Power plants – Utilizing natural heat – Geothermal
Patent
1976-11-15
1978-10-17
Ostrager, Allen M.
Power plants
Utilizing natural heat
Geothermal
60660, 60670, F03G 700
Patent
active
041201582
ABSTRACT:
A process for the conversion of geothermal heat energy into electrical power by advantageously combining direct and indirect heat exchange systems and other systems to maximize the power production is presented herein. More specifically, a process and system is presented for the utilization of geothermal heat from flashed geothermal hot fluids composed of hot liquid and vapor. The heat from the hot liquid is advantageously exchanged with a working fluid in a direct contact heat exchanger, while the hot geothermal vapor is used in a boiler for heating, boiling and vaporizing the working fluid. The vaporized working fluid thus formed is fed into a power extraction device which may advantageously form a liquid mist upon expansion. The working fluid vapor is then condensed at the exhaust side of the power extraction device, and returned to the direct contact heat exchanger, thus closing the power cycle. The internal pressure inside the direct contact heat exchanger is carefully controlled to suppress boiling in the direct contact heat exchanger. The operating pressure of the boiler is also carefully controlled to fully evaporate the working fluid by condensing a portion or all the hot geothermal vapors. The direct contactor has a plurality of processing zones including a heat transfer zone, one or more separation zones for separating both liquids and solids, a precipitation zone, and a wash zone. In the heat exchanger zone and the precipitation zone, there is advantageously included precipitation trays vertically spaced for allowing salt precipitation without interfering with a secondary or the working fluid flow. The wash zone is advantageously equipped with a wash tray where the liquid secondary fluid can be scrubbed with water.
The process also provides for removal of non-condensable gases normally present in the geothermal fluid by converting some salt solution or brine electrochemically into an absorbing solution that can be used to absorb the non-condensables from the geothermal vapors.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2927428 (1960-03-01), Sala
patent: 3282048 (1966-11-01), Murphy
patent: 3364125 (1968-01-01), Switzek
patent: 3379248 (1968-04-01), Stange
patent: 3845627 (1974-11-01), Hutchinson
patent: 3862545 (1975-01-01), Ellis
patent: 3988895 (1976-11-01), Sheinbaum
patent: 4044830 (1977-08-01), Huisen
Jessup Warren T.
Ostrager Allen M.
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