Patent · US Expired

Geothermal power plant and method for using the same

US5867988A · kind A · utility

3Cited by
8References
25Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJun 30, 1997
Grant dateFeb 9, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 30, 2017

Classification

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

Abstract

Extracted geothermal fluid (which may comprise geothermal liquid or brine) is used to operate a power plant by applying the extracted geothermal fluid to a vaporizer containing pre-heated working fluid for producing vaporized working fluid and from which heat depleted geothermal fluid is extracted. A portion of the heat depleted geothermal fluid is applied to a pre-heater containing liquid working fluid for producing the pre-heated working fluid, and for producing further heat depleted geothermal fluid. The vaporized working fluid is expanded in a turbogenerator for generating power and producing expanded vaporized working fluid; and, the expanded vaporized working fluid produced by the turbogenerator is condensed into liquid working fluid that is pre-heated. The portion of said heat depleted geothermal fluid that is not applied to said pre-heater and the further heat depleted geothermal fluid are separately re-injected into the ground.

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