# US 2014/0190899 A1 · Deep sea collection of solid materials from geothermal fluid

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- Number: US 2014/0190899 A1
- Document ID: US20140190899A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/149,738
- Filed: 2014-01-07
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2008-07-28
- Inventors: James H. Shnell
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190899A1

## CPC

- F24T 50/00: Geothermal systems (for producing mechanical power from geothermal energy F03G4/00)
- B01D 35/02: Filters adapted for location in special places, e.g. pipe-lines, pumps, stop-cocks, (B01D35/05 takes precedence; {water pipe system filters E03B3/18, E03B7/07; dirt catchers in sewers E03F; filters or strainers for pipe-lines in general B08B, E03F; object or dirt catching devices in sinks or the like E03C1/26; suction strainers or filters for pumps F04B53/005, F04D29/70})
- C02F 1/52: by flocculation or precipitation of suspended impurities {(C02F1/463 takes precedence)}
- E21B 43/24: using heat, e.g. steam injection
- E21B 43/2401: {by means of electricity}
- F01K 25/08: using special vapours
- F01K 25/10: the vapours being cold, e.g. ammonia, carbon dioxide, ether
- F03G 4/026: {open loop geothermal collectors}
- F03G 4/033: {having a Rankine cycle}
- F03G 4/037: {having other power cycles, e.g. Stirling, transcritical or supercritical cycles; combined with other power sources, e.g. wind, gas or nuclear}
- F03G 4/074: {Safety arrangements}
- F24T 10/10: with circulation of working fluids through underground channels, the working fluids not coming into direct contact with the ground
- F24T 10/20: using underground water as working fluid; using working fluid injected directly into the ground, e.g. using injection wells and recovery wells
- F24T 10/30: using underground reservoirs for accumulating working fluids or intermediate fluids
- Y02E 10/10: Geothermal energy
- F24T: GEOTHERMAL COLLECTORS; GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS
- B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28)
- C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes)
- E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- F01K: STEAM ENGINE PLANTS; STEAM ACCUMULATORS; ENGINE PLANTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ENGINES USING SPECIAL WORKING FLUIDS OR CYCLES (gas-turbine or jet-propulsion plants F02; nuclear power plants, engine arrangements therein G21D)
- F03G: SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS; MECHANICAL-POWER PRODUCING DEVICES OR MECHANISMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR OR USING ENERGY SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (arrangements in connection with power supply in vehicles from force of nature B60K16/00; electric propulsion with power supply in vehicles from force of nature B60L8/00)
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

An apparatus for collecting solid materials from a fluid is provided. The apparatus includes a conduit configured to allow the fluid to flow therethrough. The apparatus further includes a mesh extending across the conduit. The mesh is configured to allow the fluid to flow therethrough and to allow a solid material to precipitate out of the fluid onto the mesh. The apparatus further includes a support structure configured to support the mesh in position across the conduit

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus for collecting solid materials from a fluid, the apparatus comprising:
a conduit configured to allow the fluid to flow therethrough;
a mesh extending across the conduit, the mesh configured to allow the fluid to flow therethrough and to allow a solid material to precipitate out of the fluid onto the mesh; and
a support structure configured to support the mesh in position across the conduit.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fluid comprises a geothermal fluid and the conduit comprises a heat exchanger configured to be in thermal communication with the geothermal fluid.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the geothermal fluid comprises seawater.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the mesh is located at a position along the heat exchanger such that the temperature and pressure of the fluid at the position are conducive to precipitation of the solid material out of the fluid.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a second mesh extending across the conduit, the second mesh configured to allow the fluid to flow therethrough and to allow a second solid material to precipitate out of the fluid onto the second mesh, the second mesh located at a second position along the heat exchanger such that the temperature and pressure of the fluid at the second position are conducive to precipitation of the second solid material out of the fluid.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the support structure comprises a first spool supporting a first portion of the mesh and a second spool supporting the second portion of the mesh, the first spool and the second spool configured to each rotate about a corresponding axis to allow the mesh to be controllably transferred from the first spool to the second spool.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mesh is electrically conductive.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second mesh extending across the conduit, the second mesh configured to allow the fluid to flow therethrough and to allow a second solid material to precipitate out of the fluid onto the second mesh.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fluid comprises a geothermal fluid from at least one well.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the solid material comprises minerals and metals from the geothermal fluid.

### Claim 11

A method of collecting solid materials from a fluid, the method comprising:
flowing a fluid through a conduit and through a first portion of a mesh extending across the conduit;
precipitating solid material out of the fluid onto the first portion of the mesh;
moving the mesh such that a second portion of the mesh extends across the conduit; and
precipitating solid material out of the fluid onto the second portion of the mesh.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein moving the mesh comprises rotating a first spool supporting the mesh and rotating a second spool supporting the mesh such that the first portion of the mesh moves away from being extended across the conduit and the second portion of the mesh moves towards being extended across the conduit.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mesh comprises a first material configured to selectively bind to a second material under conditions prevailing at a location of the mesh.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the second material comprises lithium, zinc, or manganese.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the mesh is configured to remove the second material before the second material scales onto the conduit.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the mesh is configured to become saturated with the second material.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a precipitant configured to be injected into the fluid at the mesh or at a position just before the fluid flows through the mesh.

### Claim 18 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the solid material comprises lithium, zinc, or manganese.

### Claim 19 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the mesh is configured to remove the solid material before the solid material scales onto the conduit.

### Claim 20 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, further comprising injecting a precipitant into the fluid at the mesh or at a position just before the fluid flows through the mesh.