Seal system for geothermal power plant operating on high pressure geothermal steam

A geothermal power plant that operates on geothermal fluid comprising:

• a) means responsive to said fluid for producing high pressure geothermal steam and high pressure geothermal liquid;
• b) a back pressure steam turbine having a high pressure end and a low pressure end, said steam turbine being responsive to geothermal steam applied to said high pressure end for expanding said geothermal steam and producing electricity and expanded geothermal steam;
• c) a condensing steam turbine for further expanding said expanded geothermal steam and producing further expanded geothermal steam;
• d) a condenser/vaporizer containing an organic fluid for receiving said further expanded geothermal steam and converting it to a condensate, and for vaporizing said organic fluid;
• e) an organic vapor turbine for expanding the vaporized organic fluid produced by said condenser/vaporizer and generating electricity and expanded organic vapor;
• f) a condenser for condensing the expanded organic vapor into a liquid;
• g) means for returning said liquid to said condenser/vaporizer;
• h) a high pressure seal operatively associated with the high pressure end of said steam turbine for impeding the leakage of geothermal steam into the environment, said high pressure seal having a first internal chamber for receiving leaking geothermal steam, a further internal chamber for receiving geothermal steam leaking from said first internal chamber, and a second internal chamber arranged so that said further internal chamber is intermediate said first and second chambers;
• i) means connecting said further internal chamber of said high pressure seal to said condenser/vaporizer for effecting the conversion of leaking high pressure geothermal steam to condensate;
• and
• j) a re-injection well for receiving said condensate;
• k) heat exchanger apparatus for transferring heat contained in said geothermal fluid to clean water which is vaporized into clean, low pressure steam;
• and
• l) means for applying said clean, low pressure steam to said second chamber of said high pressure seal housing whereby said clean low pressure steam leaks into said further chamber.