ENERGY GENERATION FROM A DOUBLE WELLBORE

Abstract

The invention is directed to a device and to a method for utilizing groundwater, comprising two wells whose well water levels are at different elevations, a connecting line between the well water reservoirs of the two wells, a hydraulic motor, or a pump that is operable as a generator, inside the connecting line, and an electrical generator that is mechanically coupled to the hydraulic motor or to the pump that is operable as a generator.

Claims

1. A device for utilizing groundwater, characterized by: a) two wells) whose well water levels are at different elevations; b) a connecting line between the well water reservoirs of the two wells; c) at least one hydraulic motor or at least one pump that is operable as a generator inside the connecting line; and d) an electrical generator that is mechanically coupled to the at least one hydraulic motor or to the at least one pump that is operable as a generator.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the height difference of the well water levels of the two wells is 2 m or greater, for example 5 m or greater, preferably 10 m or greater, in particular 20 m or greater, or even 50 m or greater.

3. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that multiple intermediate water reservoirs, preferably exposed to atmospheric air pressure, are situated one above the other along the connecting line, preferably with a maximum height difference in each case of 10 meters or less.

4. The device according to claim 3, characterized by multiple hydraulic motors, or pumps that are operable as generators, that are situated in each case between intermediate water reservoirs and/or at maximum vertical distances with respect to one another of 20 meters or less, preferably 15 meters or less.

5. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the water output of the upper well is less than or equal to the water absorption capacity of the deeper well.

6. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the bottoms of the two wells are drilled to different depths above sea level.

7. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the height difference between the well bottoms is 2 m or greater, for example 5 m or greater, preferably 10 m or greater, in particular 20 m or greater, or even 50 m or greater.

8. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the two wells are situated concentrically with respect to one another, the deeper well preferably being annularly surrounded by the higher well and being separated from same by a ring-shaped seal.

9. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the two wells are offset with respect to one another in the horizontal direction.

10. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the groundwater pressure surface of the upper well is above the elevation of the groundwater pressure surface of the lower well.

11. The device according to claim 10, characterized in that the two wells are offset with respect to one another in the horizontal direction, and that the higher groundwater pressure surface at the upper wellbore merges, via an inclined progression, into the lower groundwater pressure surface at the lower wellbore.

12. The device according to claim 10, characterized in that the groundwater pressure surfaces at the upper wellbore and at the lower wellbore do not merge into one another, but instead are part of different groundwater levels.

13. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that a water-impermeable layer of soil or rock is sealed off between two different drilled groundwater levels to avoid direct overflow between various groundwater levels.

14. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the shaft of a wellbore that extends into a deeper groundwater level is sealed off from the outside at the level of higher groundwater levels in order to avoid runoff of the groundwater that flows between the wellbores into an upper groundwater level, and/or to prevent the direct entry of groundwater from an upper groundwater level.

15. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one shaft of a wellbore is jacketed, in part or preferably over its entire height, preferably by a water-tight jacket.

16. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the cross sections of the two wells are different.

17. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the cross section of the upper well is less than or equal to the cross section of the deeper well.

18. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that to detect drying up of the upper well, a sensor is provided in the area of the upper well and/or in the area of the connecting line between the well water reservoirs of the two wells, upstream from the hydraulic motor or from the pump that is operable as a generator.

19. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that a shutoff valve is provided in the area of the connecting line between the well water reservoirs of the two wells in order to interrupt the flow inside the connecting line when the upper well dries up.

20. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting line between the two wells is routed, at least in areas, above ground level.

21. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting line between the two wells is laid entirely below ground level.

22. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that a hydraulic motor, or a pump that is operable as a generator, is installed at or on ground level.

23. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that one or more hydraulic motors, or one or more pumps that are operable as generators, is/are installed below ground level, for example on or in an underground connecting line between the two wells.

