Geothermal power generation systems with pressure exchangers
AssigneeEnergy Recovery, Inc.
InventorAzam Mihir Thatte
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system includes a pressure exchanger (PX) configured to receive a first fluid via a first inlet and a second fluid via a second inlet. The PX is to exchange pressure between the first fluid and the second fluid and provide the first fluid at a first outlet and the second fluid at a second outlet. The system further includes a heat exchanger to exchange corresponding thermal energy between the first fluid and the second fluid. The system further includes a turbine configured to receive the second fluid output from the first heat exchanger and convert corresponding energy of the second fluid into rotational kinetic energy.
Claims20
A system, comprising:
- a pressure exchanger (PX) configured to receive a first fluid at a first pressure via a first inlet of the PX from a geothermal source, receive a second fluid at a second pressure via a second inlet of the PX, and exchange pressure between the first fluid and the second fluid, wherein the first fluid is to exit the PX at a third pressure via a first outlet of the PX, and wherein the second fluid is to exit the PX at a fourth pressure via a second outlet of the PX;
- a first flow valve configured to receive the second fluid at the fourth pressure and a third fluid at the fourth pressure, wherein the first flow valve is further configured to combine the third fluid with the second fluid;
- a first heat exchanger configured to exchange corresponding thermal energy between the first fluid at approximately the third pressure and the second fluid at approximately the fourth pressure;
- and
- a turbine configured to receive the second fluid output from the first heat exchanger and convert corresponding energy of the second fluid into rotational kinetic energy.
A method, comprising:
- causing, via a pressure exchanger (PX) pressure to be exchanged between a first fluid received from a geothermal source and a second fluid, wherein the PX is to decrease pressure of the first fluid from a first pressure to a third pressure and increase pressure of the second fluid from a second pressure to a fourth pressure;
- causing, via a first flow valve configured to receive the second fluid at the fourth pressure and a third fluid at the fourth pressure, the third fluid to be combined with the second fluid;
- causing, via a first heat exchanger, corresponding thermal energy to be provided from the first fluid at approximately the third pressure to the second fluid at approximately the fourth pressure;
- and
- causing, via a turbine, conversion of corresponding energy of the second fluid into rotational kinetic energy.
A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processing device, cause the processing device to perform operations comprising:
- causing, via a pressure exchanger (PX) pressure to be exchanged between a first fluid received from a geothermal source and a second fluid, wherein the PX is to decrease pressure of the first fluid from a first pressure to a third pressure and increase pressure of the second fluid from a second pressure to a fourth pressure;
- causing, via a first flow valve configured to receive the second fluid at the fourth pressure and a third fluid at the fourth pressure, the third fluid to be combined with the second fluid;
- causing, via a first heat exchanger, corresponding thermal energy to be provided from the first fluid at approximately the third pressure to the second fluid at approximately the fourth pressure;
- and
- causing, via a turbine, conversion of corresponding energy of the second fluid into rotational kinetic energy.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.