Heat recovery systems
AssigneeEnergy Soft Computer Systems Limited
InventorsGeorge E. Lockett, Robert D. Thurston
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Geothermal energy is recovered from an underground zone of relatively hot strata via a borehole into which is inserted a heat pipe system containing a working fluid, the heat pipe system comprising an assembly of two tubes in concentric relation, the inner tube being constituted by a relatively small diameter capillary for the return of working fluid to the vicinity of the zone of the relatively hot strata. The working fluid is preferably assisted in its return under gravity by means of a pump. The system includes heat exchange means operable to recover thermal energy from the working fluid. A third and outermost tube may be used to reduce heat losses, this third tube enclosing the two tubes over all but that part of their length which is in the zone of relatively hot strata.
Claims6
A method of recovering geothermal energy comprising the steps of inserting a closed tube in the form of an assembly of two tubes disposed in concentric relation, the inner tube being constituted by a relatively small diameter capillary for the return of a working fluid, into a bore hole extending from the surface into a zone of relatively hot strata, so that one end of said closed tube is at or adjacent the surface and the other end is in said zone, providing heat exchange means in operative contact with said one end, followed by operating said heat exchange means to recover energy from said working fluid, characterised by the preliminary step of at least partially evacuating the closed tube prior to introducing a quantity of working fluid thereinto.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.