24. A method for utilizing groundwater by means of a device comprising two wells whose well water levels are at different elevations, a connecting line between the well water reservoirs of the two wells, a hydraulic motor or a pump that is operable as a generator inside the connecting line, and an electrical generator that is mechanically coupled to the hydraulic motor or to the pump that is operable as a generator, characterized by the following steps: a) the connecting line is filled with water until its entire cavity between the two well water reservoirs is completely underwater; b) after all valves in the connecting line are open, the differential pressure between the two well water reservoirs in the connecting line brings about a flow from the upper well to the deeper well, thus driving the hydraulic motor, or the pump that is operable as a generator; c) power is generated in the electrical generator connected to the hydraulic motor, or to the pump that is operable as a generator, and is stored, locally consumed, or supplied to a power grid.

25. The method according to claim 24, characterized in that for filling the connecting line, water is filled from the top into the connecting line, for example from one of the two wells, in particular via a further line having a submersible pump.

26. The method according to claim 24, characterized in that during or after filling of the connecting line, valves in the area of one or both well reservoirs are closed to avoid runoff of the water column from the connecting line.

27. The method according to claim 24, characterized in that in step a) the electrical generator is operated as a motor and the hydraulic motor is operated as a pump, in such a way that water is drawn into the connecting line between the two wells until the connecting line is completely filled with water.

28. The method according to claim 24, characterized in that in step c) the electrical generator is operated as a generator in order to deliver electrical energy.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] Further features, particulars, advantages, and effects of the invention result from the following description of several preferred embodiments of the invention and with reference to the drawings, which show the following:

[0043] FIG. 1 shows an arrangement according to the invention for utilizing energy from groundwater, in a vertical section;

[0044] FIG. 2 shows a modified arrangement for utilizing energy from groundwater, in an illustration corresponding to FIG. 1; and

[0045] FIG. 3 shows another modified arrangement for utilizing energy from groundwater, in an illustration corresponding to FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0046] FIG. 1 shows, at the left, a first well 1 having a well water reservoir 2 at a higher elevation, which is filled with well water 2 up to an upper well level 3 at a height h.sub.1 above sea level; and at the right shows a second well 4 having a well water reservoir 5 at a lower elevation and containing well water 5 up to a lower well level 6 at a height h.sub.2 above sea level. The following applies:

h.sub.1>h.sub.2,

where h.sub.1 and h.sub.2 are based on the same zero point, in particular normal zero (sea level). The height difference Δh between the two well levels 3, 6 is

Δh=h.sub.1−h.sub.2.

[0047] In the following discussion, the well 1 having the higher well water level at the upper elevation h.sub.1 is referred to as the “upper well,” and the well 4 having the lower well water level at the lower elevation h.sub.2 is referred to as the “lower well,” although the top side of the well head of the two wells 1, 4 may be at the same elevation.

[0048] A connecting line 7 connects the two wells 1, 4, and in each case submerges into the well water reservoirs 2, 5 at that location. A hydraulic motor, or a pump 8 operable as a motor is connected into the connecting line 7. The mechanical shaft of the motor or pump is connected to an electrical generator 9. The current generated at the output terminals of the motor or pump may be either stored or locally consumed or, for example using a converter or inverter connected downstream, supplied to a preferably public power grid by synchronizing the delivered voltage with the system voltage of the power grid. The power grid may be an alternating current power grid or a three-phase power grid. For this purpose, the amplitude and phase position of the current may be controlled or regulated in such a way that power flows into the preferably public power grid. For example, such a converter or inverter may be coupled to the power grid via chokes or other, preferably inductive, reactors, and the output voltage of the converter or inverter is synchronous and in phase with the particular voltage of the power grid, but has a higher amplitude than the latter, so that a current is injected into the power grid against the grid voltage.

[0049] Valves 10 or other fittings may also be introduced into the connecting line 7. By means of valves 10, the water flow may be interrupted in order to stop the process for maintenance purposes, for example. A check valve 10 may be used for avoiding backflow during suction intake of the water.

[0050] Further modifications are possible. Thus, for example, in addition or as an alternative to the hydraulic motor or the pump 8, a heat exchanger may be connected into the connecting line 7 in order to withdraw additional thermal energy from the water and otherwise allow it to be utilized.

[0051] Of course, a portion of the water may also optionally be diverted for other purposes, for example supplied to the public water system or locally consumed.

