F24J3/08

GEOTHERMAL PIPE COLLECTOR
20170227257 · 2017-08-10 · ·

A geothermal pipe collector is provided. The geothermal pipe collector is made from a polymer composition comprising: more than 50 wt % polyethylene, 0.1 wt %-35 wt % talc and 0.5 wt %-10 wt % carbon black.

TUBING SUPPORT DEVICE
20170227252 · 2017-08-10 ·

A thermal tubing support device that includes: a horizontal bar, where the horizontal bar includes a first end and second end; side support frame, extending from each end of the horizontal bar; and a base, where the base is attached to the distal end each side support frame. Each side support frame preferably includes two rollers, where the two rollers of each side support removably attaches to each end of the horizontal bar. Further, preferably, the two rollers of each side support attach to the base at opposing corners. The base preferably includes four sides, where two sides of the base include rollers. The thermal tubing support device may further include a support loop attached to the horizontal bar, where the support loop provides a means to support the support device in an elevated position.

Enhanced geothermal systems and methods

The present invention relates to systems and methods of intelligently extracting heat from geothermal reservoirs. One geothermal well system includes at least one injection well extending to a subterranean formation and configured to inject a working fluid into the subterranean formation to generate a heated working fluid. At least one production well extends to the subterranean formation and produces the heated working fluid from the subterranean formation. A production zone defines a plurality of production sub-zones within the subterranean formation and provides fluid communication between the at least one injection well and the at least one production well. Each production sub-zone is selectively accessed in order to extract heated working fluid therefrom and thereby provide a steady supply of heated working fluid to the surface.

Subsea cooling apparatus, and a separately retrievable submersible pump module for a submerged heat exchanger

The present invention concerns a cooling apparatus for subsea applications with a shell and tube heat exchanger. The heat exchanger includes a longitudinal shell. The shell forms a cavity with a fluid inlet port and fluid outlet port. A bundle of tubes extends from an inlet plenum chamber with an inlet port and into the shell on the same side of the shell as a bundle of tubes extending from an outlet plenum chamber with an outlet port. At least one tube sheet seals against the shell cavity and the inlet and outlet plenum chambers. The bundle of tubes extending from the inlet plenum chamber is in fluid connection with the bundle of tubes extending from the outlet plenum chamber. A retrievable pump module with a sealed pump module housing is placed adjacent the heat exchanger and includes a motor driving an ambient sea water pump.

Method, apparatus, header, and composition for ground heat exchange
09816023 · 2017-11-14 · ·

A subterranean ground heat exchange system, a method of installation, and a grout composition therefor. The grout composition is a pumpable slurry formed of from about 70 to about 85 parts by weight natural flake graphite and from about 30 to about 15 parts by weight bentonite. The solids content of the pumpable grout slurry is preferably at least 35% by weight and is more preferably at least 40% by weight. The ground exchange apparatus preferably utilizes an improved supply and return header comprised of supply and return ports which are provided through the vertically extending outer wall of a header housing. The header also includes an interior supply conduit which extends from the supply port into the interior of the header housing and includes a bend positioned in the interior of the housing for directing the heat transfer fluid downwardly.

Geothermal energy transfer system

An energy transfer unit for a geothermal system includes an outer housing. A heat exchanger is located within the housing. An inlet pipe extends from the housing to the heat exchanger to convey heat transfer fluid to the heat exchanger and an outlet pipe extends from the housing to the heat exchanger to convey heat transfer fluid from the heat exchanger.

Scale suppression apparatus, geothermal power generation system using the same, and scale suppression method

A scale suppression apparatus capable of suppressing in a low-priced manner the generation of silica-based scale and calcium-based scale in the influent water containing at least a silica component and a calcium component, a geothermal power generation system using the same, and a scale suppression method are provided. The scale suppression apparatus includes a chelating agent and alkaline agent addition unit injecting liquid containing a chelating agent and an alkaline agent into a pipe arrangement through which influent water such as geothermal water or the like flows, and a controller controlling a pump and a valve of the chelating agent and alkaline agent addition unit. The controller controls the injection of the chelating agent and the alkaline agent and stops of the injection based on the signal output from a scale detection unit for detecting a precipitation state of the scale.

DIRECT INSERTION GROUND LOOP HEAT EXCHANGER
20170268803 · 2017-09-21 ·

A direct insertion ground loop heat exchanger, comprising an at least partially hollow pointed driving tip having at least one orifice therethrough for dispersing water through the driving tip to ease insertion into the ground, such that placing the driving tip onto the ground and urging water through the orifices will separate and part the ground easily, permitting the insertion of the driving tip deeper and deeper into the ground in combination with a hollow outer tube having an inner diameter attached to the driving tip, said tube extending upwardly from out of the driving tip and terminating above the ground for accessibility. Therefore, by urging water through the direct insertion ground loop heat exchanger, water sprays out from orifices in the driving tip, making insertion into the ground quite simple and easy.

Process and method using low temperature sources to produce electric power and desalinate water
09816400 · 2017-11-14 ·

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.

WEIGHT-BASED PHASE COMPOSITION RATIO DETERMINATION

Several embodiments include a method of computing a phase composition ratio of a two-phase mixture in a pipe. For example, the phase composition ratio is a void fraction or a dryness fraction. The two-phase mixture can have one or more material substances that do not travel as a whole (e.g., at least two of solid phase, liquid phase, and gaseous phase or two liquid materials of different densities that do not mix). A load cell can measure, continuously, weight of the pipe and content of the pipe. Then, a computing system or a circuit can compute, continuously, a moving average of the continuously measured weight. The computing system or the circuit can compute a change in the phase composition ratio of the two-phase mixture based on the computed moving average.