Enthalpy restoration in geothermal energy processing system

Patent · Tue Apr 26 00:00:00 EDT 1983

OSTI ID:6280072

Matthews, H B

A geothermal deep well energy extraction system is provided of the general type in which solute-bearing hot water is pumped to the earth's surface from a relatively low temperature geothermal source by transferring thermal energy from the hot water to a working fluid for driving a primary turbine-motor and a primary electrical generator at the earth's surface. The superheated expanded exhaust from the primary turbine motor is conducted to a bubble tank where it bubbles through a layer of sub-cooled working fluid that has been condensed. The superheat and latent heat from the expanded exhaust of the turbine transfers thermal energy to the sub-cooled condensate. The desuperheated exhaust is then conducted to the condenser where it is condensed and subcooled, whereupon it is conducted back to the bubble tank via a barometric storage tank. The novel condensing process of this invention makes it possible to exploit geothermal sources which might otherwise be non-exploitable.

• Assignee: Sperry Corp
• Patent Number(s): US 4380903
• OSTI ID: 6280072
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: Filed date 25 Mar 1981; Other Information: PAT-APPL-247434
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS
ENTHALPY
GEOTHERMAL WELLS
GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
BUBBLE CHAMBERS
ELECTRIC GENERATORS
EXHAUST GASES
SUPERHEATING
TURBINES
WORKING FLUIDS
ENERGY
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUIDS
GAS TRACK DETECTORS
GASEOUS WASTES
GASES
HEATING
MACHINERY
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RADIATION DETECTORS
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
TURBOMACHINERY
WASTES
WELLS
150900* - Geothermal Engineering