Two-concentric pipe system to heat fluids using the earth's interior thermal energy (deep)
OwnerAlberto Sarriainventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for heating fluids using the Earth's inner heat to generate power and desalinate water. Fluids include fresh water and sea water to be desalinized. The method involves passing a filtered fluid down a channel formed by two concentric tubes in a deep well defining inner and outer channels, to a depth at which the fluid reaches the needed temperature. Hot fluids pass into an inner channel and flow to surface with small heat loss, through an insulated pipe. The hot fluid may be vaporized to produce power, and returned to the system when condensed, forming a closed system, or it may be desalinize seawater in an integrated process that also produces electrical power.
Claims15
A method for heating fluids with earth's internal energy, comprising:
- passing filtered fluid down a drilled well, containing concentric inner and outer tubes that form inner and outer fluid channels, to a depth at which the fluid is heated to a specified temperature and pressure due to heat transferred from surrounding rock,
- passing the heated and pressurized fluid to the inner fluid channel through slots which are located near a lowest part of the inner fluid channel,
- passing the heated and pressurized fluid to the surface by ascending through said inner fluid channel so that the fluid allows for power generation, or for seawater desalination in an integral process with power generation,
- controlling pressure of the ascending fluid with a valve and a pump,
- controlling amplitude of horizontal vibrations of the inner tube with separators attached to an external wall of the inner tube and supports for the inner tube, said inner tube being of double walled construction filled with an insulating material
- wherein said supports for the inner tube include an electro hydraulic braking and positioning subsystem attached to the external wall of the inner tube that operates against an internal wall of the outer tube.
An apparatus for heating fluids with earth's internal energy, comprising:
- concentric inner and outer tubes which form inner and outer fluid channels for passing filtered fluid down a drilled well, to a depth at which the fluid is heated to a specified temperature and pressure due to heat transferred from surrounding rock,
- slots for passing the heated and pressurized fluid to the inner fluid channel which are located near a lowest part of the inner fluid channel,
- wherein the heated and pressurized fluid ascends to the surface through the inner fluid channel for power generation, or for seawater desalination in an integral process with power generation,
- a valve and a pump for controlling pressure of the ascending fluid,
- separators attached to an external wall of the inner tube and supports for the inner tube, that control amplitude of horizontal vibrations of the inner tube, said inner tube being of doubled walled construction filled with an insulating material,
- wherein said supports for the inner tube include an electro hydraulic braking and positioning subsystem attached to the external wall of the inner tube that operates against an internal wall of the outer tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.