US 11,480,160 B1 · Hybrid solar-geothermal power generation system

Abstract

A hybrid geothermal electrical power generation system that utilizes the heat from a deep geothermal reservoir to vaporize a working fluid, such as steam, CO2 or an organic fluid. The vaporized working fluid is used to turn a turbine connected to an electrical power generator. A solar collector may be used to increase the temperature of the working fluid during sunlight hours and a thermal storage unit may be utilized to increase the temperature of the working fluid during the night. A supercritical CO2 power generation cycle may be used alone or in combination with a steam turbine power generation cycle to utilize all of the heat energy. A vapor compression cycle, a vapor absorption cycle may be utilized to provide heating and cooling. A low temperature shallow geothermal reservoir may be used as a heat exchanger to regulate or store excess heat.

A hybrid solar-geothermal electrical power generation system for use with a high temperature deep geothermal reservoir, comprising:

a geothermal heat provisioning cycle including:
a geothermal fluid supply pipe fluidly connected to the deep geothermal reservoir;
a geothermal fluid return pipe fluidly connected to the deep geothermal reservoir;
a first pump;
a first heat exchanger having a first channel and a second channel, wherein the first channel is fluidly connected between the supply pipe and the first pump;
wherein the first pump is configured to pump a geothermal fluid through the geothermal heat provisioning cycle;
wherein the first heat exchanger is configured to transfer heat from the geothermal fluid in the first channel to a first heat transfer fluid in the second channel;
a solar heat provisioning cycle including:
a solar collector having a fluid manifold with an inlet port and an outlet port;
a thermal energy storage reservoir fluidly connected at a first end to the outlet port;
a second heat exchanger having a third channel and a fourth channel, wherein the second heat exchanger is configured to transfer heat from the first heat transfer fluid in the third channel to a working fluid in the fourth channel, vaporizing the working fluid;
a second pump connected between a second end of the thermal energy storage reservoir and the third channel;
wherein the second channel of the first heat exchanger is connected between the inlet port and the third channel of the second heat exchanger;
wherein the second pump is configured to pump the first heat transfer fluid through the solar heat provisioning cycle;
a power generation cycle including:
at least one turbine having a turbine shaft connected to an electric power generator, the at least one turbine having an entry port and an exit port, wherein the entry port is fluidly connected to the fourth channel of the second heat exchanger;
a first condenser having a first coil and a second coil, wherein the first coil is connected to the exit port;
a third pump fluidly connected between the first coil and the fourth channel,
wherein the third pump is configured to pump the working fluid through the power generation cycle to turn the turbine shaft and to cause the electric power generator to generate electricity;
wherein the first condenser is configured to liquefy the vaporized working fluid by transferring heat from the first coil to the second coil;
a cooling cycle including:
a fourth pump fluidly connected between the second coil and one of a shallow geothermal heat exchanger and a vapor absorption cycle generator;
wherein the fourth pump is configured to pump a second heat transfer fluid through the cooling cycle cool the fluid in the second coil;
a control system operatively connected to the pumps and the electric power generator,
wherein the geothermal fluid return pipe comprises:
a plurality of outer pipe sections, each having a fluid entrance port, a series of concentric internal passages configured to allow fluid flow, the series of internal passages axially and concentrically offset from one another, the outer pipe section having an inner of diameter Do;
a plurality of inner pipe sections, each having an outer diameter Di, where Do is greater than Di, the inner pipe section having a series of concentric external passages configured to allow fluid flow, the series of internal passages axially and concentrically offset from one another;
and
a head end configured to rotate at least one outer pipe section;
wherein rotation of an outer pipe section in a first direction aligns the series of internal passage of the outer pipe section with the series of external passages of the inner pipe section, allowing fluid flow from the outer pipe section to the inner pipe section, and
wherein rotation an outer pipe section in a second direction misaligns the series of internal passage of the outer pipe section with the series of external passages of the inner pipe section, preventing fluid flow from the outer pipe section to the inner pipe section.

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Hybrid solar-geothermal power generation system

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Hybrid solar-geothermal power generation system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19