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US 7,124,583 B2Granted
Geothermal power generator
AssigneeBorealis Technical Limited
InventorNicholas Andrew Rider
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A Geothermal Power Generator which includes apparatus and method for the in-situ recovery of geothermal energy using thermionic or thermotunnelling converters. These are diode devices which produce electricity when a temperature gradient is applied across them. The electricity thus produced in a downhole environment is conducted to the surface where it can be used as an effective electrical source.
Claims12
An apparatus for generating electricity in a downhole environment comprising:
- (a) a vessel filled with a thermally conductive fluid having a first surface in thermal contact with a geothermal heat source,
- (b) one or more thermionic or thermotunnelling converters having a first surface in thermal contact with a second surface of said vessel and a second surface thermally connected to a source of cool water
- (c) said vessel having a funnel shape with a large open bottom end to let a circulation system to draw hot water into and through the vessel, the second and subsequent surfaces of said vessel comprising a thermally insulating material excluding said sections of said surfaces to which said thermionic or thermotunnelling converters are attached.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.