Process for integrating treatment of and energy derivation from geothermal brine

Patent · Tue Jan 13 04:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:6374699

Lieffers, W C

A process for treating and deriving useful energy from a two phase geothermal brine containing non-condensible gases, including hydrogen sulfide, and also containing heavy and/or transition metals in solution, wherein the non-condensible gases are separated from the geothermal brine. Substantially all of the hydrogen sulfide contained in the non-condensible gas is converted to sulfur dioxide and at least a portion of the sulfur dioxide is removed from the non-condensible gas thereby rendering the same environmentally acceptable for discharge. The separated geothermal brine is flashed to a high quality steam utilized for energy derivation. The portion of sulfur dioxide removed from the non-condensible gas is added to the remaining brine for reinjection into the subterranean geothermal reservoir.

• Assignee: Union Oil Co of California
• Patent Number(s): US 4244190
• OSTI ID: 6374699
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
150600* -- Geothermal Energy-- Environmental Aspects
150800 -- Geothermal Power Plants
BRINES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DESULFURIZATION
ELEMENTS
EVAPORATION
FLASHING
FLUIDS
GEOTHERMAL FLUIDS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN SULFIDES
MANAGEMENT
METALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
PROCESSING
REINJECTION
STEAM
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR DIOXIDE
SULFUR OXIDES
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING