F24T2010/50

In situ geothermal power
11578703 · 2023-02-14 ·

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.

Real-time measurement of two-phase mass flow rate and enthalpy using pressure differential devices

Geothermal two-phase flow metering device and measurement method in geothermal well and large diameter pipelines are disclosed herein. The method thereof is measuring the enthalpy and mass flow rate of the two-phase fluid in real-time. The device mainly includes a primary, a secondary and a multi-tapping pressure components. The primary component can be an Orifice plate or Nozzle or Venturi tube. The secondary component is a transmitters-transducers. The multi tapping pressure used are radius, flanges, and corners. The example system includes data signal of upstream pressure, downstream and the pressure difference of the multi tapping is recorded and calculated in the flow computer machine. A flow meter has good accuracy with less noise for a wide range of wells output and pipeline size range, which is very useful for the geothermal industry.

ENHANCED GEOTHERMAL RESERVOIR RECOVERY SYSTEMS AND METHODS
20220412608 · 2022-12-29 ·

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods of enhanced geothermal energy production that transports fluid from existing underground fluid reservoirs to a deeper, higher temperature radiator zone for fluid heating before recovery at the surface. One system includes at least one radiator injection well extending from a subterranean water reservoir of a formation to a radiator zone of the formation that is located at a greater depth than the subterranean water reservoir. The radiator injection well is configured to fluidically couple the subterranean water reservoir with the radiator zone to transfer fluid contained in the subterranean water reservoir to the radiator zone for heating. At least one recovery well extends from the surface to the radiator zone and is configured to recover fluid from the radiator zone that was transferred from the subterranean water reservoir to the radiator zone. The recovered fluid is then used at the surface to generate electricity.

Heat transfer system utilizing dynamic fluid leveling
11530529 · 2022-12-20 ·

A heat transfer system includes a conduit having open first and second ends, first and second thermal exchange segments disposed in-between and in fluid communication with the ends, and a means for adding fluid to the first end. The first thermal exchange segment is disposed underneath and in thermal communication with the ground, a body of water, or other location with a different temperature. The first and second ends are arranged above all other section of conduit and relative to one another so that they are communicating vessels and a change in fluid level in one changes the fluid level in the other. The means for adding fluid to the first end of the conduit causes fluid to flow freely from the first end to the second end and fluid level to rise in the second overcoming any hydrostatic pressure in the system without a pump disposed along the conduit.

GEOTHERMAL SYSTEM COMPRISING MULTITUBE VERTICALLY-SEALED UNDERGROUND HEAT-EXCHANGER AND METHOD FOR INSTALLING SAME

A geothermal system including a multitube vertically-sealed underground heat-exchanger includes: a geothermal well formed by vertically excavating a foundation; a heat pump which is arranged in the foundation, and which includes a circulating pump; and a connection tube, an auxiliary facility, and a multitube vertically-sealed underground heat-exchanger which are buried and installed in the geothermal well, and which are connected to the heat pump such that a thermal fluid thermally restored in the geothermal well is supplied to the heat pump through the circulating pump, and the thermal fluid that has undergone heat exchange in the heat pump is recovered back to the geothermal well and thermally restored therein.

Corrosion inhibitor formulation for geothermal reinjection well

A method of inhibiting corrosion of a metal surface in contact with geothermal system is provided. The method may include contacting the metal surface with a corrosion inhibitor composition by adding the composition to geothermal process water. The corrosion inhibitor composition may include an organic phosphonate, an ortho phosphate, and zinc or a salt thereof.

Submerged geothermal power generation system
11585329 · 2023-02-21 · ·

A subterranean geothermal power generation system is disclosed herein, comprising a closed cavity, a temperature differential mechanical power generation device, an electric power generation device and a heat conduction module. The mechanical power generation device with a heat source end and a cold source end and the electric power generation device are integrated into the cavity. The heat source end is exposed from the cavity for contacting with a heat source in the well; the cold source end and the electric power generation device are located in the cavity. A heat conduction fluid is filled into the cavity, the heat conduction module extends from the cavity to the outside of the well. Accordingly, a temperature difference between the cold source end and the heat source end is created to enable the mechanical power generation device to mechanically drive the electric power generation device to generate electricity.

Flow control for geothermal well

Systems and methods for harvesting geothermal energy use temperature-based flow control to optimize the extraction of thermal energy from a geothermal reservoir. In one example, a thermal transport fluid is flowed into a wellbore traversing a thermal reservoir of a formation. Flow of the thermal transport fluid into and out of the thermal reservoir is dynamically controlled at each of a plurality of injection and/or return locations in response to a downhole parameter such as temperature. For example, flow may be controlled so that the flow into the thermal reservoir is greater at the injection locations where the temperature is hotter and that the flow out of the thermal reservoir is greater at the return locations where the temperature is hotter. The thermal transport fluid produced from the return locations is then conveyed to surface to extra the thermal energy.

DEVICE FOR ENERGY TRANSFER AND FOR ENERGY STORAGE IN A LIQUID RESERVOIR
20220357111 · 2022-11-10 · ·

A device for energy transfer and for energy storage in a liquid reservoir has a water heat exchanger arranged on a bottom and has an air heat exchanger arranged above the water heat exchanger, wherein the water heat exchanger is arranged in a liquid reservoir that is surrounded by an inner shell which delimits the device with respect to an outer shell covering the inner shell from the bottom, wherein the outer shell is at least partially inserted into an earth layer, and the device is closed upwardly by a lid in such a way as to make it possible to generate a flow of air from an air inlet to an air outlet of the air heat exchanger.

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.