A system and method for utilizing the heat energy of the effluent from a geothermal well. The system includes a surface evaporator which allows a preheated distillate, freed of impurities, to be vaporized by the heat energy of the steam and/or brine from the geothermal well. The resulting vapor is used to drive a power unit such as a multi-stage turbine. The vapor exhausted from the power unit is condensed by any of a number of conventional means. A portion of the condensate is then recycled through the system, wherein it becomes the direct contact condensing medium for the vapor produced by flashing hot geothermal brine in a multi-stage flash evaporator through which the brine and the condensate are passing countercurrently. The vapor thus condensed augments the aforesaid recycled condensate and, together, they constitute the aforementioned distillate entering the surface evaporator and carrying with it the heat energy extracted from the brine in the flash evaporator. The remainder of the condensate from the condenser may be withdrawn from the system and constitutes a product resulting from the practice of the desalination process of the invention. Residual brine is carried off from the multi-stage flash evaporator and contains retrievable salts and other valuable minerals.

Geothermally heated fluid is supplied to a nozzle of the first stage of a hydraulic turbine. The water constituent of the geothermally heated fluid is directed by the nozzle against the wheel of the hydraulic turbine to cause the wheel to rotate. A first generator is coupled to the wheel whereby rotation of the wheel results in the generation of electricity. A portion of the geothermally heated fluid passing through the nozzle flashes to a vapor phase. The vapor is delivered to the first stage of a vapor driven turbine. The vapor passes through the wheel of the turbine which results in rotation thereof. A second generator is coupled to the wheel of the vapor driven turbine whereby rotation of the wheel results in additional generation of electricity.

A power producing system includes a source of geothermally heated fluid having inorganic salts dissolved therein. The fluid is directed through a first direct contact heat exchanger in heat transfer relation with a working fluid of a type insoluble in a liquid including inorganic salts. The vaporous working fluid thus produced is expanded through a prime mover and then directed through a second direct contact heat exchanger. The vaporous fluid is condensed in said second direct contact heat exchanger by passing in heat transfer relation with a relatively cold heat exchange medium comprising a liquid brine solution. The condensed working fluid is thereafter returned to the first direct contact heat exchanger for repeated reuse in the cycle. Inorganic salts are mixed with either the geothermal heated fluid or the relatively cold heat exchange medium to maintain the percentage by weight of inorganic salt in each of the fluids above a predetermined value to prevent the working fluid from being absorbed therein.

An apparatus and method for handling a fluid stream containing gas, liquid and solid particulate matter, which fluid stream issues from a conduit at a high velocity, such as from a geothermal well during the drilling, producing, testing or treating of the well. The fluid is passed first through an expansion conduit comprising a series of axially-aligned sections of increasing cross-sectional area and then through a vertical separator for particulate matter and noxious materials. Means is provided for injecting a treating material into either the conduit leading from the well to the expansion-conduit, the expansion conduit or the vertical separator.

A system using a number of flash chambers for converting the heat energy of geothermal brine to useful work. The system uses steam from flashed brine to vaporize a portion of distilled water or distillate in one or more heat exchangers to produce steam to drive a turbine which, in turn, operates a generator or the like to produce useful work. Before the distillate reaches the heat exchanger, it is preheated as it flows through a series of flash chambers in countercurrent relationship to the flow of geothermal brine therethrough. The brine flashes in each flash chamber and the flashed vapor mixes with the distillate flowing through the flash chamber to pre-heat the distillate. The heat energy of the unvaporized part of the distillate in the heat exchanger can form additional steam which is also supplied to the turbine. The heat content of the unflashed part of the distillate can be used in several ways to heat a working fluid in a closed loop containing a second turbine. The unflashed distillate can either be directed through a second heat exchanger which also receives a second working fluid so as to heat the latter, or the unflashed distillate can be flashed and the flashed vapor is placed in heat exchange relationship to the working fluid. Condensate formed in the latter case can be used as fresh product water. Inorganic salts from the brine can also be derived from the system.