Patent US3864208A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3864208A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Geothermal-nuclear waste disposal and conversion system
Assignee: Imperial Energy Corp
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Filing: 1972-04-11
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Granted: 1975-02-04
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Expires: 1992-04-11
Abstract
Abstract A fractured, porous, rubble cone cavity is produced within a deep geothermally-heated host zone. Organic waste such as sewage and/or garbage is injected into the cavity. The heat and pressure within the cavity released from a thermonuclear device and/or permeating into the cavity from the host zone pyrolytically decomposes and destructively distills the organic wastes to useful products comprising oil, gas and steam products which are recovered from the zone and are separated for further utilization.
Inventors
- 👤 Huisen Allen T Van
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 22:16
CPC Classifications
C; C02; C02F; C02F11/00; C02F11/10; E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/16; E21B43/24; E21B43/2403; E21B43/25; E21B43/26; E21B43/263; E21B43/2635; F; F03; F03G; F03G4/00; F03G4/074; F24; F24T; F24T10/00; F24T10/20; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/10; Y02W; Y02W10/00; Y02W10/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 1 further including the step of separating said products into gaseous organic, liquid organic and steam streams.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 2 further including the step of mixing a portion of said steam stream with said waste to form a heated slurry.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 2 further including the step of injecting water into said cavity at a level above the injection of said waste material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 1 further including the step of introducing a closed heat exchanger into said cavity and circulating heat exchange fluid through the heat exchanger.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method according to claim 1 further including the step of forming a layer of oily liquid in the upper portion of the cavity above the surface of the rubble cone, entraining particles in the lower portion of the layer and removing oily liquid only from the upper portion of the layer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 6 in which the level of said layer is controlled by measured withdrawal of oily products from said layer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 1 in which the organic waste is sewage and further including the step of removing glass and metal objects from said waste before injecting the waste into the cavity.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
175 words
A system for the disposal and recycling of organic waste comprising in combination: a highly permeable rubble rock cone cavity means disposed within a deep subsurface geothermal zone having a temperature of at least 300*F within a bed of the rubble cone, in which said cavity comprises a rubble cone formed from the detonation of a nuclear device within the strata; waste slurrying means on the surface for forming an aqueous slurry of the organic waste; first well means communicating between the waste slurrying means and a lower portion of the cavity substantially below the upper surface of the rubble cone for injecting said aqueous waste slurry directly into the bed of hot rubble whereby said waste is decomposed and destructively distilled in absence of oxygen into steam and high BTU value, combustible, hydrocarbon gaseous and liquid organic products as the waste rises thru the bed of hot rubble to the upper surface of the rubble cone; and second well means extending from the surface into the cavity for transferring said products to the surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
A system according to claim 9 further including third well means having a first end communicating with the surface and a second closed end disposed within the cavity, a heat exchanger disposed within the second end and means for circulating heat exchange fluid through the heat exchanger.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system according to claim 9 further including means for injecting water into said cavity whereby steam and additional gaseous products are formed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system according to claim 9 further including a liquid product layer formed in the upper portion of the cavity for filtering particulates from said products.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system according to claim 12 in which said liquid product layer is an oily organic layer and the lower end of said third well means extends into the upper portion of said layer.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3140986A
Cited
US3383228A
Cited
US3470943A
Cited
US3606999A
Cited
US3608636A
Cited
US3640336A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-02-03 | 1978-08-05 | 1979-02-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-03 | 1982-08-05 | 1983-02-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-03 | 1986-08-05 | 1987-02-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |