Controller for controlling generation of geothermal power in an organic Rankine cycle operation during hydrocarbon production

A controller to control geothermal power generated by an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) process in the vicinity of a wellhead during hydrocarbon production to thereby supply electrical power to one or more of in-field operational equipment, a grid power structure, and energy storage device, the controller comprising:

• a first input in signal communication with a first wellhead fluid temperature sensor, the first wellhead fluid temperature sensor to provide a first temperature of a wellhead fluid flow from the wellhead;
• a first input/output in signal communication with a first wellhead fluid valve, a second wellhead fluid valve, a heat exchanger valve, and a condenser valve, the controller configured to:
• in response to the first temperature being above a phase change threshold:
• transmit a signal to the first wellhead fluid valve to cause the first wellhead fluid valve to close, and
• transmit a signal to the heat exchanger valve to cause the heat exchanger valve to open, to allow continuous diversion of the flow of the wellhead fluid to one or more heat exchangers to facilitate transfer of heat from the flow of the wellhead fluid to an organic working fluid through the one or more heat exchangers, thereby to change phases of the organic working fluid from a liquid to a vapor within the one or more heat exchangers so as to cause a gas expander of an ORC unit, in fluid communication with the one or more heat exchangers, to rotate a generator to generate electrical power from the ORC operation.

A controller to control geothermal power generated by an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) process in the vicinity of a wellhead during hydrocarbon production to thereby supply electrical power to one or more of in-field operational equipment, a grid power structure, and energy storage device, the controller comprising:

• a first input in signal communication with one or more working fluid temperature sensors, the one or more working fluid temperature sensors to provide a temperature measurement of an organic working fluid flow from and corresponding to one or more heat exchangers;
• a second input in signal communication with one or more electrical power meters, the one or more electrical power meters to provide a measurement indicative of an amount of electrical power generated by a corresponding ORC unit;
• and
• a first input/output in signal communication with one or more wellhead fluid valves corresponding to one or more wellheads, one or more heat exchanger valves corresponding to one or more heat exchangers, and one or more valves connecting one or more heat exchangers to the corresponding ORC unit, the controller configured to:
• in response to the measurement indicative of the amount of electrical power generated by a corresponding ORC unit being less than the maximum electrical power rating of the corresponding ORC unit:
• determine temperature of working fluid from the one or more working fluid temperature sensors,
• based on the temperatures of the working fluid from one or more heat exchangers and electrical power output from the corresponding ORC unit, determine an amount of working fluid from each of the corresponding one or more heat exchangers to enable the corresponding ORC unit to produce an amount of electrical power to meet or exceed a preselected electrical power output threshold, and
• based on the determination of the amount of working fluid, transmit a signal to the one or more valves connecting one or more heat exchangers to the corresponding ORC unit to cause the one or more valves to move to one or more of partially open positions and fully opened positions, to allow an amount of working fluid to flow to the corresponding ORC unit, thereby to change phases of the organic working fluid from a liquid to a vapor within the one or more heat exchangers so as to cause a gas expander of the corresponding ORC unit, in fluid communication with the one or more heat exchangers, to rotate a generator to generate electrical power from the ORC operation.

A controller to control geothermal power generated by an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) process in the vicinity of a wellhead during hydrocarbon production to thereby supply electrical power to one or more of in-field operational equipment, a grid power structure, and energy storage device, the controller comprising:

• a first input in signal communication with one or more working fluid temperature sensors, the one or more working fluid temperature sensors to provide a temperature measurement of an organic working fluid flow from and corresponding to one or more heat exchangers;
• a second input in signal communication with one or more ORC unit temperature sensors, the one or more ORC unit temperature sensors to provide a temperature measurement of a combination of working fluid flowing into the corresponding ORC unit;
• and
• a first input/output in signal communication with one or more wellhead fluid valves corresponding to one or more wellheads, one or more heat exchanger valves corresponding to one or more heat exchangers, and one or more valves connecting one or more heat exchangers to the corresponding ORC unit, the controller configured to:
• in response to measurement of temperature of the combination of working fluid flowing into the corresponding ORC unit being below an efficient temperature for electrical power generation:
• determine the temperature of working fluid from each of the one or more working fluid temperature sensors,
• based on the temperatures of the working fluid from each of the one or more heat exchangers and the temperature of the combination of working fluid flowing into the corresponding ORC unit, determine an amount of working fluid from each of the corresponding one or more heat exchangers to enable the corresponding ORC unit to produce an amount of electrical power to meet or exceed a preselected electrical power output threshold, and
• based on the determination of the amount of working fluid, transmit a signal to the one or more valves connecting one or more heat exchangers to the corresponding ORC unit to cause the one or more valves to move to, at least, partially open positions, to allow an amount of working fluid to flow to the corresponding ORC unit, thereby to change phases of the organic working fluid from a liquid to a vapor within the one or more heat exchangers so as to cause a gas expander of the corresponding ORC unit, in fluid communication with the one or more heat exchangers, to rotate a generator to generate electrical power from the ORC operation.