Hydrothermal energy and deep sea resource recovery system
OwnerBruce Marshallinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system that utilizes the naturally superheated fluids available from hydrothermal vents to harness the almost limitless quantities of heat energy they contain. It consists of one major system that has three parts: (i) funnel, (ii) pipes, and (iii) any combination of several mechanical attachments. The recovered heat energy will then be used to drive steam turbines or other equipment for electricity generation, water desalination, or any other thermal energy use. It could also be simultaneously or separately fed into resource recovery equipment for the recovery of valuable metals, minerals, and chemicals without system modification.
Claims30
A system for recovery of a resource contained in a hydrothermal fluid from a hydrothermal vent, said system comprising:
- a) collecting means for collecting a hydrothermal fluid or a resource contained in that hydrothermal fluid from a hydrothermal vent;
- b) a recovery station located at or above the ocean surface for receiving the hydrothermal fluid or a resource contained therein;
- and
- c) delivery means for delivery of the hydrothermal fluid or a resource contained in the fluid from the vent to a recovery station at or above the ocean surface while protecting the fluid or a resource contained in the fluid from ambient ocean conditions without significant degradation of the hydrothermal fluid or a resource in that fluid.
A system for delivery of hydrothermal fluid extracted from an ocean hydrothermal vent to enable recovery of hydrothermal energy therefrom above the ocean floor, said system comprising:
- a) collecting means in close proximity to the ocean floor for collecting at least the hydrothermal energy contained in fluid vented from an ocean vent;
- b) a hydrothermal energy recovery station at or above the surface of the ocean for recovering heat energy;
- and
- c) pipe means operatively connected to said collecting means for delivery of the hydrothermal energy to said recovery station above the ocean surface;
- and
- d) a waste fluid return station for return of the spent fluid to the ocean floor after heat energy has been extracted therefrom.
A system for delivery of resource bearing hydrothermal fluid from an ocean hydrothermal vent to enable recovery above the ocean floor of the resource contained in hydrothermal fluid, said system comprising:
- a) collecting means in close proximity to the ocean floor for collecting the hydrothermal fluid or a resource contained in the hydrothermal fluid vented from an ocean vent;
- b) a resource recovery station at or above the surface of the ocean for recovering a resource contained in the hydrothermal fluid;
- c) pipe means Operatively connected to said collecting means for delivery of the hydrothermal fluid along with the resource, to said recovery station above the ocean surface;
- and
- d) a waste fluid return station for return of the spent fluid to the ocean floor after a resource has been extracted therefrom.
A method for recovery of a resource contained in a hydrothermal fluid from a hydrothermal vent, said method comprising:
- a) collecting a hydrothermal fluid or a resource contained in that hydrothermal fluid from a hydrothermal vent;
- b) delivering the hydrothermal fluid or a resource contained in the fluid from the vent to a recovery station at or above the ocean surface;
- c) protecting the fluid or a resource contained in the fluid from ambient ocean conditions without significant degradation to the hydrothermal fluid or a resource in that fluid in the delivery process;
- d) recovering a resource contained in the hydrothermal fluid at or above the ocean surface at a recovery station leaving a spent hydrothermal fluid;
- and
- e) returning the spent hydrothermal fluid to the ocean floor where it originated.
A system for recovery of heat from a hydrothermal fluid exiting a hydrothermal fluid exiting a hydrothermal vent and generating energy therefrom, said system comprising:
- a) means for delivering from a hydrothermal vent to a recovery station a hydrothermal fluid exiting the hydrothermal vent;
- b) a power plant using the heat from the hydrothermal fluid to perform any useful work such as generating energy, and leaving a spent hydrothermal fluid;
- and
- c) cold water pumping means for delivery of cold water extracted from the ocean bottom to the power plant for enhancing the temperature differential.
The system for delivery of hydrothermal energy from hydrothermal fluid of claim 27 further characterized in that the energy contained in the hydrothermal fluid is used to operate a desalination facility to thereby generate desalinated water.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.