A new system and method for extracting useful work from geothermal streams is disclosed. The systems and methods of this invention can achieve an estimated 20 to 30% improvement in output efficiency. The increased efficiency is derived from a secondary energy conversion step involving a low pressure vapor stream of variable composition and a low pressure turbine, which expands the vapor stream to produce the improved efficiency.

A uranium prospecting system based on the determination of temperature anomalies in the earth's crust. The earth heat flux is measured at preselected points in shallow boreholes in order to detect heat given off as a result of radioactive decay. Localized anomalies are indicative of concentrations of radioactive materials.

A geothermal turbine comprises a turbine casing, a turbine rotor shaft, a plurality of nozzle diaphragm outer rings fixed to the turbine casing, a plurality of nozzle diaphragm inner rings located radially inside the nozzle diaphragm outer rings, a plurality of nozzles placed between the nozzle diaphragm outer rings and the nozzle diaphragm inner rings, which form a steam passage, a plurality of rotor blades mounted on the turbine rotor shaft, which face the nozzles and form a blade cascade in a...

A geothermal turbine comprises a turbine casing, a turbine rotor shaft, a plurality of nozzle diaphragm outer rings fixed to the turbine casing, a plurality of nozzle diaphragm inner rings located radially inside the nozzle diaphragm outer rings, a plurality of nozzles placed between the nozzle diaphragm outer rings and the nozzle diaphragm inner rings, which form a steam passage, a plurality of rotor blades mounted on the turbine rotor shaft, which face the nozzles and form a blade cascade in a...

A method and an apparatus are disclosed which enable conversion of geothermal energy into electrical energy using the principles of magnetohydrodynamics (MHD). A hot, electrically conductive fluid produced from a geothermal resource either naturally or by artificial means, is passed under pressure through a suitable nozzle designed to increase the kinetic energy of the fluid, and then into a MHD duct where a portion of the kinetic energy is converted into electrical energy and extracted.

A geothermal turbine for converting the energy of two-phase geothermal fluids to rotary power includes a housing having a generally cylindrical rotor chamber with a circular manifold, and a plurality of peripheral nozzles for communicating fluid to the rotor chamber, and a rotor mounted coaxially within the chamber incuding a plurality of converging overlapping blades mounted around a central hub and positioned within the rotor for engagement by fluid from the nozzles.

Hot geothermal water in liquid or vapor form rises, with the aid of a pump if necessary, in an insulated well and passes through a heat exchanger where its heat is utilized for urban heating. Subsequently, the spent water is reinjected through another well into the original geothermal body of water at a point sufficiently remote from the point at which it was extracted to prevent the cooled water from substantially lowering the temperature of the extracted water while ensuring a substantially st...

A uranium prospecting system based on the determination of temperature anomalies in the earth's crust. The earth heat flux is measured at preselected points in shallow boreholes in order to detect heat given off as a result of radioactive decay. Localized anomalies are indicative of concentrations of radioactive materials.

As geothermal steam containing contaminants such as boron, arsenic, and mercury is passed through a turbine-condenser system, the contaminants preferentially collect in the initial condensate produced from the steam. Collecting this initially-produced condensate and segregating it from the remainder of the steam being condensed ensures that condensate produced from the remainder of the steam is contaminants-lean, preferably containing the contaminants in concentrations allowing for discharge of ...

A valve of special usefulness in handling solids-containing or solids-producing fluids comprises a floating valve seat comprised of inner and outer rings, the outer ring being fixed within the valve body and the inner ring being urged directly from the outer ring by one or more springs against a gate element controlling the flow of fluids through the valve. The springs are housed within chambers provided by aligned cavities in the inner and outer rings while similarly aligned notches house a bel...