US3905196A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Geothermal energy pump thrust balance apparatus
Assignee: Unisys Corp
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Filing: 1974-07-15
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Granted: 1975-09-16
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Expires: 1994-07-15
Abstract
Abstract A geothermal energy transfer and utilization system makes use of thermal energy stored in hot solute-bearing well water to generate super-heated steam from an injected flow of clean water; the super-heated steam is then used for operation of a turbinedriven pump at the well bottom for pumping the hot solute-bearing water at high pressure and in liquid state to the earth''s surface. There, it is used by transfer of its heat content to a closed-loop boiler-turbine-alternator combination for the generation of electrical or other power. Cooled, clean water is regenerated by the surface-located system for re-injection into the deep well and the residual concentrated solute-bearing water is pumped back into the earth. Significant axial thrust is developed in the support bearing system of the steam turbine driven hot water pump because of the considerable pressure head rise generated by the hot water pump, the axial thrust being proportional to the hot water pump discharge pressure. According to the invention, a balancing thrust is developed that is also proportional to pump discharge pressure, so that the net thrust is minimized over a range of speed and hot water flow conditions.
Inventors
- 👤 Rangachari Govindarajan
- 👤 James L Lobach
- 👤 Kenneth E Nichols
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 17:06
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01K; F01K3/00; F01K3/18; F03; F03G; F03G4/00; F03G4/074; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
204 words
Geothermal deep well pump apparatus of the kind including pump means for pumping a first fluid always in liquid state for flow in cooperative energy exchanging relation with respect to a second fluid, said pump means comprising: motor driven shaft means having a substantially vertical axis of rotation and journalled with respect to pump stator means, plural pumping vane means affixed to said shaft means in a circular array about said axis for pumping said geothermal fluid generally upward within annular conduit means disposed about said stator means producing, when operating, a substantial downward thrust on said shaft means, axially aligned low impedance passage way means in an end of said shaft means below said plural pumping vane means array, and generally radial high impedance gap means between said shaft means and said stator means communicating with said low impedance passage way means, said high impedance gap means and said low impedance passage way means serving, under operating conditions, to permit predetermined flow of said geothermal fluid from the high pressure region above said plural pumping vane means array to a low pressure region below said low impedance passage way means thereby cancelling a substantial portion of said downward thrust on said shaft means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
204 words
Geothermal deep well pump apparatus of the kind including pump means for pumping a first fluid always in liquid state for flow in cooperative energy exchanging relation with respect to a second fluid, said pump means comprising: motor driven shaft means having a substantially vertical axis of rotation and journalled with respect to pump stator means, plural pumping vane means affixed to said shaft means in a circular array about said axis for pumping said geothermal fluid generally upward within annular conduit means disposed about said stator means producing, when operating, a substantial downward thrust on said shaft means, axially aligned low impedance passage way means in an end of said shaft means below said plural pumping vane means array, and generally radial high impedance gap means between said shaft means and said stator means communicating with said low impedance passage way means, said high impedance gap means and said low impedance passage way means serving, under operating conditions, to permit predetermined flow of said geothermal fluid from the high pressure region above said plural pumping vane means array to a low pressure region below said low impedance passage way means thereby cancelling a substantial portion of said downward thrust on said shaft means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said shaft means is enlarged at said end in the general form of cone means, the base of said cone means cooperating with said stator means for forming said high impedance gap means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus as described in claim 2 wherein said base of said cone means and a substantially parallel face of said stator means support cooperating labyrinthal seal means for forming said high impedance gap means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus as described in claim 1 further including: bearing means for journalling said shaft means lubricated by a bearing lubricating liquid under pressure, and second passage way means permitting exhaust of said lubricating liquid from said bearing means into said low impedance passage way means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said annular conduit means is further defined in part by fixed shroud means supported from said stator means by an array of radially oriented fixed vane means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as described in claim 5 wherein said radially oriented fixed vane means act as deflectors for reducing any rotary component of motion of said geothermal fluid within said annular conduit means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as described in claim 5 wherein said annular conduit means is further defined by rotary shroud means supported by said plural pumping vane means for rotation therewith.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus as described in claim 7 wherein said rotary shroud means rotates within a conformal annular cavity in the inner annular surface of said fixed shroud means, there being a second high impedance gap between said rotary shroud means and said stationary shroud means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus as described in claim 8 including second low impedance passage way means communicating between said second gap means and said annular conduit means whereby a partially compensating upward thrust is exerted against said rotary shroud means for further compensation of said downward thRust on said shaft means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-09-15 | 1979-03-17 | 1979-09-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-15 | 1983-03-17 | 1983-09-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-15 | 1987-03-17 | 1987-09-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |