Geothermal steam processing
AssigneeUnion Oil Company of California
InventorKevin R. Kitz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
As geothermal steam containing contaminants such as boron, arsenic, and mercury is passed through a turbine-condenser system, the contaminants preferentially collect in the initial condensate produced from the steam. Collecting this initially-produced condensate and segregating it from the remainder of the steam being condensed ensures that condensate produced from the remainder of the steam is contaminants-lean, preferably containing the contaminants in concentrations allowing for discharge of the contaminants-lean condensate to the environment.
Claims138
A process comprising:
- (1) introducing geothermal steam containing a contaminant selected from the group consisting of boron, mercury, and arsenic into a turbine of a turbine-condenser system;
- (2) removing from said system a liquid comprising an early-produced, contaminant-rich fraction of total condensate produced in said turbine-condenser system;
- and
- (3) segregating at least some of said liquid removed in step (2) from said turbine-condenser system,
- wherein at least some of the total condensate remaining after said early produced fraction is removed in step (2) is neither ultimately re-injected into a geothermal formation nor evaporated in a cooling tower system.
A process comprising:
- (1) introducing geothermal steam containing a contaminant selected from the group consisting of boron, mercury, and arsenic into a turbine of a turbine-condenser system;
- (2) removing from said system a liquid comprising an early-produced, contaminant-rich fraction of total condensate produced in said turbine-condenser system;
- (3) segregating at least some of said liquid removed in step (2) from said turbine-condenser system;
- and
- (4) removing from the condenser of said turbine-condenser system a contaminant-lean fraction of total condensate, said contaminant-lean fraction being produced later than said early produced fraction and having a boron content no greater than 2 mg/ l, an arsenic content no greater than 0.05 mg/l, and a mercury content no greater than 0.002 mg/l, with said early produced, contaminant-rich fraction containing at least one of boron, arsenic, or mercury in a concentration above the foregoing respective concentration values.
A process comprising:
- (1) introducing geothermal steam containing boron, arsenic, or mercury into a turbine-condenser system in which the steam is passed serially through the turbine and condenser while producing steam condensate;
- (2) removing steam condensate containing boron, arsenic, or mercury from the system at one or more locations in the turbine-condenser system where more than 50% of the total steam condensate has yet to be produced, said removed steam condensate including at least some steam condensate recovered after the final stage of said turbine;
- and
- (3) preventing at least some of said steam condensate removed in step (2) from contacting steam and condensate in the condenser of said turbine-condenser system.
A process comprising:
- (1) introducing steam containing a water-soluble contaminant into a turbine-condenser system in which the steam is passed serially through the turbine and condenser while producing steam condensate;
- (2) removing from said system an early produced, contaminant-rich fraction of total condensate produced in said turbine-condenser system, said fraction comprising at least 2 percent of the total condensate produced in said turbine-condenser system;
- and
- (3) preventing at least some of said early produced, contaminant-rich fraction removed in step (2) from commingling in said turbine-condenser system with at least one other fraction of the total condensate.
A process for reducing the mass rate of a contaminant carried in a liquid stream comprising condensate recovered from a condenser of a turbine-condenser system, wherein the contaminant was originally present in steam introduced into the turbine, said process comprising
- (1) removing from said turbine-condenser system a fluid stream containing an early produced fraction comprising at least 2 percent of total condensate produced in said turbine-condenser system;
- and
- (2) removing from said condenser a liquid stream comprising a later produced fraction of total condensate;
- with said early produced fraction having a higher concentration of said contaminant than said later produced fraction, and
- with said liquid stream carrying said contaminant at a total mass rate lower than if said early produced fraction had not been removed.
A process for condensing geothermal steam containing a contaminant selected from the group consisting of boron, mercury, and arsenic, the process comprising
- (1) condensing in a condensing zone a fraction of said geothermal steam to produce a first liquid condensate containing at least one of said contaminants in a concentration such that the remaining steam is of reduced boron, arsenic, or mercury concentration;
- (2) removing at least some of said first liquid condensate from said condensing zone;
- (3) preventing return of at least some of said removed first liquid condensate to said condensing zone;
- (4) condensing in said condensing zone at least some of said remaining steam to produce a second liquid condensate of lower boron, arsenic, or mercury concentration than for said first liquid condensate;
- and
- (5) evaporating a substantial proportion but less than 100% of said second liquid condensate in a cooling tower system, with at least some of the remainder not being re-injected into a subterranean formation
A process comprising:
- (1) introducing a steam containing a contaminant into the turbine of a turbine-condenser system;
- (2) withdrawing steam condensate from the turbine, said steam condensate comprising at least 2% but less than 15% of the total condensate produced in said turbine-condenser system but containing more than 25% of said contaminant;
- and
- (3) maintaining at least some steam condensate withdrawn in step (2) separate and apart from at least some steam condensate being produced in the condenser of the turbine-condenser system.
A process comprising:
- (1) introducing a steam containing a contaminant into a multi-stage turbine of a turbine-condenser system;
- (2) withdrawing a fluid stream comprising steam and steam condensate from the turbine before the final stage thereof;
- (3) separating at least some of said withdrawn steam condensate from said withdrawn steam;
- (4) condensing at least some steam exhausted from the final stage of the turbine in the condenser of the turbine-condenser system;
- and
- (5) segregating a substantial proportion of said steam condensate separated in step (3) from the condensate in the condenser of the turbine-condenser system,
- wherein said steam condensate withdrawn with said fluid stream in step (2) constitutes at least 2 percent of total condensate produced in said turbine-condenser system.
A process comprising:
- (1) introducing geothermal steam containing a contaminant selected from the group consisting of boron, mercury, and arsenic into a turbine-condenser system;
- (2) removing from said system a fluid stream comprising steam and liquid comprising an early-produced, contaminant-rich fraction of total condensate produced in said turbine-condenser system;
- (3) separating at sub-atmospheric pressure the steam from the liquid removed in step (2);
- and
- (4) segregating at least some of said liquid removed in step (2) and separated in step (3) from said turbine-condenser system.
A process comprising:
- (1) introducing geothermal steam containing a contaminant selected from the group consisting of boron, mercury, and arsenic into a turbine-condenser system;
- (2) removing from said system a liquid comprising an early-produced, contaminant-rich fraction of total condensate produced in said turbine-condenser system;
- (3) segregating at least some of said liquid removed in step (2) from said turbine-condenser system, and
- (4) recovering from the condenser of said turbine-condenser system a plurality of liquid streams, at least one of which contains boron, mercury, or arsenic in a concentration lower than that of another of said liquid streams.
A process for removing from geothermal steam a contaminant selected from the group consisting of boron, arsenic, and mercury, said process comprising contacting said geothermal steam with an aqueous alkaline liquid under conditions removing at least some contaminant from said geothermal steam.
A process comprising:
- (1) introducing oxygen-free steam into a turbine-condenser system;
- (2) collecting oxygen-free moisture from turbine exhaust between the turbine and condenser of said turbine-condenser system;
- and
- (3) directing said oxygen-free moisture to a location external to said turbine-condenser system.
A process for reducing the concentration of a contaminant selected from the group consisting of boron, arsenic, mercury, ammonia, and hydrogen sulfide in circulating water of a cooling tower having as at least one source of its make-up a steam condensate from a direct contact condenser condensing steam exhausted from a turbine powered with steam containing one or more of said contaminants, said process comprising:
- (1) collecting an early-produced, contaminant-rich fraction of total steam condensate produced in the turbine and condenser, said fraction including at least some steam condensate recovered after the final stage of the turbine;
- (2) separating said early-produced, contaminant-rich fraction from a steam of reduced contaminant content;
- (3) condensing said steam of reduced contaminant content in said direct contact condenser;
- and
- (4) supplying as a majority of the make-up to said cooling tower the steam condensate produced in step (3).
A process for reducing the concentration of a contaminant selected from the group consisting of boron, arsenic, mercury, ammonia, and hydrogen sulfide in circulating water of a cooling tower having, as at least one source of its make-up, a steam condensate from a direct contact condenser condensing steam exhausted from a turbine powered with steam containing one or more of said contaminants, said turbine and condenser forming a turbine-condenser system, said process comprising
- (1) condensing in said turbine-condenser system an early-produced, contaminant-rich fraction of total steam condensate to produce a steam of reduced contaminant concentration;
- (2) removing said early-produced, contaminant-rich fraction from said turbine-condenser system;
- (3) condensing at least some of said steam of reduced contaminant concentration in said direct contact condenser;
- and
- (4) employing at least some steam condensate produced in step (3) as make-up to said cooling tower, with at least some of the excess of said steam condensate produced in step (3) not being evaporated in said cooling tower or injected into a subterranean formation.
A process for reducing the concentration of a contaminant in the drift from a cooling tower, said contaminant originally being in geothermal steam introduced into a turbine-condenser system, with steam condensate from the condenser being employed as make-up to said cooling tower, said process comprising removing, in an early-produced fraction of steam condensate from said turbine-condenser system, sufficient of said contaminant originally present in said geothermal steam so as to reduce the concentration of said contaminant in water circulating in said cooling tower by at least 10%.
A process for condensing geothermal steam containing a contaminant selected from the group consisting of boron, arsenic, mercury, ammonia, and hydrogen sulfide, the process comprising
- (1) condensing a fraction of said geothermal steam to produce a liquid condensate containing sufficient contaminant that the remaining steam is of reduced contaminant concentration, said fraction containing condensate recovered from a steam entryway area of a condenser;
- (2) removing at least some of said liquid condensate from said remaining steam of reduced contaminant concentration;
- and
- (3) condensing in said condenser at least some of said remaining steam of reduced contaminant content in the absence of contact with the steam condensate removed in step (2).
A process comprising:
- (1) introducing geothermal steam containing a contaminant selected from the group consisting of boron, mercury, arsenic, ammonia, and hydrogen sulfide into a turbine of a turbine-condenser system;
- (2) removing from said system a liquid comprising an early-produced, contaminant-rich fraction of total condensate produced in said turbine-condenser system;
- and
- (3) segregating at least some of said liquid removed in step (2) from said turbine-condenser system,
- wherein at least some of the total condensate remaining after said early produced fraction is removed in step (2) is discharged to the environment.
A process comprising:
- (1) introducing geothermal steam containing boron, arsenic, mercury, ammonia, or hydrogen sulfide into a turbine-condenser system in which the steam is passed serially through the turbine and condenser while producing steam condensate;
- (2) removing steam condensate relatively rich in boron, arsenic, mercury, ammonia, or hydrogen sulfide from the system at one or more locations in the turbine-condenser system where more than 50% of the total steam condensate has yet to be produced, said removed steam condensate including at least some steam condensate recovered after the final stage of said turbine;
- and
- (3) preventing at least some of said steam condensate removed in step (2) from contacting steam and condensate in the condenser of said turbine-condenser system.
A process for condensing steam containing a contaminant in a condenser, the process comprising
- (1) condensing a first fraction of said steam in a first portion of the condenser so as to produce (a) a contaminant-rich fraction of total condensate produced from said steam in said condenser and (b) a remaining steam of reduced contaminant concentration;
- (2) collecting a first liquid comprising said contaminant-rich fraction of total condensate in said first portion of said condenser;
- (3) introducing said remaining steam into a second portion of said condenser;
- (4) condensing a substantial proportion of said remaining steam in said second portion of said condenser so as to produce a contaminant-lean fraction of total condensate;
- (5) collecting a second liquid comprising said contaminant-lean fraction of total condensate in said second portion of said condenser, with said first and second liquid being segregated from each other in said condenser;
- and
- (6) separately removing from said condenser said first and second liquids.
A process comprising:
- (1) introducing steam containing one or more water-soluble contaminants and one or more non-condensable gases into a turbine of a turbine-condenser system;
- (2) withdrawing from said turbine prior to the final stage thereof steam containing (a) moisture, said moisture being rich in at least one of said contaminants, and (b) at least some of said one or more non-condensable gases;
- (3) separating said moisture from said steam;
- (4) separately recovering from step (3) a liquid comprising said moisture and steam containing said one or more non-condensable gases;
- (5) condensing in said condenser steam exhausted from said turbine to produce a steam condensate contaminant-lean as compared to said moisture;
- and
- (6) removing from said condenser one or more non-condensable gases by means including a steam ejector employing steam recovered in step (4).
