High temperature geothermal energy system
A description is given of a method and apparatus for controlling a well providing access to an underground source of high temperature geothermal brine against flashing as the hot brine is delivered upwardly through the well to surface power apparatus. Plugging of the well by precipitated mineral deposits, as well as other operational problems, are thereby eliminated. A pump down in the well pressurizes the hot output liquid that is delivered to the surface generating equipment to prevent flashing. Liquid that is substantially cooler than the high temperature brine is injected into the well from the surface to form a continuously downflowing column about the outside of the pump and tailpipe assembly, and the tailpipe is sufficiently long so that the weight of the column of injected liquid applies sufficient pressure against the high temperature brine proximate the lower end of the tailpipe to prevent flashing of the brine. The cooler injection liquid is mixed with the high temperature brine proximate the tailpipe to produce hot output liquid of intermediate temperature, enabling the pump to operate at a low enough temperature, and under a low enough pressure head, to come within the capability of present pump technology. The invention also includes a concrete ditch reinjection conduit for precipitating out minerals from highly concentrated brine, while delivering the brine to a reinjection well.
- Assignee:
- Magma Energy, Inc.
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4043129
- OSTI ID:
- 5452637
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: Filed date 5 May 1976
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
GEOTHERMAL FLUIDS
FLASHING
GEOTHERMAL WELLS
CONTROL SYSTEMS
DESIGN
PUMPS
BRINES
COOLING
FLUID FLOW
FLUID WITHDRAWAL
GEOTHERMAL POWER PLANTS
INJECTION WELLS
MINERALS
PRECIPITATION
REINJECTION
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
EVAPORATION
FLUIDS
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
POWER PLANTS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
WELLS
150904* - Geothermal Engineering- Geothermal Reservoir & Well Performance