[0052] To drill wells having different well water levels 3, 6, it is possible, as illustrated in FIG. 1, to drill a so-called first or upper groundwater level 11 for the higher well 1, while the deeper well 4, whose groundwater pressure surface is considerably beneath the groundwater pressure surface of the upper groundwater level 11, extends to a deeper groundwater level 12. The invention thus makes use of the fact that, depending on the geological strata in the earth, so-called groundwater aquifers 11, 12 may alternate with water-impermeable layers 13, as indicated in FIG. 1. The water-impermeable layer 13 separates the two groundwater aquifers 11, 12 from one another and seals them off with respect to one another, so that in the normal case no appreciable overflow takes place. These are then referred to as so-called groundwater levels 11, 12. It is also possible to provide more than two such groundwater levels 11, 12 one on top of the other.

[0053] As is apparent in FIG. 1, the upper well 1 is contained by the upper groundwater aquifer 11, whereas the lower well 4 is contained by the more deeply situated, lower groundwater aquifer 12. As soon as the connecting line 7 is completely filled with water, a greater volume and weight of water are suspended in the branch of the connecting line 7, submerged in the lower well 4, than in the branch that is submerged in the upper well 1, and the greater weight sets a flow of water in motion from the upper well 1, from which the water is lifted out, toward the lower well 4, into which the water inside the connecting line 7 flows. This flow of water in turn puts the hydraulic motor 8 into operation, and the electrical generator 9 is then driven by the hydraulic motor.

[0054] For this mechanism, it is advantageous when the tapped upper groundwater level 11 is as abundant as possible, and the likewise drilled, lower groundwater level 12 is as absorptive as possible. In addition, a bypass between the two, i.e., a flow connection outside the drilled or used wells 1, 4, should preferably be avoided.

[0055] It is primarily the lower well 4 that is critical, since this well itself passes through the water-blocking layer 13. During drilling of the well 4, it must therefore be ensured that no flow channel remains outside the well wall. It may be necessary to annularly seal off this area at at least one location, for example by pressing in a hydraulically curable compound, for example.

[0056] In addition, the wall of the lower well 4 should be preferably water-tight in the area of the upper groundwater level 11, so that water infiltrating at that location does not result in a bypass through the well 4. At least the lower well 4 should therefore be lined at its shaft wall, for example by a recessed pipe made of metal, for example, or by superposed rings made of concrete, for example. In any case, however, it should be ensured that at the joints between two adjoining elements of the inner well lining in the area of the wall of the well shaft, a seal is provided, for example by means of an elastic, ring-shaped sealing element, or by adhesive bonding, filling, or the like.

[0057] In the illustrated embodiment, the hydraulic motor 8 and the electrical generator 9 are situated at ground level, for example in a machine room at that location. Although this is the simplest variant, since besides the well drilling itself no further excavation operations are necessary, it would also be possible to situate these elements 8, 9 in an underground cavern, which could be present, for example, at approximately the height of the well level 3 in the upper well 1, preferably approximately between the two well shafts 1, 4. In such a case, the vertical extension of the branch of the connecting line 7 inside the lower well 4 may be minimized to approximately the height difference Δh=h.sub.1−h.sub.2.

[0058] Another special feature is that the liquid in the branch of the connecting line 7, which opens into the lower well 4, is “suspended” at the hydraulic motor 8, i.e., is held in equilibrium only by the external air pressure acting on the lower well level 6. However, the atmospheric air pressure at ground level is able to keep a water column suspended only to a maximum height of 10.13 meters. Therefore, the (lowest) hydraulic motor 8 should be installed at most approximately 10 meters above the lower well level 6, since otherwise, the water column in this branch could collapse with formation of a vacuum bubble, which naturally would soon fill with water vapor.

[0059] On the other hand, since the water column above a hydraulic motor 8 exerts load on the hydraulic motor just to drive it, this portion of the water column cannot collapse. For deeper wells 1, 4, it is therefore recommended that the hydraulic motor 8 be installed at a preferably deep location, for example deep in the lower well shaft 4, or next to same in a machine room in a cavern.

