skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: High temperature geothermal energy system

Abstract

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 alsomore » includes a concrete ditch reinjection conduit for precipitating out minerals from highly concentrated brine, while delivering the brine to a reinjection well.« less

Inventors:
;
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
5452637
Patent Number(s):
US 4043129
Assignee:
Magma Energy, Inc.
Resource Type:
Patent
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: Filed date 5 May 1976
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY; 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

Citation Formats

McCabe, B C, and Zajac, E. High temperature geothermal energy system. United States: N. p., 1977. Web.
McCabe, B C, & Zajac, E. High temperature geothermal energy system. United States.
McCabe, B C, and Zajac, E. 1977. "High temperature geothermal energy system". United States.
@article{osti_5452637,
title = {High temperature geothermal energy system},
author = {McCabe, B C and Zajac, E},
abstractNote = {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.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/5452637}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Aug 23 00:00:00 EDT 1977},
month = {Tue Aug 23 00:00:00 EDT 1977}
}