Patent · US Active

Method for a radiator EGS to harvest geothermal energy

US11125471B2 · kind B2 · utility

4Cited by
3References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 4, 2015
Grant dateSep 21, 2021
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 26, 2037

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02E10/10
  • WIPO fieldCivil engineering
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

An embodiment in accordance with the present invention includes an EGS configured to allow the commercial production of electrical energy. One criteria of an EGS according to the present invention is that the temperature and volume of the fluids extracted are sufficiently high and large enough as to allow the commercial production of electrical energy. The system is able to operate for at least N years before the extracted fluid falls below the minimum temperature needed for energy production. Additionally, fractures are separated from each other by a sufficiently large volume of rock (Vcrit) relative to the fractures surface area such that the ratio of the rate of heat extraction to the rate of heat supply controlled by the thermal conductivity of the rock is such that the intervening rock is cooled at a rate that is sufficiently slow to be economic.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.