Prime-mover dynamo plants – Miscellaneous – Drive gearing
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-21
2001-07-10
Waks, Joseph (Department: 2834)
Prime-mover dynamo plants
Miscellaneous
Drive gearing
C290S002000, C060S641200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06259165
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to electric power generation, and in particular, electric power generation utilizing geothermal heat sources.
BACKGROUND OF RELATED ART
There are many known methods of using the heat of the earth, i.e., geothermal power, to produce electricity. Most methods, however, require expensive maintenance and are limited in that they produce environmental pollution, degrade the geothermal source and/or geographical location of the geothermal resource. Among the restraints that create the high costs of maintenance are the conditions of the geothermal resource, which often contains hydrochloric acid, sulphuric acid and/or nitric acid, all in the form of vapors or fumes that eat away at the materials used to harness the energy. A geothermal unit desired to last for an extended period of time typically includes a closed loop system, that is, a system that processes its internal media, usually water, from a gaseous state (steam) back to a liquid state in a continuing cycle. However, such a closed loop system has the problem of molecular mass growth of mineral or metallic matter that increases in volume over time. Although the water used in a closed system starts out inert, the carbon dioxide, and all minerals being removed, the continuing action of “molecular drag” of the water being forced through the system in its two basic states, water and steam, and enduring the many cycles of that transformation over time foments the environment under which this “molecular drag” takes place. When the molecular mass grows sufficiently, it becomes damaging to the working parts of the system and can be fatal to the turbine if it strikes the turbine blades at high pressure or high speed. It may also lock up the valves, gates and pumps of the power system.
Many methods use additional water that is pumped down into the geothermal source which is then heated by the geothermal source and either pumped back to the thermal jackets of the turbine boilers or returned of its own accord under pressure of contact with the geothermal source.
Conventional installations are costly and ponderous in size. Geothermal units also create environmental pollution by emitting gases that are brought to the surface, or by producing contaminated water that has been pumped from the geothermal source. The contaminated water is sometimes eliminated by forming surface ponds that contaminate the soil, or by diverting the runoff into ocean or waterways. In some systems, contaminated steam is dispersed into the atmosphere. Moreover, surface operations are highly noise polluting.
During the generation of electricity by coal or gas burning units, gas may be emitted and create “acid rain”. This “acid rain” drifts with the prevailing winds and causes devastation to forests, rivers and the landscape. Similarly, for the average power plant, the area that must be cleared is very large. Additionally, there is a great deal of waste in power plants, such as steam turbines powered by gas, oil, or coal as most in use today require water streams of 500 or more gallons per minute to function, especially that use heat recovery generating systems (HRGSs). That water is usually dumped after use, typically downstream into a river or tributary at a temperature harmful to the ecosystem.
Waste is also generated by the continual usage of parts that must constantly be changed. These parts usually are discarded as they generally are not repairable. This creates yet another source of pollution. Of course, all fossil-fuel plants consume an irreplaceable resource, namely fossil fuel.
One of the more costly segments of conventional power installations is the manpower required to construct and operate the same. In particular, the electrical cable installations within the units are often subject to relatively high temperatures. Such environments lead to required changes of the wiring harness from time to time so as to keep the insulation from getting charred or brittle over time.
Additionally, because there is no harmonic synchronization between boiler and condensers, most power plants do not re-condense the steam to water, but rather discharge the steam. Those power plants that do recondense the steam to water have a myriad of pumps and valves that require a great amount of power for operation. The required power is often taken from what is generated thus lessening the amount of power available to be sold.
It can therefore be appreciated why most power systems are still not efficient and are still a pollution problem.
If power is to be made more affordable then it should also be made as safe as possible, non-polluting, immediately renewable, and reasonably limited in the amount of space and materials consumed. Moreover, it should be dependable for long periods of time and simple to supervise, manage and control.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention may provide a system for the supply of electrical energy by harnessing the geothermal temperatures that can be found in various depths in the Earth's crust.
The present invention, also referred to herein as “power tube,” is preferably designed as a self monitoring, low maintenance device, providing uninterrupted service for a minimum five years. The unit preferably is silent, non-polluting and may be replaced in approximately six and one half hours with another one of equal power when its service cycle is reached. The system is preferably modular combining four separate sections all of which preferably are controlled by an electronic processor/computer that maintains the flow of internal fluids through the phase changes of liquid-to-steam-to-liquid. With such phase changes and in conjunction with the “harmonic matching”, the energy necessary to keep a turbine in motion may be provided. The turbine may be preferably fastened to a generator that ultimately produces electricity.
The system preferably includes four modules that are linked in interlocking order. The modules can be interchanged with other modules of higher or lesser capacity depending on the application and thermal resource available. Several joined modules may be used to increase the output of a total system. The main four modules may include: (1) the matched harmonic boiler, (2) the matched harmonic condenser, (3) the single speed tuned turbine, and (4) the brushless generator. Other support systems may include a matched harmonic expansion tank and flash cooling system that serve to accelerate the condensing of steam back into liquid and the cooling of a lubricating system that runs through the power tube structure interlocking to form a closed lubricating circuit when the modules are fastened together.
Still, a further object of the present invention may be to include an acoustic compression sound wave system to provide the down hole refrigeration and flash cooling in the condensing area and oil cooling reservoir. This may lessen the use of power systems developed power in the case of the 10 Mw, thereby reducing the need for a 60 Hp compressor=45 Kw (typical for prior art systems) for refrigeration purposes down to 5 Hp=3.5 Kw which is a savings difference of 41.5 Kw.
Yet another object of the present invention may be to harness data generated by the various sensors and indicators and transfer said data to a remote control center where the internal operations of each system as installed can be monitored. This may provide a real time analysis of every unit installed world wide. The data from each unit may be up-linked to an orbiting space satellite service facility and relayed to the central control center.
Still another object of the present invention may be to provide world wide seismic data flow to subscribers from the power tube installations around the world that may emanate from a six axis seismic sensor within power tubes. The sensor may work on an independent power supply so that after seismic activity reaches a level that triggers a complete protective shut down for the power tube, the seismic signals continue to provide seismic data through the uplink satellite ne
Antonelli Terry Stout & Kraus LLP
Power Tube, Inc.
Waks Joseph
LandOfFree
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