Recovery of energy from geothermal brine and other aqueous sources

Patent · Tue Jun 16 04:00:00 EDT 1981

OSTI ID:6184551

Sadhukhan, P

A process and system for recovery of energy from geothermal brines or other hot aqueous solutions of a non-volatile solute, by direct contact heat transfer using staged evaporator-condenser units operating with a low boiling water-immiscible liquid hydrocarbon. Each stage comprises a closed vessel divided into two compartments, an evaporator and a condenser, by a bubble cap tray similar in construction to those used in distillation. Hot geothermal brine or other hot aqueous liuqid is introduced into the liquid hydrocarbon contained in the lower compartment of each stage, causing boiling of the hydrocarbon at a temperature difference of 2*-4* F. Hydrocarbon vapors pass from the evaporator compartment through the bubble caps to the upper condenser compartment where they are condensed in contact with a cooler water stream, and the condensed hydrocarbon is returned to the lower compartment. The heated water stream under substantial pressure is fed to an expander or turbine to produce work, and the expander discharge, after cooling and condensation of any steam therein, is reintroduced into the evaporator compartments of the staged units. Such recycled water, together with make-up water is introduced as feed into the condenser compartment of the last stage and passes into the respective condenser compartments of each of the preceding stages, and is further heated in each stage, and the hot brine, or the like, introduced into the evaporator compartment of the first stage is passed through the evaporator compartments of each successive stage and is further cooled in each successive stage, and is finally passed to waste.

• Assignee: Occidental Research Corp
• Patent Number(s): US 4272961
• OSTI ID: 6184551
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
150801* -- Geothermal Power Plants-- Design & Operation
BRINES
CONDENSERS
ENERGY RECOVERY
ENERGY TRANSFER
EVAPORATORS
FLUIDS
GEOTHERMAL FLUIDS
GEOTHERMAL POWER PLANTS
HEAT EXTRACTION
HEAT TRANSFER
HYDROCARBONS
MACHINERY
OPERATION
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POWER PLANTS
RECOVERY
RECYCLING
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
TURBINES
TURBOMACHINERY
VAPOR CONDENSERS
WORKING FLUIDS