Back to results
US 11,674,388 B1Granted
System for generation of thermal energy
AssigneeHypersciences, Inc.
InventorsHossam Elbadawy, Mark C. Russell, Charles T. Russell, Timothy John Elder, Minh Button
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Boreholes used for generating geothermal energy or other purposes are formed at least in part by accelerating projectiles toward geologic material. Interaction between a projectile and the geologic material may generate debris or other material. The temperature of this generated material may be used to determine the potential for generation of geothermal energy using the borehole. Based on the temperature of the material, a fluid having a different temperature than that of the material is provided into the borehole for generation of power using geothermal energy.
Claims20
A method comprising:
- accelerating a first projectile through a conduit, wherein the first projectile interacts with geologic material at a first location to form at least a portion of a borehole;
- circulating a first material generated by an interaction between the first projectile and the geologic material from within the borehole toward a surface of the borehole;
- determining that a first temperature of one or more of the first material or a first fluid carrying the first material exceeds a threshold temperature;
- based on the first temperature exceeding the threshold temperature, providing a second fluid having a second temperature that is less than the first temperature into the borehole;
- and
- generating electrical power using one or more thermoelectric elements, wherein the second fluid having the second temperature and a portion of the borehole having one or more of the first temperature or a third temperature are positioned relative to the one or more thermoelectric elements, and the one or more thermoelectric elements generate the electrical power in response to a temperature differential between the second temperature and the one or more of the first temperature or the third temperature.
3 more elements
A method comprising:
- accelerating a first projectile to interact with geologic material at a first location of a first borehole;
- determining a first temperature of one or more of:
- a first material generated by an interaction between the first projectile and the geologic material, or
- a first fluid that is mixed with the first material;
- determining that the first temperature exceeds a threshold temperature;
- based on the first temperature exceeding the threshold temperature, providing a second fluid having a second temperature less than the first temperature into the first borehole;
- and
- generating electrical power using a thermoelectric element, wherein the second fluid having the second temperature and a portion of the first borehole having one or more of the first temperature or a third temperature are positioned relative to the thermoelectric element, and the thermoelectric element generates the electrical power in response to a temperature differential between the second temperature and the one or more of the first temperature or the third temperature.
5 more elements
A system comprising:
- a first conduit within a borehole, the first conduit having a first end proximate to geologic material in the borehole;
- a first projectile within the first conduit, wherein the first projectile exits the first conduit to interact with the geologic material;
- a temperature sensor that determines a first temperature of one or more of:
- a first material that is generated by an interaction between the first projectile and the geologic material, or
- a first fluid that is mixed with the first material;
- a fluid-moving apparatus in communication with the first conduit;
- one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media storing computer-executable instructions;
- one or more hardware processors that execute the computer-executable instructions to:
- determine the first temperature;
- and
- based on the first temperature, cause circulation, by the fluid-moving apparatus, of a second fluid having a second temperature less than the first temperature through the first conduit;
- and
- a thermoelectric element for generating electrical power, wherein the second fluid having the second temperature and a portion of the borehole having one or more of the first temperature or a third temperature are positioned relative to the thermoelectric element, and the thermoelectric element generates the electrical power in response to a temperature differential between the second temperature and the one or more of the first temperature or the third temperature.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.