A geothermal heat extractor includes a heat transfer fluid and a heat transfer fluid supply conduit. The heat transfer fluid is maintained in the supply conduit in a liquid state at a pressure above its saturation pressure. The geothermal heat extractor further includes a heat transfer fluid return conduit, a geothermal heat source coupled thereto, at least one flow control valve configured to control the flow of the heat transfer fluid from the supply conduit to the return conduit, and an external load coupled to the return conduit. As the heat transfer fluid is provided to the return conduit in the liquid state, the heat transfer fluid vaporizes in the return conduit by heat supplied to the return conduit from the geothermal heat source. The vaporized heat transfer fluid is supplied from the return conduit to the external load.

A thermodynamic system and method for performing work includes a working fluid and a fluid pump for pumping the working fluid through a cycle. A thermal input supplies heat to the working fluid. An expansion device downstream of the thermal input converts at least the heat of the working fluid to useful work. A heat exchanger downstream of the expansion device has a first portion to transfer heat from downstream said expansion device to a second portion at or upstream of said thermal input. A conversion device expands the working fluid with constant enthalpy from a higher to a lower pressure.

A well completion to convert a hydrocarbon production well into a geothermal well includes flow tubes to transport a working fluid through the well and a heat exchanger at a downhole location coupled to the flow tubes to exchange heat of the formation at the downhole location with the working fluid. A heat exchange fluid surrounds the heat exchanger at the downhole location to be heated by the formation at the downhole location. The heat exchanger heats the working fluid to a state in which the working fluid rises to the surface. At the surface, a power plant uses the heated working fluid to generate work. The working fluid is then cooled and returned to the downhole location to repeat the work generation cycle.

Methods and systems for producing thermal or electrical power from geothermal wells. Power is produced from a working fluid circulating in a closed loop within a geothermal well. Geothermal steam or brine at depth transfers heat at higher temperature than at the surface to the working fluid. The working fluid is then used to produce power directly or indirectly. The geothermal production fluid may be stimulated through use of gas lifting or submersible pumps to assist in bringing such fluids to the surface or through the use blockers to encourage the downhole steam advection and brine recirculation through the resource in a connective loop. The working fluid may be compatible with existing direct heat or power generation equipment; i.e., water for flash plants or hydrocarbons/refrigerants for binary plants.

A geothermal system is disclosed for cooling a plurality of computer processing devices which includes a first heat exchanger in thermal communication with a plurality of computer processing devices, wherein the first heat exchanger includes a heat absorbing fluid structured to receive heat from the plurality of computer processing devices. The geothermal system further includes a chiller in selective flow communication with the first heat exchanger, wherein the chiller is structured to selectively receive at least a portion of the heat absorbing fluid. The geothermal system further includes a geothermal field structured to exchange heat in the heat absorbing fluid with a geological heat sink.

A geothermal heat mining system can operate within a single primary borehole in a geothermal reservoir. A primary fluid loop can include a cold working fluid line leading into the primary borehole and a hot working fluid line coming out of the primary borehole. A secondary fluid loop can be located down the primary borehole, where the secondary fluid loop is in thermal contact with the geothermal reservoir and is entirely subsurface. A downhole heat mining device can control a rate of heat transfer from the secondary fluid loop to the primary fluid loop by selectively controlling fluid flow through the primary fluid loop, the secondary fluid loop, or both.

A geothermal heat mining system can operate within a single primary borehole in a geothermal reservoir. A primary fluid loop can include a cold working fluid line leading into the primary borehole and a hot working fluid line coming out of the primary borehole. A secondary fluid loop can be located down the primary borehole, where the secondary fluid loop is in thermal contact with the geothermal reservoir and is entirely subsurface. A downhole heat mining device can control a rate of heat transfer from the secondary fluid loop to the primary fluid loop by selectively controlling fluid flow through the primary fluid loop, the secondary fluid loop, or both.

A unique method and ternary cycle process that captures heat from low temperature sources currently considered not commercially usable to produce electricity and desalinate water. In one cycle a novel flash tower operating at vacuum pressure causes a fraction of low temperature water to flash into steam. The steam passes to an indirect heat exchanger with a circulating refrigerating agent such as CO.sub.2, which condenses the steam on its outside surfaces to produce desalinated water product. The steam heat of condensation vaporizes the refrigerating agent, which is part of a binary refrigerate cycle that uniquely conditions it for turbine expansion to produce electricity in a connected electric generator.

A grout used in horizontal directional drilling including a silica material present in an amount of from about 50% to about 70%, bentonite present in an amount of from about 20% to about 30%, a carbon source present in an amount of from about 5% to about 15%, an inorganic alkaline material present in an amount of from about 0% to about 3%, a fluid loss additive present in an amount of from about 0% to about 1%, a polymeric dispersant present in an amount of from about 0% to about 1%, and a polymeric flow enhancer present in an amount of from about 0% to about 0.5%, all by weight of the grout composition. Methods utilizing the grout include placing conduit in a hole, forming the grout slurry, and placing the grout slurry adjacent to the conduct.

In general, the present invention is directed to materials that when in use resist fouling on their surfaces. Such materials may be used in the construction of various process equipment having surfaces exposed to a given fluid that contains a foulant or chemical substance that may deposit on, or adhere to, the surface and thereafter continue to grow on the surface resulting in deteriorated performance of the equipment and process. The materials are specifically selected using a method that takes into account the dielectric spectra of the fluid to which the surface is exposed and the surface itself. It has been unexpectedly found that if the dielectric spectra of the surface and the fluid are matched to within relative agreement, there should be no adhesion of the foulant on the surface. In some embodiments, the dielectric spectra to be matched include the intrinsic indexes of refraction.