Method and system for geothermal electrical generation
OwnerGlenn Lovelaceinventor
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Abstract
A method and system for geothermal electrical generation is provided. The geothermal electrical generation system includes a thermal chamber, thermal conduit and a power head. The thermal chamber is disposed within a geothermal region of the earth and operates to heat a fluid that is communicated to the power head and used to generate electricity. The thermal chamber has a volume sufficiently large that the fluid has a high residence time and is heated to near equilibrium with the geothermal region.
Claims20
A geothermal electrical generation system comprising:
- a thermal chamber disposed in an underground geothermal region, wherein the thermal chamber contains a fluid heated by the geothermal region;
- a power head operable to generate electricity from the heated fluid;
- and
- a thermal conduit operable to communicate the heated fluid from the thermal chamber to the power head.
A method for generating electricity comprising:
- circulating a fluid having an energy state through a thermal chamber and a power head, wherein:
- the fluid entering the thermal chamber is at a first energy state;
- the energy state of the fluid is increased from the first energy state to a second energy state by heating the fluid from a thermal region disposed outwardly from the thermal chamber;
- and
- the fluid at the second energy state from the thermal chamber is delivered to the power head where at least part of portion the difference in energy states between the first energy state and the second energy is converted into mechanical energy;
- and
- converting at least a portion of the mechanical energy into electricity.
A geothermal electrical generation system for generating electricity comprising:
- a thermal chamber disposed in a thermal region of the earth, with chamber walls that are generally impermeable, and having a volume exceeding 5,000 cubic meters;
- a power head comprising a vaporization system, a generator system, a liquefaction system and a pumping system;
- and
- a thermal conduit through which a fluid is communicated through the thermal chamber and the power head.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.