A continuous process comprising:
- (1) continuously adding liquid water to superheated steam introduced into a turbine of a turbine-condenser system, said superheated steam containing a contaminant;
- (2) removing from said system a liquid comprising an early-produced, contaminant-rich fraction of total condensate produced in said turbine-condenser system, said fraction containing at least some moisture produced in said turbine;
- and
- (3) segregating at least some of said liquid removed in step (2) from said turbine-condenser system.
A process for reducing the concentration of a contaminant in the circulating water in a cooling tower, said contaminant originally being in geothermal steam introduced into a turbine-condenser system, with steam condensate from the condenser being employed as make-up to said cooling tower, said process comprising removing, in an early-produced fraction of steam condensate from said turbine-condenser system, sufficient of said contaminant originally present in said geothermal steam so as to reduce the concentration of said contaminant in water circulating in said cooling tower by at least 15%.
A condenser comprising
- (1) a first chamber having an entryway for a vapor to be condensed;
- (2) means for collecting liquid within said first chamber;
- (3) a second chamber having an entryway communicating with said first chamber for recovering vapor not condensed in said first chamber;
- (4) means for condensing vapor in said second chamber by heat exchange across a surface with coolant fluid;
- (5) means for collecting liquid condensate in said second chamber separate and apart from liquid collected in said first chamber;
- and
- (6) means for introducing a coolant fluid, including coolant fluid exiting from surface condensing means (4), into said first chamber to cause condensation of vapor therein by direct contact heat exchange with the coolant fluid.
A condenser comprising
- (1) a first chamber having an entryway for a vapor to be condensed;
- (2) means for collecting liquid within said first chamber;
- (3) means for condensing vapor in said first chamber by heat exchange across a surface with coolant fluid;
- (4) a second chamber having an entryway communicating with said first chamber for recovering vapor not condensed in said first chamber;
- (5) means for collecting liquid condensate in said second chamber separate and apart from liquid collected in said first chamber;
- and
- (6) means for introducing a coolant fluid exiting from surface condensing means (3) into said second chamber to cause condensation of vapor therein by direct contact heat exchange with the coolant fluid.
A condenser comprising:
- (1) a housing holding a first chamber and a second chamber, the first chamber having an entrance for a vapor to be condensed, the first chamber being separated from the second by a plurality of wall barriers arranged to provide vapor communication between the chambers by a tortuous path and to separate essentially all liquid collected in the first chamber from essentially all liquid collected in the second chamber, with each chamber having one or more openings for collected liquid to exit therefrom without contacting liquid collected in the other chamber;
- (2) a surface heat exchanger within said second chamber for causing condensation of vapor in said second chamber by heat exchange with a coolant introduced into said surface heat exchanger from a source external to the condenser;
- and
- (3) a fluid communication system for introducing a fluid coolant comprising the fluid coolant exiting said surface heat exchanger into said first chamber to cause condensation of vapor therein by direct contact heat exchange.
An apparatus comprising
- (1) a steam-powered turbine;
- (2) a condenser for condensing steam exhausted from said turbine;
- (3) a fluid communication system between said turbine and condenser for directing steam exhausted from the turbine to said condenser;
- (4) means, within said fluid communication system, for collecting moisture from steam passing therethrough;
- and
- (5) means for directing said collected moisture to a location external to the turbine, condenser, and fluid communication system.
A turbine-condenser system for processing contaminated steam introduced into the turbine, comprising
- (1) a turbine-condenser system;
- (2) means, located between the final stage of said turbine and the entryway area of the condenser, for collecting moisture from said steam and
- (3) means for segregating the collected moisture from at least the majority of the steam condensed in the condenser.
A condenser having an entryway for vapors to be condensed, said entryway having means for collecting condensed vapors on the walls thereof prior to said condensed vapors reaching the lowest point in said condenser for liquid to gather, with said entryway further having means for removing said collected condensed vapors from said condenser without said collected vapors commingling with the majority of vapors condensed in said condenser.
An apparatus comprising in fluid communication:
- (1) a turbine-condenser system;
- (2) means for withdrawing steam from said turbine at an interstage location therein;
- (3) means for removing moisture from steam withdrawn by means (2);
- (4) a steam ejector for removing non-condensable gases from said condenser;
- and
- (5) means for removing moisture-free steam from means (3) and directing said moisture free-steam to power said ejector.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.