Evaluate insulator between legs of a geothermal heat exchanger loop. The heat exchanger tubes may or may not have a helical configuration, may be installed in a blind hole or pulled through a hole (e.g., made by horizontal drill). Possible benefits include:

• reduced thermal conduction between tubes;
• economic savings that pay back the cost of the thermal barrier and its installation;
• a more effective heat exchanger my have less length (saving cost and labor); and/or
• a more effective heat exchanger may have a reduced volume of installation field.

Acquire a general understanding of:

• geothermal heat exchangers and applications (ground-source heat pumps, direct use geothermal, freezing soil for stabilization and/or fluid barrier, in situ recovery etc.);
• directional boring machines;
• well drilling machines; and
• geothermal databases.

Model thermal capacity of soil with heat exchangers including insulator and conventional heat exchangers.

Model heat transfer between the soil and the heat exchangers including insulator and conventional heat exchangers.

Buy materials/sensors/instruments for physical evaluations.

Attend meetings as an advisor.

Arrange/coordinate field experiments and/or demonstrations.

Preform prior art searches and file patent applications (if appropriate).