Energy is extracted from geothermal brines by direct contact with a working fluid such as isobutane which is immiscible with the brine in a geothermal boiler. The geothermal boiler provides a distributor arrangement which efficiently contacts geothermal brine with the isobutane in order to prevent the entrainment of geothermal brine in the isobutane vapor which is directed to a turbine. Accordingly the problem of brine carry-over through the turbine causes corrosion and scaling thereof is eliminated. Additionally the heat exchanger includes straightening vanes for preventing startup and other temporary fluctuations in the transitional zone of the boiler from causing brine carryover into the turbine. Also a screen is provided in the heat exchanger to coalesce the working fluid and to assist in defining the location of the transitional zone where the geothermal brine and the isobutane are initially mixed.
A compact gas-fired water heater in which a reservoir of bulk water is bath heated, indirectly by a gas burner-fired immersion tube and directly heated by mutual contact between the hot flue gases from the immersion tube outlet and feed water droplets as they pass each other in a contra-flow through apertures in a plurality of plates.
A hydro injection system for generating steam from the heat exchanged between a stream of hot combustion gases and a countercurrent flow of warm water sprays which contact hot tubes transporting the hot combustion gases is disclosed. The system comprises i. a continuous supply of hot combustion gases and means for propelling the gases through the system; ii. a continuous supply of cold water and means for warming said cold water prior to steam generation; iii. a pressure vessel means for conducting the heat exchange; and iv. a condensate receiver means for recirculating and equilibrating water in the system.
There has been invented a method for producing geothermal energy using supercritical fluids for creation of the underground reservoir, production of the geothermal energy, and for heat transport. Underground reservoirs are created by pumping a supercritical fluid such as carbon dioxide into a formation to fracture the rock. Once the reservoir is formed, the same supercritical fluid is allowed to heat up and expand, then is pumped out of the reservoir to transfer the heat to a surface power generating plant or other application.
A majority amount of a heavy hydrocarbon crude is reacted with a minor amount of brine, at supercritical temperature and pressure for the brine, for a predetermined period of time in order to upgrade and convert the heavy hydrocarbon crude into a lighter hydrocarbon crude of higher API gravity. The upgrading and conversion of a viscous heavy hydrocarbonaceous crude oil into lighter hydrocarbons is accomplished in a continuous reactor system and may be accomplished in a subterranean petroleum reservoir at supercritical temperature and pressure. The overall heat of reaction is neutral, i.e., neither exothermic nor endothermic. In order to provide the necessary temperature, heat is added to the system prior to the reaction. For an in situ application, a combustion operation may be utilized to provide the necessary temperature, and is initiated using an oxidizing gas injected through an injection well. After a predetermined amount of time, injection of the oxidizing gas is terminated and the injection well is shut-in for a predetermined period of time to permit the petroleum reservoir to undergo a soak period in order to increase the temperature and decrease the viscosity of the viscous heavy hydrocarbonaceous crude oil. As the viscosity of the heavy hydrocarbonaceous crude oil decreases, the oil flows downwardly into the combustion zone steam and/or brine is injected which is at supercritical conditions in order to upgrade the heavy hydrocarbonaceous crude oil into lighter fractions. The reaction products from a reactor or an in situ operation are also lower in obnoxious constituents such as sulfur, nitrogen and heavy metals.
