US3910050A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Geothermal energy system and control apparatus
Assignee: Unisys Corp
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Filing: 1974-07-10
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Granted: 1975-10-07
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Expires: 1994-07-10
Abstract
Abstract A geothermal energy transfer and utilization system abstracts thermal energy stored in hot solute-bearing well water to generate super-heated steam from an injected flow of clean water; the super-heated system is then used for operating 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, where transfer of its heat content to a closed-loop boiler-turbine-alternator combination is effected 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. Reliable operation of the system is assured by a control of the clean water entering the subterranean steam generator determines the rate of mass flow through the pump-driving steam turbine and consequently determines the proper pressure of the hot pumped well water. Thus by control of the output pressure of the clean water pump at the earth''s surface, the pumped hot well water pressure is accurately determined. The novel arrangement also permits controlled starting and stopping of the deep well pumping apparatus, permitting the bearings thereof to be adequately lubricated at all times.
Inventors
- 👤 Hugh B Matthews
- 👤 Kenneth E Nichols
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 00:29
CPC Classifications
F; F04; F04D; F04D13/00; F04D13/02; F04D13/04; F03; F03G; F03G4/00; F03G4/074; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
165 words
In goethermal deep well pumping apparatus located at a subterranean source of geothermal well fluid of the kind including geothermal energy exchange means for providing a working fluid and motor driven pump means responsive to said working fluid for pumping said geothermal fluid always in liquid state for flow in cooperative energy exchange relation with respect to said geothermal exchange means toward the earth''s surface: threshold valve means for passing a first liquid to threshold valve output means when under a predetermined pressure above the pressure of said geothermal fluid, differential pressure valve means for receiving said first liquid from said threshold valve output means and for maintaining a substantially constant pressure differential between said received first liquid and the pressure of said first liquid at said differential pressure valve output means, and distributor conduit means of said first liquid at said differential pressure valve output means coupled to said geothermal energy exchange means for supplying said working fluid to said motor driven pump means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
165 words
In goethermal deep well pumping apparatus located at a subterranean source of geothermal well fluid of the kind including geothermal energy exchange means for providing a working fluid and motor driven pump means responsive to said working fluid for pumping said geothermal fluid always in liquid state for flow in cooperative energy exchange relation with respect to said geothermal exchange means toward the earth''s surface: threshold valve means for passing a first liquid to threshold valve output means when under a predetermined pressure above the pressure of said geothermal fluid, differential pressure valve means for receiving said first liquid from said threshold valve output means and for maintaining a substantially constant pressure differential between said received first liquid and the pressure of said first liquid at said differential pressure valve output means, and distributor conduit means of said first liquid at said differential pressure valve output means coupled to said geothermal energy exchange means for supplying said working fluid to said motor driven pump means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus as described in claim 1 additionally including second pump means for pumping said first liquid initially in a relatively cool state from a station adjacent the surface of the earth to said threshold valve means input.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus as described in claim 2 wherein said geothermal energy exchange means input is coupled to said differential pressure valve output means for converting said first liquid into a vapor working fluid for driving said motor driven pump means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus as described in claim 3 including conduit means for passing said vapor working fluid after energy extraction by said motor driven pump means, to said station adjacent the surface of the earth for first condensation thereof by condenser means for re-supply to said second pump means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus as described in claim 4 wherein said second pump means comprises variable flow pump means permitting optimum adjustment of the rate of flow of said first fluid according to the desired pressure and temperature of said pumped geothermal fluid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as described in claim 5 additionally including accumulator means coupled adjacent the surface of the earth between said second pump means and said threshold valve means input for emergency supply of said first fluid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
99 words
Apparatus as described in claim 4 further including: second conduit means coupled to the output of said motor driven pump means for pumping Said geothermal fluid past said geothermal energy exchange means into utilization apparatus adjacent the surface of the earth including heat exchanger means for generation of a second vapor, vapor turbine means utilizing said second vapor for generating useful power, second condenser means for condensing the second vapor exhaust of said vapor turbine means to form a condensate, and condensate pump means for returning said condensate to said heat exchanger means for regeneration of said second vapor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
61 words
Apparatus as described in claim 7 further including temperature controlled means interposed between said condensate pump means and said heat exchanger means for controlling the temperature of condensate flowing into said heat exchanger means as a function of the temperature of said exhaust vapor working fluid, thereby controlling the dryness of said vapor working fluid within said geothermal deep well apparatus.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
97 words
Apparatus as described in claim 8 wherein said temperature controlled means includes: controller means interposed between said condensate pump means and said heat exchanger means, by pass conduit means by-passing said controller means when passing a portion of said condensate through said first condenser means and into said heat exchanger means, temperature sensor means coupled within said first condenser means for sensing a temperature representative of said exhaust vapor working fluid, and means responsive to said temperature sensor means for operating said controller means, thereby determining the temperature of said condensate fed into said heat exchanger means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus as described in claim 7 additionally including residual liquid pump means adjacent the earth''s surface for pumping said geothermal fluid, after abstraction of thermal energy therefrom within said second heat exchanger means, into sub-surface strata of the earth.
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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) | 1978-10-06 | 1979-04-07 | 1979-10-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-06 | 1983-04-07 | 1983-10-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-06 | 1987-04-07 | 1987-10-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |