Patent · US Expired

Method of and means for producing power from geothermal fluid

US5598706A · kind A · utility

70Cited by
4References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 3, 1993
Grant dateFeb 4, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 3, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02E10/10
  • WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

Power is produced from geothermal fluid containing non-condensable gases whose main constituent is carbon-dioxide. The geothermal fluid is separated into steam and geothermal liquid, the steam being applied to a steam turbine which produces power. The steam exiting the turbine indirectly condensed by an organic fluid liquid which is vaporized and used to run at least one organic vapor turbine for producing power. Organic vapor exiting the organic vapor turbine is condensed and preheated by the steam condensate. Heat extracted from the geothermal liquid is used to run another organic vapor turbine producing power and cooled geothermal liquid which is combined with the cooled steam condensate to form a mixture to which the non-condensable gases are added to form an effluent that is injected into a re-injection well. Carbon dioxide in the non-condensable gases substantially dissolves in the geothermal liquid cooled by the cooled steam condensate reducing the pH of the effluent and thus reducing mineral scale precipitation.

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