Figure 1, the reference numeral 1 designates the rod-like heat exchanger, consisting of segments 2 and 3, which are connected to each other by the connecting means 4. The reference numeral 5 designates the guide point and 6 the adapter, by means of which the impact head 7 is attached respectively to the end of the segment to be driven in. The driving arrangement 8, the hammer 9 of which rests on the impact head 7, is retained by a beam 11 able to travel vertically on the mast construction 10.

The reference numeral 12 designates a rope winch, whereof the rope 13 passes over the pulleys 14 and 15 and is connected to the driving appliance 8. The mast construction 10 is retained by the retaining pile 1 6, which is driven into the ground 17.

In Figure 2, the connecting means 4 are shown in cut-away view. The individual segments of the rod-like heat exchanger 1 are provided at one end with a conical outer screw thread 1 8 and at the other end with a corresponding conical inner screw thread 19, so that the individual segments can be connected to each other by screwing. This conical construction makes it possible to dispense with any seal for these segments in this region and nevertheless in the grooved areas, the pipe sections to be connected are still sufficiently strong.

Figure 3 shows the mast construction 10 on section line a-a. It is formed from two K shaped frame-like profiles 20 and 21, in which the beam 11 is guided to travel by its rollers 22 and 23.

Claims

1. Apparatus for inserting rod-like heat exchangers in the ground, through holes able to be produced by drilling, wherein the holes can be produced according to the ram core probing method and the rod-like heat exchangers are constructed as ram core probes.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the rod-shaped heat exchangers consist of individual segments which can be arranged one after the other and connected to each other, the foremost segment is provided with a guide tip, and an impact head can be detachably fitted to the rear end of the segments, by means of an adapter during the respective driving-in operation.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the means for connecting two segments are constructed such that in this region there is no increase in the size of the outer diameter of the rod-shaped heat exchanger.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein for connecting the individual segments to each other the segment ends are constructed as independently sealing conical threaded couplings.

5. Apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the impact head is constructed such that the hammer of a driving arrangement of known type can be attached thereto.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the driving apparatus is mounted to move vertically in a guide on a mast construction which can be arranged to be movable and a rope winch is provided for raising the driving arrangement vertically.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the mast construction can be located on a retaining pile able to be driven into the ground.

8. Apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

9. A rod-shaped heat exchanger for insertion vertically in the ground, comprising a tube having a closed leading end of tapered form and adapted to withstand impact forces for driving the tube into the ground.

10. A method of inserting a rod-shaped heat exchanger vertically into the ground comprising constructing the heat exchanger on a tube with a closed leading end and driving the tube into the ground.