Geothermal energy production
US4357802A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 21, 1980 |
| Grant date | Nov 9, 1982 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 21, 2000 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02P20/10
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Process for recovery of energy from geothermal fluids such as geothermal brine in a geothermal formation by injecting a water immiscible working fluid, preferably organic, typically a hydrocarbon, e.g. isobutane, into the geothermal formation containing a geothermal fluid such as hot brine, wherein the hydrocarbon working fluid is heated by direct heat exchange contact with the hot geothermal fluid in the formation, and employing the hot working fluid to drive a heat engine or turbine to produce work or electrical energy or to provide heat energy to a chemical process (e.g., alcohol manufacture). The cooled working fluid discharged from the turbine is reinjected into the geothermal formation. The working fluid preferably has a density which changes substantially with temperature to provide a substantial pressure difference for causing flow of heated working fluid up the production well. The density difference can be due to phase transfer from liquid to gas.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.