220results about "Collectors with underground reservoirs" patented technology

A closed-loop, solid-state system generates electricity from geothermal heat from a well by flow of heat, without needing large quantities of water to conduct heat from the ground. The present invention contemplates uses for depleted oil or gas wells and newly drilled wells to generate electricity in an environmentally-friendly method. Geothermal heat is conducted from the Earth to a heat exchanging element to heat the contents of pipes. The pipes are insulated between the bottom of the well and the surface to minimize heat dissipation as the heated contents of the pipes travel to the surface.

Apparatus and methods for recovering and using geothermal energy. Such methods include at least partially vaporizing a working fluid by passing it through a flow loop that at least partially extends into a heated subterranean zone and employing the vaporized working fluid to power a turbine. At least a portion of the flow loop can comprise a depleted or partially depleted hydrocarbon well.

A direct expansion geothermal heat exchange system including certain requisite heating / cooling load calculations, certain operational refrigerant pressures, refrigerant tubing design lengths in varying soils, refrigerant tubing sizing per ton of system design capacity, refrigerant tubing sizing at varying sub-surface installation depths, lowering refrigerant tubing into a borehole via rope, encasing the lower segment of refrigerant tubing within a solid encasement, providing a bar for rope attachment, using a winch to raise and lower refrigerant tubing, certain sizing of the compressor, certain air handler sizing, certain accumulator sizing, certain sizing of metering devices in the heating mode and in the cooling mode, parameters for charging the system, certain sizing of the receiver, utilizing certain grout for corrosion protection and for enhanced heat transfer, providing a fluid filled pipe within a borehole to contain accessible refrigerant tubing, providing a certain fluid fill for the pipe, one of providing a certain time delay on the low pressure cut off switch and of eliminating the switch, providing a certain oil separator return line location, and providing a certain amount of lubricating oil.

A method for installing a heat exchange pipe loop in a borehole, the method in at least certain aspects, including drilling a borehole with a sonic drill system having a head and casing connected thereto, a drill shoe on a lower end of the casing movable by the sonic drill head to drill the borehole, pumping fluid (e.g., water and drilling fluid) into the casing, out through a lower end of the casing, and up to earth surface in an annular space in the borehole so that drilled material flows to the earth surface, lowering a heat exchange pipe loop down into the casing, introducing grout into the casing around the heat exchange pipe loop, and extracting the casing from the borehole.

A system for exchanging energy with a ground is disclosed. In at least one embodiment, it includes an elongate ground bore, a flexible sealing device for separating sections of the bore and extending inside and generally all along the bore and being closed at its ends, wherein the flexible sealing device, in use, is filled with a liquid whereby the flexible sealing device is pressed against walls of the bore. The system further includes at least a first duct, and heat recovery device, wherein said the at least a first duct is operatively connected to the heat recovery device and extends into the flexible sealing device. At least one sealing device is provided at the flexible sealing device at a predefined level along the bore, which at least one sealing device is adapted to seal at the level between the flexible sealing device and the bore.

A novel idea involving the coupling of CO2 geological storage with methane and / or heat production (geothermal energy) from geopressured-geothermal aquifers is described herein. The production of energy from the extracted brine offsets the cost of capture, pressurization, and injection and the subsequent injection of brine containing carbon dioxide back into the aquifer. Calculations described in the present invention indicate that this offset would reduce the cost of carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) to a point that CCS could survive in a competitive market environment without subsidies or a price on carbon.

A renewable energy, single well, primarily self-flow, geothermal heat / power production system that acquires naturally occurring sub-surface geothermal heat to heat water and / or produce mechanical / electrical power using a heat exchangers or a turbine / generator. The sub-surface structures defining a working fluid flow path may be insulated, such as with vacuum insulation, to increase system efficiency and ensure a substantially self-generating working fluid flow.

Apparatus is provided having one or more SWEGS that may be configured to heat air in a draft power tower arrangement. In a closed loop, cold fluid may be pumped into the SWEGS and heated to a temperature in a range of e.g., 100° C.-300° C., and hot fluid pumped out of the SWEGS. This fluid flows through a heating element (e.g., a radiator or specially designed heat exchanger) that heats the air in the draft power tower arrangement.

A geothermal power system for production of power, and in particular electrical energy, utilizing naturally occurring geothermal energy sources and a method for identifying and converting manmade and natural geological formations into a substantial source of energy and at the same time providing remediation of environmental and safety hazards. Utilizing surface air that is substantially cooler than the geothermal temperature of the subterranean cavern an induced air flow will be produced. This naturally induced air flow will be harnessed and provide the energy to the system power plants for production of electrical energy. The system includes a hydro-electric power system, a geothermal well, underground farms, heat recovery systems, a source of renewable biomass material, and air and water remediation systems.

A heat exchange system may include a first heat exchange circuit and a second heat exchange circuit. The first heat exchange circuit may circulate a first working fluid sequentially through a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger and a membrane contactor. The second heat exchange circuit may direct a second working fluid sequentially through the first heat exchanger and the membrane contactor, where the second working fluid includes solute and solvent. The first heat exchanger and the membrane contactor may transfer heat energy from the second working fluid to the first working fluid, and the second heat exchanger may transfer heat energy from the first working fluid to a third working fluid. The membrane contactor may extract a portion of the solvent from the second working fluid.

A vapor-lift pump heat transport apparatus having a small heat resistance and a large heat transport capacity. A heat exchange circulating solution container has a first space and a second space communicating with the first space through a communication opening and contains a heat exchange circulating solution, and vapor thereof, in each space. A circulating solution transport passage includes a pipe connected to the solution outlet of the container and provided with a sensible heat releasing heat exchanger, a pipe disposed in the container, and a pipe connected to a vapor-liquid two-phase fluid inlet and provided with a heating heat exchanger. A vapor-liquid two-phase fluid flows into only the first space through the vapor-liquid two-phase fluid inlet. When the entrance of the vapor-liquid two-phase fluid has caused a pressure difference between the first and second spaces, a difference occurs between the positions of the vapor-liquid interfaces in the first and second spaces.

Provided is a geothermal heat exchange system and method including a plurality of heat depots, each including a sealed container filled with a heat exchange fluid and further including an input heat transfer line and an output heat transfer line for carrying the heat transfer fluid. The input line proceeds through a top surface of the container at least a minimal distance into the container, and the output heat transfer line originates immediately at the upper surface of the container. Multiple heat depots connected to one another in a continuous unbroken chain are also provided.