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.

To provide a geothermal heat exchanger with high thermal efficiency, which can reduce heat loss to a non-geothermal zone when high-temperature liquid heated in the deep underground is transported to the ground. The geothermal heat exchanger of the present invention includes a liquid transport pipe provided with a liquid lowering pipe to which a heat exchange liquid which is pressurized and supplied, a liquid raising pipe which is disposed on the inside or outside side of the liquid lowering pipe and raises the heat exchange liquid which is descended to the geothermal zone, moved from the lower part and composed of the high-temperature liquid generated by which heat from the geothermal zone is supplied, and an outer thermal insulation layer which is provided on a part or the whole of the outside of the liquid transport pipe at least from the ground surface to the geothermal zone.

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.

The present invention provides a method for operating a plurality of independent, closed cycle power plant modules each having a vaporizer comprising the steps of serially supplying a medium or low temperature source fluid to each corresponding vaporizer of one or more first plant modules, respectively, to a secondary preheater of a first module, and to a vaporizer of a terminal module, whereby to produce heat depleted source fluid; providing a primary preheater for each vaporizer; and supplying said heat depleted source fluid to all of said primary preheaters in parallel.

The present invention provides a method for operating a plurality of independent, closed cycle power plant modules each having a vaporizer comprising the steps of serially supplying a medium or low temperature source fluid to each corresponding vaporizer of one or more first plant modules, respectively, to a secondary preheater of a first module, and to a vaporizer of a terminal module, whereby to produce heat depleted source fluid; providing a primary preheater for each vaporizer; and supplying said heat depleted source fluid to all of said primary preheaters in parallel.

A system and method for generating energy by exploiting changes in atmospheric pressure. A system is provided that includes a pair of submerged vessels, each vessel containing a fluid; a mechanism for alternatively raising and lowering the submerged vessels to cause the fluid to expand and contract; a system for capturing mechanical energy resulting from the expansion and/or contraction; and a system for converting the mechanical energy to electrical energy.

A system and method for generating energy by exploiting changes in atmospheric pressure. A system is provided that includes a pair of submerged vessels, each vessel containing a fluid; a mechanism for alternatively raising and lowering the submerged vessels to cause the fluid to expand and contract; a system for capturing mechanical energy resulting from the expansion and/or contraction; and a system for converting the mechanical energy to electrical energy.

The invention described herein provides new devices suitable for effectively converting temperature differences, including relatively low temperature differences, into useful work (e.g., for generating electrical power), related systems, and methods of using and developing such devices/systems. The devices are characterized in, inter alia, comprising an at least partially enclosed moveable component (e.g., a piston), an enclosed/isolated pressurized gas, and an enclosed temperature modifying liquid or energy transfer fluid system having portions which obtain temperature characteristics from two sources, which portions are alternatingly dispensed (e.g., as droplets by improved dispensation components) into the pressurized gas, or which operate as a liquid displacer of pressurized gas, in either case creating a pressure on the movable component, causing the moveable component to move back and forth along a stroke distance, and which, in aspects, is opposed by a counter pressure system, such as a vacuum counter pressure system. Other and related devices, systems, and methods also are provided.

A geo-energy production method for extracting thermal energy from a reservoir formation. A production well extracts brine from the reservoir formation. A plurality of working fluid injection (“WFI”) wells may be arranged proximate to the production well to at least partially circumscribe the production well. A plurality of brine production (“BP”) wells may be arranged in a vicinity of the WFI wells to at least partially circumscribe the WFI wells. A working fluid is injected into the WFI wells to help drive a flow of the brine up through the production and BP wells, together with at least a portion of the injected working fluid. Parasitic-load time-shifting and to storing of excess solar thermal energy may also be performed.

An apparatus, system, and method for raising water is provided. The apparatus includes at least one container movable between at least a descended position and a ascended position within a body of water. A non-water-permeable membrane is positioned within the at least one container, wherein the membrane is movable within an interior compartment of the at least one container to separate the interior compartment into at least a first and a second portion. At least one vent structure is within a wall of the at least one container, wherein movement of the membrane controls a flow of water through the at least one vent structure and into at least one of the first and second portions.