Method, system and apparatus for extracting heat energy from geothermal briny fluid
OwnerDavid Alan McBayinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to techniques for extracting heat energy from geothermal briny fluid. A briny fluid can be extracted from a geothermal production well and delivered to a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger can receive the briny fluid and transfer heat energy from the briny fluid to a molten salt. The molten salt can be pumped to a molten salt storage tank that can serve as energy storage. The briny fluid can be returned to a geothermal source via the production well. The briny fluid can remain in a closed-loop system, apart from the molten salt, from extraction through return to the geothermal production well.
Claims19
A method comprising:
- providing a geothermal well of sufficient depth where ambient temperature is above 100 degrees Celsius;
- pumping molten salt through a closed-loop system that exchanges heat with a first working fluid associated with the geothermal well, wherein the molten salt absorbs heat from the first working fluid;
- and
- transferring the heat of the molten salt to a second working fluid that operates a turbine.
A system comprising:
- a first closed-loop fluid system associated with a geothermal well of sufficient depth where ambient temperature is above 100 degrees Celsius, wherein the first closed-loop fluid system includes a first working fluid;
- a second closed-loop fluid system including a molten salt;
- a first set of heat exchangers that transfer heat from the first working fluid of the first closed-loop fluid system to the molten salt of the second closed-loop fluid system;
- and
- a second set of heat exchangers that transfer heat from the molten salt to a second working fluid, wherein the second working fluid operates a turbine.
A method for generating power from a geothermal well, the method comprising:
- facilitating heat transfer between two closed fluid systems wherein a first closed system operates within the geothermal well and a second closed system operates at surface level;
- and
- maintaining a constant pressure within the two closed fluid systems via a series of pumps.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.