Countercurrent direct contact heat exchange process and system
- San Juan Capistrano, CA
Recovery of energy from geothermal brines and other hot water sources by direct contact heat exchange with a working fluid, such as a hydrocarbon working fluid, e.g. isobutane. The process and system consists of a plurality of stages, each stage including mixing and settling units. In the first stage, hot brine and arm working fluid are intimately mixed and passed into a settler wherein the brine settles to the bottom of the settler and the hot working fluid rises to the top. The hot working fluid is passed to a heat engine or turbine to produce work and the working fluid is then recycled back into the system. The system is comprised of a series of stages each containing a settler and mixer, and wherein the working fluid and the brine flow in a countercurrent manner through the stages to recover the heat from the brine in increments and raise the temperature of the working fluid in increments.
- Assignee:
- Occidental Petroleum Corporation (Los Angeles, CA)
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4167099
- OSTI ID:
- 863419
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Process and system for recovery of working fluid for direct contact heat exchange
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