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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Method for the production of usable steam and non-toxic solids from geothermal brine

Patent ·
OSTI ID:7259228
This patent describes a method of producing steam from geothermal brine comprising dissolved toxic elements without the significant precipitation of toxic solids. The method comprising: removing geothermal brine from an extraction well drilled into an underground aquifer; removing non-condensable gases from the geothermal brine to produce non-condensable gas-free brine and maintaining the non-condensable gases separate from the non-condensable gas-free brine to prevent reaction there between the dissolved solids in the non-condensable gas-free brine; flashing the non-condensable gas-free brine to produce steam and flashed brine; introducing the flashed brine into an air-free handling system to prevent contact of air with the flashed brine; condensing at least some of the steam into steam condensate; contacting at least some of the steam condensate with air; deaerating at least some of the condensate which has been contacted with air; and combining at least some of the deaerated condensate with the flashed brine.
Assignee:
Union Oil Co. of California, Los Angeles, CA
Patent Number(s):
US 4869066
OSTI ID:
7259228
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English