Patent classifications
F03G4/001
Systems for generating geothermal power in an organic Rankine cycle operation during hydrocarbon production based on wellhead fluid temperature
Systems and methods for generating and a controller for controlling generation of geothermal power in an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) operation in the vicinity of a wellhead during hydrocarbon production to thereby supply electrical power to one or more of in-field operational equipment, a grid power structure, and an energy storage device. In an embodiment, during hydrocarbon production, a temperature of a flow of wellhead fluid from the wellhead or working fluid may be determined. If the temperature is above a vaporous phase change threshold of the working fluid, heat exchanger valves may be opened to divert flow of wellhead fluid to heat exchangers to facilitate heat transfer from the flow of wellhead fluid to working fluid through the heat exchangers, thereby to cause the working fluid to change from a liquid to vapor, the vapor to cause a generator to generate electrical power via rotation of an expander.
In situ geothermal power
A method of generating electricity from geothermal energy utilizing an in situ closed loop heat exchanger deep within the earth using a recirculating heat transfer fluid to power an in situ modular turbine and generator system within a vertical, large bore, deep, tunnel shaft. The shaft length and diameter are dependent on the shaft temperature and sustaining heat flux. The method further includes methods of deep shaft boring and excavating, liner placement and sealing, shaft transport systems, shaft Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning, and operations and maintenance provisions. The method has few global location restrictions, maximizes thermal efficiency as to make power generation practical, has a small site surface footprint, does not interact with the environment, is sustainable, uses renewable energy, and is a zero release carbon and hazardous substance emitter.
Method, system and apparatus for extracting heat energy from geothermal briny fluid
The present disclosure relates to techniques for extracting heat energy from geothermal briny fluid. A briny fluid can be extracted from a geothermal production well and delivered to a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger can receive the briny fluid and transfer heat energy from the briny fluid to a molten salt. The molten salt can be pumped to a molten salt storage tank that can serve as energy storage. The briny fluid can be returned to a geothermal source via the production well. The briny fluid can remain in a closed-loop system, apart from the molten salt, from extraction through return to the geothermal production well.
System and method for increasing power output from an organic vapor turbine
A binary power plant system, comprising: a vaporizer for vaporizing an organic motive fluid circulating in a closed Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) by a heat source fluid in heat exchange relation therewith and producing wet organic motive fluid vapor having a quality of at least approximately 80 percent; and a single organic vapor, turbine of said ORC: having an inlet for receiving the wet organic motive fluid vapor, wherein organic motive fluid vapor is expanded in said single organic vapor turbine without causing turbine blades of the turbine to be subjected to erosion.
DIRECT AIR CAPTURE USING GEOTHERMAL COOLING TOWERS
Systems and techniques may be used for incorporating direct air carbon dioxide capture capabilities into a working fluid condensing process of a geothermal power plant. An example technique may include causing, using fans, air to flow across condenser coils of a condensing unit, through which power cycle working fluid is circulated, and through a direct air capture (DAC) filtration component, which separates carbon from the air, capturing heat from a geothermal working fluid, and using the heat as thermal energy input to the DAC filtration component or using electrical energy generated from the geothermal power plant as electrical energy input to power the condensing unit and the DAC filtration component. The example technique may include gathering the carbon separated from the air to be injected into a geothermal reservoir or repurposed for another industrial process.
Hybrid solar-geothermal power generation system
A hybrid geothermal electrical power generation system that utilizes the heat from a deep geothermal reservoir to vaporize a working fluid, such as steam, CO.sub.2 or an organic fluid. The vaporized working fluid is used to turn a turbine connected to an electrical power generator. A solar collector may be used to increase the temperature of the working fluid during sunlight hours and a thermal storage unit may be utilized to increase the temperature of the working fluid during the night. A supercritical CO.sub.2 power generation cycle may be used alone or in combination with a steam turbine power generation cycle to utilize all of the heat energy. A vapor compression cycle, a vapor absorption cycle may be utilized to provide heating and cooling. A low temperature shallow geothermal reservoir may be used as a heat exchanger to regulate or store excess heat.
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR HARVESTING GEOTHERMAL ENERGY FROM A SUBTERRANEAN FORMATION
A system and method of harvesting geothermal energy in a subterranean formation includes providing an injection wellbore that extends into the subterranean formation, positioning a plurality of selectively opening sleeves in the injection wellbore spaced apart the subterranean formation, providing at least one producing wellbore that extends into the subterranean formation in a predetermined location proximate to the injection wellbore, and fracturing the subterranean formation in a plurality of locations proximate to the plurality of selectively opening sleeves to enhance a fluid pathway between the injection wellbore and the at least one producing wellbore. Fluid is injected down the injection wellbore at a first temperature, and the fluid is produced from the at least one producing wellbore at a second temperature higher than said first temperature.
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.
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 AND PROCESS FOR DIRECT LITHIUM EXTRACTION AND PRODUCTION OF LOW CARBON INTENSITY LITHIUM CHEMICALS FROM GEOTHERMAL BRINES
A system and process for direct lithium extraction from geothermal brines, and more particular to the sequential combination of a binary cycle geothermal plant, a direct lithium extraction circuit, a lithium chloride concentration and purification circuit, and a lithium battery chemical processing circuit, for the production of battery-quality lithium hydroxide monohydrate, lithium carbonate or both from geothermal brines. The processing circuits are powered by the electricity and heat produced by the binary cycle geothermal plant without the use of carbon-based fuels. Non-condensable gases that may come out of solution from the geothermal brine are not emitted into the atmosphere.