Manhattan 2 | R&D - Reduce HVAC Costs

Reduce Heating/Cooling Energy w/ Low Cost Geothermal Heat Pump

Reduce Heating/Cooling Energy w/ Low Cost Geothermal Heat Pump

The temperature 4m (13ft) underground is typically ~12°C (55°F) throughout the year. If one embeds plastic pipe and runs water though it, they can deliver this 55°F to a heat pump that supplies heating and cooling to a building. This is called "Ground Source Heat Pump" (GSHP) and is a common technique that reduces energy consumption 25% to 50% for both heating and cooling.

MA2 Engineers Automate Pipe Installation with Robotics

The only problem with GSHP is the ~$16K cost to install the underground pipe for a typical home. Shown here is typical technique. MA2 engineers explore multiple concepts for automated machines that install pipe at lower cost. For each concept, MA2 engineers create drawings, simulate, and produce cost models. If design is feasible, prototype is built.

Example Existing Chain Trench Digger

There exists a class of machine called a "chain trench digger" that digs a trench with cutting teeth attached to a chain, similar to a chain saw. An example of this is shown above. These typically support depths of 1m to 2m and are pulled by a tractor. We need something similar, yet different.

Concept #1: Automated $4k Vertical Boring Machine

Currently, we have expensive services that drill two ~50m deep vertical bore holes to provide chilled water to house. Can we create a machine that drills 6 holes that are 80 ft deep in several hours, with one operator, at 5 times less cost? One method of pushing 3" diameter HDPE plastic pipe is to add two removable steel pipes.

Concept #2: Automated Chain Trenching

The above concept shows chain digger that lowers from inside a box truck, cuts its way into the ground, and then moves forward. As it moves, it deposits a plastic 2" diameter geothermal pipe 4m (13ft) underground, and covers it with dirt. The chain system moves soil to the top, places it onto a conveyor, and then returns soil back into the trench.

Chain Trencher - Top View

Channels for dirt provide paths for dirt to fall back into the trench, behind our mechanism. Plastic geothermal pipe travels to the 4m depth via its own channel; and is surrounded by two channels that carry dirt that ultimately press against the pipe. MA2 engineers explore variations of this concept. For example, is it possible to create a mechanism that supports a narrower 0.1m (4inch) wide trench?

Chain Mechanism Folds Inside Box Truck

The chain mechanism (brown) mounts on a pivot (red), which attaches to a slide (blue), which moves along a rail (green). A secondary rail (gold) moves assembly closer to earth level. When moving on highway, 5m heavy beam (brown) is low to the ground. Pipe is routed to hole in basement wall before machine begins.

Concept #3: Underground Robotic Gimbal Chamber

MA2 Engineers explore creating permanent chamber 6m (20ft) underground accessible via a 0.3m (12") diameter permanent pipe. After installing access pipe with auger, machine digs out chamber with high pressure water. Gimbal is constructed inside chamber to avoid cave-in & support multiple drilling robots affixed to gimbal. Robots drill holes for geothermal pipes that emanated from chamber.

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