[0060] When the connecting line 7 is filled from the top during start-up of the device, there is no risk at any time of the water column collapsing.

[0061] Of course, for greater depths, an intermediate reservoir under atmospheric air pressure could also be provided, for example at one-half the height, which on the one hand for the upper well 1 is used as a virtual lower well, and on the other hand for the lower well 4 is used as a virtual upper well. In such cases, two connecting lines 7 would need to be provided, one between the upper well 1 and the intermediate reservoir, and the other between the intermediate reservoir and the lower well 4, with one hydraulic motor 8 in each line 7. The electrical power of the electrical generators 9 coupled thereto is then added when supplied to the power grid. If necessary, i.e., if Δh=h.sub.1−h.sub.2>2*10.13 m applies, in this variant multiple intermediate reservoirs could also be provided at different heights.

[0062] Multiple groundwater levels 11, 12 which can be tapped or drilled are not always present in the earth. As is apparent from FIG. 2, in such cases it is also conceivable to drill the two wells 1′, 4′ at different locations in the earth, between which the groundwater pressure surface changes, for example at a slope or in the area of a fault or the like. Although both wells 1′, 4′ are now submerged in the same groundwater aquifer 11′, as a result of the groundwater pressure surface dropping from the upper well 1′ to the lower well 4′, there is still a height difference Δh=h.sub.1−h.sub.2 between the well levels 3′, 6′ in the two wells 1′, 4′, which in turn is able to drive a flow of water inside the connecting line 7 from the upper well 1′ to the lower well 4′, and thus set the hydraulic motor 8′ in operation, whereupon power is generated in the electrical generator 9′, which may be used in the same way as in the variant according to FIG. 1.

[0063] The measures, described in the embodiment according to FIG. 1, for spanning greater height differences Δh=h.sub.1−h.sub.2>10.13 m, on the one hand by installing the hydraulic motor 8 at a deeper location in the earth, just above the lower well level 6′, and/or on the other hand by installing intermediate reservoirs at heights between the two well levels 3′, 6′, are also possible, the same as in the embodiment according to FIG. 1.

[0064] The embodiment according to FIG. 2 even has the advantage that the groundwater in the shared groundwater aquifer 11′ may once again reach the elevation in the area of the upper well 1′ under the influence of capillary forces, so that a cyclic process is created which allows continuous operation over an unlimited time period.

[0065] A modification of the invention is shown in FIG. 3. Here, a geological formation having multiple groundwater levels 11″, 12″, separated from one another by a nonconducting layer 13″, is present.

[0066] As a result, the two wellbores 1″, 4″ may be drilled close to one another, or, as is apparent in FIG. 3, concentrically with respect to one another.

[0067] Thus, for example, drilling for the upper well 1″ is carried out with a larger or thicker drill than for the lower well 4″. This may take place, for example, by changing the drill at the level of the bottom of the upper well 1″, and continuing drilling with a smaller drill head until the bottom of the lower well 4″ is reached.

[0068] The lining of the lower well 4″ protrudes from below into the upper well 1″, and at that location separates the outer ring-shaped well reservoir 2″ of the upper well 1″ from the shaft of the lower well 4″ situated inside same.

[0069] The branch of the connecting line 7 that is submerged in the lower well reservoir 5″ extends inside the lining of the lower well 4″, which protrudes from below into the upper well, and the other branch, which is submerged in the upper well reservoir 2″, extends within the annular space outside the lining of the lower well 4″ which protrudes from below into the upper well. Here as well, it must be ensured that a bypass does not result between the various groundwater levels 11″, 12″ due to leaks.

[0070] Since overall, only a single drilling is necessary here, the level of effort and also possibly the space requirements may be minimized, so that the arrangement according to FIG. 3 is also possible on small plots of land.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0071] 1 upper well [0072] 2 well water [0073] 3 higher well level [0074] 4 lower well [0075] 5 well water [0076] 6 deeper well level [0077] 7 connecting line [0078] 8 pump [0079] 9 electrical generator [0080] 10 valve