Method of and means for producing power from geothermal fluid

Claim 3

A method according to claim 1 including: a) combining said cooled steam condensate and said cooled geothermal liquid for further cooling said cooled geothermal liquid and producing a mixture, and introducing the compressed non-condensable gases into said mixture for forming an effluent in which said carbon dioxide is dissolved thereby reducing the pH of the mixture; and b) passing the effluent through an injection line into an injection well in said geothermal fluid resource such that the reduction in pH enhances the inhibition of scale deposition in said injection line and said injection well.

Claim 4

A method according to claim 2 wherein the separation of the geothermal fluid is carried out at a pressure of at least 6 atmospheres.

Claim 5

A method according to claim 2 wherein the condensation of said lower pressure steam is carried out at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure.

Claim 6

A method according to claim 2 including carrying out the steps of the method such that the temperature of the cooled geothermal liquid is about 140° C., the temperature of the cooled steam condensate is about 50° C. and the temperature of the mixed, cooled and diluted geothermal liquid is about 100° C.

Claim 7

A method according to claim 2 including carrying out the steps of the method such that the pH of said cooled geothermal liquid is at least 5.0.

Claim 8

A method according to claim 2 including carrying out the steps of the method by locating the injection well is located distant from said production well.

Claim 9

A method according to claim 2 including carrying out the steps of the method such that the concentration of silica in the mixed, cooled and diluted geothermal liquid is at least 400 ppm.

Claim 10

Apparatus for producing power from geothermal fluid containing non-condensable gases that include carbon dioxide, said apparatus comprising: a) a separator for separating the geothermal fluid into geothermal steam and geothermal liquid; b) a steam turbine coupled to a generator, and responsive to said geothermal steam for producing power and lower pressure steam; c) a steam condenser for receiving said low pressure steam and containing an organic fluid for producing steam condensate and vaporized organic fluid vapor; d) means for extracting non-condensable gases from said steam condenser and compressing said non-condensable gases; e) an organic vapor turbine coupled to a generator, and responsive to said organic fluid vapor for producing power and lower pressure organic fluid vapor; f) an organic vapor condenser for condensing said lower pressure organic fluid vapor for producing organic fluid condensate; g) a preheater for preheating said organic fluid condensate with said steam condensate for producing cooled steam condensate and preheated organic fluid; h) means for supplying the preheated organic fluid to said steam condenser; i) a further heat exchanger containing additional organic fluid and responsive to said geothermal liquid for producing additional organic fluid vapor as well as cooled geothermal liquid; j) an additional organic vapor turbine coupled to an additional generator, and responsive to said additional organic fluid vapor for producing power and lower pressure additional organic fluid vapor; k) an additional organic vapor condenser for condensing said lower pressure additional organic fluid vapor for producing additional organic fluid condensate; l) means for supplying said additional organic fluid condensate to said further heat exchanger; m) means for introducing said compressed non-condensable gases into said cooled steam condensate for forming steam condensate effluent; and n) a re-injection well for disposing of said steam condensate effluent.

Claim 11

Apparatus for producing power from geothermal fluid containing non-condensable gases that include carbon dioxide, said apparatus comprising: a) a separator for separating the geothermal fluid into geothermal steam and geothermal liquid; b) a steam turbine coupled to a generator, and responsive to said geothermal steam for producing power and lower pressure steam; c) a steam condenser for receiving said low pressure steam and containing an organic fluid for producing steam condensate and vaporized organic fluid vapor; d) means for extracting non-condensable gases from said steam condenser and compressing said non-condensable gases; e) an organic vapor turbine coupled to a generator, and responsive to said organic fluid vapor for producing power and lower pressure organic fluid vapor; f) an organic vapor condenser for condensing said lower pressure organic fluid vapor for producing organic fluid condensate; g) a preheater for preheating said organic fluid condensate with said steam condensate for producing cooled steam condensate and preheated organic fluid; h) means for supplying the preheated organic fluid to said steam condenser; i) a further heat exchanger containing additional organic fluid and responsive to said geothermal liquid for producing additional organic fluid vapor as well as cooled geothermal liquid; j) an additional organic vapor turbine coupled to an additional generator, and responsive to said additional organic fluid vapor for producing power and lower pressure additional organic fluid vapor; k) an additional organic vapor condenser for condensing said lower pressure additional organic fluid vapor for producing additional organic fluid condensate; l) means for supplying said additional organic fluid condensate to said further heat exchanger; m) means for introducing said compressed non-condensable gases into said cooled steam condensate for forming steam condensate effluent; and n) a re-injection well for disposing of said steam condensate effluent.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 9 including: a) means for combining said cooled steam condensate with said cooled geothermal liquid for producing a mixture; b) means for introducing the compressed non-condensable gases into said mixture to form an effluent in which said carbon dioxide is dissolved thereby reducing the pH of the mixture; and c) an injection line for injecting the effluent into said re-injection well in said geothermal fluid resource such that scale deposition is inhibited in said re-injection well and in said injection line.

Claim 13

Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said steam turbine and said organic vapor turbine are each coupled to a single generator.

Claim 14

Apparatus for producing power from geothermal fluid containing minerals, and non-condensable gases that include carbon dioxide, said apparatus comprising: a) a separator for separating the geothermal fluid into geothermal steam and geothermal liquid; b) first heat transfer apparatus responsive to said geothermal steam for producing power, steam condensate, and compressed non-condensable gases; c) second heat transfer apparatus responsive to said geothermal liquid for producing power and cooled geothermal liquid at a temperature above the temperature of said steam condensate; d) an injection line for mixing said cooled steam condensate with said cooled geothermal liquid to produce an effluent; and e) means for injecting said compressed non-condensable gases into the effluent thereby reducing its PH and inhibiting mineral precipitation in said injection line.

Claim 15

Apparatus for producing power from geothermal fluid containing minerals, and non-condensable gases that include carbon dioxide, said apparatus comprising: a) a separator for separating the geothermal fluid into geothermal steam and geothermal liquid; b) first heat transfer apparatus responsive to said geothermal steam for producing power, steam condensate, and compressed non-condensable gases; c) second heat transfer apparatus responsive to said geothermal liquid for producing power and cooled geothermal liquid at a temperature above the temperature of said steam condensate; d) an injection line for mixing said cooled steam condensate with said cooled geothermal liquid to produce an effluent; and e) means for injecting said compressed non-condensable gases into the effluent thereby reducing its PH and inhibiting mineral precipitation in said injection line.