A coaxial-flow heat transfer system for installation in a geological
environment and facilitating the transfer of heat energy between an
external heat energy producing system and the geological environment. In
the coaxial-flow heat transfer system, aqueous-based heat transfer fluid
is pumped through the external heat energy exchanging system so as to
transfer heat between the aqueous-based heat transfer fluid and the
external heat energy exchanging system. The coaxial-flow heat transfer
system comprises a coaxial-flow heat transfer structure for installation
within the geological environment and having a proximal end and a distal
end for exchanging heat between a source of fluid at a first temperature
and a geological environment at a second temperature. The coaxial-flow
heat transfer structure comprises a thermally conductive outer tube
section, and an inner tube section having an inner flow channel and being
coaxially arranged within the outer tube section. An outer flow channel
is formed between the inner and outer tube sections, and a
helically-arranged fin structure is disposed along the outer flow
channel, so as to form at least one helically-extending outer flow
channel, for constantly rotating the aqueous-based heat transfer fluid
flowing between the inner and outer flow channels, and thereby improving
the transfer of heat energy between the aqueous-based heat transfer fluid
and the geological environment along the length of the outer flow
channel.