Modular sustainable power plant for harvesting non-volcanic geothermal heat
OwnerRuslan Asfandiyarovinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A modular power plant system may include a plurality of thermal energy conversion elements installed in multiple cavities in the bottom of the well or along the well. The thermal energy conversion elements may convert geothermal heat directly to electricity. A surface infrastructure may consist of electricity distribution racks and pumps that drive cooling liquid in closed or open loops to cool the thermal energy conversion elements. AC or DC voltage may be communicated from each of the thermal energy conversion elements to the surface infrastructure for the distribution of electricity in a decentralized power grid.
Claims20
A modular power plant system comprising:
- an electricity distribution system;
- a surface infrastructure in operable communication with the electricity distribution system;
- at least one thermal energy conversion module disposed within a borehole within the earth crust and being in operable communication with the surface infrastructure, wherein the at least one thermal conversion module is constructed and arranged to convert geothermal heat to DC or AC voltage and communicate voltage to the surface infrastructure;
- and
- at least one of a closed or open loop cooling system constructed and arranged to draw heat away from the at least one thermal energy conversion module and dissipate said heat via at least one of ambient cooling near surface level portions of the borehole or on the surface via a dedicated cooling system.
A thermal energy conversion module comprising:
- a thermoelectric generator comprising an outer surface and an inner surface and defining a cavity therein, the thermal electric generator being constructed and arranged to convert temperature difference between the outer surface and the inner surface into electrical energy;
- at least one of a closed or open loop cooling system disposed approximately withing the cavity of the thermal electric converter;
- at least one DC collector constructed and arranged to collect electrical energy from the thermoelectric generator;
- and
- at least one DC to AC converter constructed and arranged to receive DC voltage from the DC collector.
A modular power plant system comprising:
- a plurality of thermal energy conversion modules, each comprising
- a thermoelectric generator comprising an outer surface and an inner surface and defining a cavity therein, the thermal electric generator being constructed and arranged to convert temperature difference between the outer surface and the inner surface into electrical energy;
- a plurality of DC collectors in series constructed and arranged to collect electrical energy from the thermoelectric generator;
- and
- at least one DC to AC converter constructed and arranged to receive DC voltage from the DC collector;
- and
- at least one at least one of a closed or open loop cooling system disposed approximately within the cavity of each of the thermal energy conversion modules within the plurality of thermal energy conversion modules thermal electric converter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.