F24T GEOTHERMAL COLLECTORS; GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS
Introduced: January 2018
Classification Context
- Section:
- MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- Class:
- HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- Subclass:
- GEOTHERMAL COLLECTORS; GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS
Description
F24T covers devices and systems that extract and utilize thermal energy from the Earth's subsurface for heating and cooling applications. This includes ground source heat exchangers, borehole heat collectors, closed-loop and open-loop geothermal circulation systems, and associated piping and heat transfer arrangements. The classification encompasses both the collection apparatus and integrated geothermal heating/cooling systems for residential, commercial, and industrial buildings. Related heating technologies using conventional or renewable sources are classified elsewhere in F24.
Filing statistics
IPC subclass F24T recorded 6,275 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 84 in 2013 to 924 in 2023 (+1000%), peaking at 950 applications in 2020. The most active applicants in class F24 are MIDEA (21,834 applications), GREE ELECTRIC APPLIANCES (21,535 applications) and GUANGDONG MIDEA REFRIGERATION EQUIPMENT COMPANY (20,870 applications).
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
In class comparison
F24T ranks 8th of 9 subclasses with filings in F24, with 6,275 applications between 2013 and 2023, 0.7% of the class. Annual filings grew 1000% from 2013 to 2023, above the class as a whole (+83%).
| Rank | Subclass | Title | Applications | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | F24F, Air-Conditioning; Air-Humidification; Ventilation; Use of Air Currents for Screening | Air-Conditioning; Air-Humidification; Ventilation; Use of Air Currents for Screening | 427,113 | 49.1% |
| 2 | F24H, Fluid Heaters, e.g. Water or Air Heaters, Having Heat-Generating Means, e.g. Heat Pumps, in General | Fluid Heaters, e.g. Water or Air Heaters, Having Heat-Generating Means, e.g. Heat Pumps, in General | 123,801 | 14.2% |
| 3 | F24C, Domestic Stoves or Ranges; Details of Domestic Stoves or Ranges, of General Application | Domestic Stoves or Ranges; Details of Domestic Stoves or Ranges, of General Application | 116,007 | 13.3% |
| 4 | F24D, Domestic- or Space-Heating Systems, e.g. Central Heating Systems; Domestic Hot-Water Supply Systems; Elements or Components Therefor | Domestic- or Space-Heating Systems, e.g. Central Heating Systems; Domestic Hot-Water Supply Systems; Elements or Components Therefor | 88,434 | 10.2% |
| 5 | F24S, Solar Heat Collectors; Solar Heat Systems | Solar Heat Collectors; Solar Heat Systems | 72,075 | 8.3% |
| 6 | F24J | 21,125 | 2.4% | |
| 7 | F24B, Domestic Stoves or Ranges for Solid Fuels; Implements for Use in Connection With Stoves or Ranges | Domestic Stoves or Ranges for Solid Fuels; Implements for Use in Connection With Stoves or Ranges | 12,566 | 1.4% |
| 8 | F24T | Geothermal Collectors; Geothermal Systems | 6,275 | 0.7% |
| 9 | F24V, Collection, Production or Use of Heat Not Otherwise Provided for | Collection, Production or Use of Heat Not Otherwise Provided for | 2,265 | 0.3% |
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
Related Keywords
2 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
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- F24T 10/00 Geothermal collectors
- F24T 50/00 Geothermal systems
Top Applicants
Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class F24, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT
- MIDEA 21,834
- GREE ELECTRIC APPLIANCES 21,535
- GUANGDONG MIDEA REFRIGERATION EQUIPMENT COMPANY 20,870
- QINGDAO HAIER AIR CONDITIONER COMPANY 15,443
- HAIER SMART HOME 15,442
- QINGDAO HAIER AIR CONDITIONER ELECTRIC COMPANY 10,008
- AUX AIR CONDITIONING COMPANY 7,723
- NINGBO AUX ELECTRIC COMPANY 7,499
- NINGBO FOTILE KITCHENWARE COMPANY 6,712
- LG ELECTRONICS KR 6,441