Disclosed is a system for optimizing energy utilization in a multi-building development or community. In an embodiment, the system has a passive energy loop comprising a continuous liquid filled pipe. A plurality of energy transfer points connect a plurality of buildings in the development onto the passive energy loop. A system control center adapted to control the plurality of energy transfer points to extract excess thermal energy from or input required thermal energy to each of the plurality of buildings, thereby to optimize the energy utilization and minimize greenhouse gases produced by the system.

A method or apparatus that uses a fluid in a closed loop well system to extract heat from geothermal resources that are located in or near high-temperature, low-permeable geologic formations to produce power. In some embodiments, the closed loop system may include one or more heat exchange zones, where at least a portion of the one or more heat exchange zones may be disposed within a subterranean region having a temperature of at least 350 C. The subterranean region may be within a plastic zone or within 1000 meters of the plastic zone, the plastic zone having a temperature gradient of at least 80 C. per kilometer depth.

A geothermal plant, for extracting energy from a geothermal reservoir located below the ocean bottom, includes a floating platform; a riser that extends from a well drilled into the geothermal reservoir, to the floating platform; an electrical pump having a mechanical actuation part located in a bore of the riser, and an electronic part located outside the riser, wherein the electrical pump is configured to pump a geothermal liquid from the geothermal reservoir to the floating platform; and a power plant located on the floating platform and configured to use a steam produced by the geothermal liquid to generate electrical power. The electrical pump is placed at a depth of the riser where the geothermal liquid is in a single-phase.

Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for using a thin-bed hot sedimentary aquifer (HSA) in geothermal energy generation applications. An example embodiment operates by pumping, via an extraction well, heated water from an extraction depth of an HSA. The HSA is identified based on a permeability satisfying a threshold permeability range and could even have a thickness equal to or less than about 100 meters. The example embodiment further operates by extracting, via a power generation unit, heat from the heated water to generate power and transform the heated water into cooled water. Subsequently, the example embodiment operates by injecting, via an injection well, the cooled water at an injection depth of the HSA. A first portion of the extraction well and a second portion of the injection well are disposed within the HSA.

A method for controlling temperature maxima and minima from the heel to toe in geothermal well lateral sections. The method includes disposing at least a pair of wells proximately where thermal contact is possible. Working fluid is circulated in one well of the pair in one direction and the working fluid of the second well is circulated in as direction opposite. to the first. In this manner temperature equilibration is attainable to mitigate maxima and minima to result in a substantially more uniform temperature of the working fluids in respective wells and the rock formation area there between. Specific operating protocol is disclosed having regard to the temperature control for maximizing thermal energy recovery.

A method for calculating ground storage device temperatures for operating a geothermal facility with a circulation system by means of at least one geothermal heat exchanger or an energy pile with inflow and outflow lines leading to the geothermal heat exchanger or energy pile. The underground temperature in the ground storage device and/or the temperatures on the inflow and outflow lines are measured. The method includes the following steps: designing a ground storage device model (2) for converting the measured temperature variations into dynamic energy flows in the ground storage device; designing an energy flow model (3) based on statistically determined models and influencing variables relating to heat and cold; and calculating the future temperature variations (5) in the ground storage device using the energy flow model (3) and the ground storage device model (2).

Systems, methods and devices for utilizing an energy chassis device designed to sense, collect, store and distribute energy from where it is available using devices that harvest or convert energy to locations requiring energy such as but not limited to HVAC (heating, ventilation and cooling) systems. The systems, methods and devices can also be used with a next generation geothermal heat exchanger that achieves higher energy harvesting efficiency and provides greater functionality than current geothermal exchangers.

An installation including at least one source of geothermal energy for geothermal storage, at least one other energy source, and equipment for converting and distributing energy. The geothermal source includes probes installed in the medium that permit heat exchange between the geothermal medium and a heat-transport fluid passing through the probes. The method involves defining a forecast trajectory (TP) for the temperature of the geothermal medium over time, evaluating the temperature of the geothermal medium, making an adjustment to the thermal power exchanged between the geothermal medium and the heat-transport fluid which on leaving the probe has a temperature (TW), in the direction of making the temperature of the geothermal medium consistent with the forecast trajectory. The mean (TM) of the forecast trajectory (TP) is stable and preferably exhibits, with respect to the ground temperature (TN) a differential causing an annual thermal flux between the natural ground and the medium.

A method and system for optimizing the operation of a geo-exchange system, by generating predictive models pertaining to energy demand and energy capacity for a particular building or district, based on data from sensors associated with components of a district geo-exchange system, historical and real-time operational data associated with district modules, including weather forecast data and current weather conditions.

A new device and method for more quickly and accurately performing a Thermal Response Test (TRT) to determine the Thermal Conductivity (TC) of the ground for use by a Geothermal Heat Pump (GHP) system. Existing TRT methods require testing for about 48 hours and require a very stable source of heat. This invention reduces the testing time required to under 24 hours and removes the requirement for a stable heat source, and thus will decrease the cost for TC testing and increase its use. Further, this new device and method provides more information about the thermal properties of the earth being tested than prior techniques.