Patent classifications
F24T50/00
GEOTHERMAL PROCESSES AND SYSTEMS FOR ENHANCING ELECTRICITY GENERATION VIA INCREASING A PRESSURE ON A PRIMARY FLUID
A geothermal process for generating electricity includes: heating a primary fluid by absorbing thermal energy from a geothermal energy source to elevate thermal energy and kinetic energy of the primary fluid; increasing a pressure on the primary fluid to raise a boiling point and a temperature of the primary fluid and decrease latent heat of the primary fluid; driving a mechanical device via one of: the kinetic energy of the primary fluid; and a kinetic energy of a secondary working fluid that absorbs the thermal energy of the primary fluid in a heat exchanger; and driving an electricity generator by the mechanical device to generate electricity. The pressure on the primary fluid may be increased by restricting, a flow path of the primary fluid to create a backpressure, by increasing a density of the primary fluid, or by increasing a pumping pressure of the primary fluid into the geothermal well.
GeoHeat Harvesting Enhancement
Systems and methods for improved geoheat harvesting enhancements are presented in which a wellbore contains a closed loop geoheat harvesting system that is thermally coupled to a hot and dry rock formation via thermal reach enhancement structures that extend from the wellbore into the formation and that are filled with a thermally conductive filler. Preferred configurations and/or operational parameters are determined by a model that calculates heat flow in a three-dimensional system considering time changes and the influence of the thermal reach enhanced intrinsic thermal conductivity of the rock.
GeoHeat Harvesting Enhancement
Systems and methods for improved geoheat harvesting enhancements are presented in which a wellbore contains a closed loop geoheat harvesting system that is thermally coupled to a hot and dry rock formation via thermal reach enhancement structures that extend from the wellbore into the formation and that are filled with a thermally conductive filler. Preferred configurations and/or operational parameters are determined by a model that calculates heat flow in a three-dimensional system considering time changes and the influence of the thermal reach enhanced intrinsic thermal conductivity of the rock.
HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEMS FOR EDGE DATA CENTERS
Example heating and cooling systems for edge data centers are disclosed herein. A system disclosed herein includes a subterranean vault to be disposed at least partially below ground level an of environment, an edge data center in the subterranean vault, and a geothermal heat pump system to regulate a temperature of ambient air in the subterranean vault.
HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEMS FOR EDGE DATA CENTERS
Example heating and cooling systems for edge data centers are disclosed herein. A system disclosed herein includes a subterranean vault to be disposed at least partially below ground level an of environment, an edge data center in the subterranean vault, and a geothermal heat pump system to regulate a temperature of ambient air in the subterranean vault.
EXTENDABLE CONDUCTOR FOR THERMAL MANAGEMENT
Aspects of the present disclosure relate to an extendable conductor assembly. A conductor of the extendable conductor assembly may be extended (e.g., into a thermal target, such as a preexisting or a newly created feature of a planetary body) and used to thermally couple a rover, vehicle, fixed installation, or other hardware with the thermal target. Thus, the temperature of the hardware may be managed via heat transfer to/from the thermal target. For instance, heat may be transferred from the thermal target to maintain the temperature of the hardware under cold conditions, while excess heat may be transferred to the thermal target under hot conditions. As an example, a rover may form a borehole in the lunar surface, in which a conductor may be extended to facilitate heat transfer between the rover and the Moon accordingly.
EXTENDABLE CONDUCTOR FOR THERMAL MANAGEMENT
Aspects of the present disclosure relate to an extendable conductor assembly. A conductor of the extendable conductor assembly may be extended (e.g., into a thermal target, such as a preexisting or a newly created feature of a planetary body) and used to thermally couple a rover, vehicle, fixed installation, or other hardware with the thermal target. Thus, the temperature of the hardware may be managed via heat transfer to/from the thermal target. For instance, heat may be transferred from the thermal target to maintain the temperature of the hardware under cold conditions, while excess heat may be transferred to the thermal target under hot conditions. As an example, a rover may form a borehole in the lunar surface, in which a conductor may be extended to facilitate heat transfer between the rover and the Moon accordingly.
System for optimizing and maintaining power plant performance
A geothermal power plant related maintenance support system comprises: a thermodynamic calculation module for determining performance of specified geothermal power plant components; a plurality of. embedded sensors, each of which is embedded in a different geothermal power plant location and adapted to sense a corresponding real-time geothermal power plant parameter; a plurality of environmental sensors adapted to sense ambient conditions in the vicinity of the geothermal power plant; and a processor in data communication with each of said embedded sensors and environmental sensors.
System for optimizing and maintaining power plant performance
A geothermal power plant related maintenance support system comprises: a thermodynamic calculation module for determining performance of specified geothermal power plant components; a plurality of. embedded sensors, each of which is embedded in a different geothermal power plant location and adapted to sense a corresponding real-time geothermal power plant parameter; a plurality of environmental sensors adapted to sense ambient conditions in the vicinity of the geothermal power plant; and a processor in data communication with each of said embedded sensors and environmental sensors.
HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEM POWERED BY RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ASSISTED BY GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
A heating and cooling system powered by renewable energy and assisted with geothermal energy includes a solar cycling unit, a supercritical carbon dioxide (S—CO.sub.2) unit, and a refrigerant cycling unit. Solar energy obtained at the solar cycling unit may be used to power the S—CO.sub.2 cycling unit. To do so, the solar cycling unit utilizes a solar collector, a thermal energy storage, and a heat exchanger along with a first working fluid which is preferably molten salt or Therminol. Next, the energy generated at the S—CO.sub.2 cycling unit, which preferably circulates S—CO.sub.2 as a second working fluid, may be used to operate the refrigerant cycling unit. In the refrigerant cycling unit, Tetrafluroethene is preferably used as the third working fluid to produce required cooling effects. Additionally, geothermal heat exchangers may be integrated into the system for use during varying weather conditions.