Power conversion and systems for recovering geothermal heat

Patent · Tue Oct 17 04:00:00 EDT 1978

OSTI ID:6521966

Sheinbaum, I

A process for the conversion of geothermal heat energy into electrical power by advantageously combining direct and indirect heat exchange systems and other systems to maximize the power production is presented. Specifically, a process and system is presented for the utilization of geothermal heat from flashed geothermal hot fluids composed of hot liquid and vapor. The heat from the hot liquid is exchanged with a working fluid in a direct contact heat exchanger, while the hot geothermal vapor is used in a boiler for heating, boiling and vaporizing the working fluid. The vaporized working fluid thus formed is fed into a power extraction device which may form a liquid mist upon expansion. The working fluid vapor is then condensed at the exhaust side of the power extraction device, and returned to the direct contact heat exchanger, thus closing the power cycle. The internal pressure inside the direct contact heat exchanger is carefully controlled to suppress boiling in the direct contact heat exchanger. The operating pressure of the boiler is also carefully controlled to fully evaporate the working fluid by condensing a portion or all the hot geothermal vapors. The direct contactor has a plurality of processing zones including a heat transfer zone, one or more separation zones for separating both liquids and solids, a precipitation zone, and a wash zone. In the heat exchanger zone and the precipitation zone, there is included precipitation trays vertically spaced for allowing salt precipitation without interfering with a secondary or the working fluid flow. The wash zone is equipped with a wash tray where the liquid secondary fluid can be scrubbed with water.

• Assignee: TIC; EDB-79-024629; ERA-04-015867
• Patent Number(s): US 4120158
• OSTI ID: 6521966
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
150802* -- Geothermal Power Plants-- Power Plant Systems & Components
BINARY-FLUID SYSTEMS
BOILERS
BRINES
CONVERSION
DESIGN
DIRECT CONTACT HEAT EXCHANGERS
ENERGY CONVERSION
FLASHED STEAM SYSTEMS
FLUIDS
GASES
GEOTHERMAL ENERGY CONVERSION
GEOTHERMAL FLUIDS
HEAT EXCHANGERS
REMOVAL
SCRUBBING
WORKING FLUIDS