Systems and methods for temperature control and heat extraction from waste landfills

摘要

The field of the invention relates to systems and methods for exchanging heat from the degradation, decomposition, and chemical/biochemical transformation of municipal, industrial, and other types of waste. In one embodiment, a heat extraction system may include a closed-loop fluid circulation piping channeled throughout at least one heat extraction well oriented throughout a waste mass. The piping is fluidly coupled to a heat exchanger. A first circulation fluid is circulated through the closed-loop circulation piping into various depths of the waste mass to transfer thermal energy between said mass and said heat exchanger. In one embodiment, the transfer of thermal energy between the waste mass and the heat exchanger is used as alternative energy method and to control at least one of shear strength, compressibility, and hydraulic conductivity of the waste mass.

主权项

1. A temperature control and heat exchange system comprising:
a closed-loop fluid circulation pipe; at least one heat transfer well providing a thermal encasement for the closed-loop fluid circulation pipe, the heat transfer well filled at intervals with a highly conductive granular backfill; wherein the at least one heat transfer well is installed in a waste mass; a heat exchanger having an inlet and outlet for a first circulation fluid and an inlet and outlet for a second circulation fluid; a circulation pump operatively coupled to the closed-loop circulation pipe to provide fluid flow for the first circulation fluid; and wherein the heat exchanger is fluidly coupled to the closed-loop fluid circulation pipe at the inlet and outlet for the first circulation fluid such that the first circulation fluid, when circulated through the closed-loop fluid circulation pipe via the circulation pump into the at least one heat transfer well distributed in the waste mass, transfers thermal energy between the waste mass and the second circulation fluid through the heat exchanger.