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 thr...

A geothermal energy recovery system of improved efficiency makes use of thermal energy stored in hot, solute-bearing well water as it is pumped upward to the earth's surface through an extended heat exchange element for continuously heating a downward flowing organic fluid to a supercritical state. Some of the energy of the latter fluid is used within the well for operating a turbine-driven pump for pumping the hot, solute-bearing well water at high pressure and always in liquid state to the ear...

A method for constructing structures to minimize the amount of fuel necessary to heat the structure during winter months as disclosed. The structure of this invention maximizes the heat obtainable from the earth at depths substantially below the frostline by providing a basement having a relatively thin floor of conducting or noninsulating material and walls with a maximum of reasonable insulation both in the basement level and in the living-level first floor of the structure. Grids are provided...

There is disclosed a method for recovering energy from subterranean geothermal brines and increasing geothermal well production. The method comprises establishing a column of brine in a well casing having a tubing therein, open at its lower end to the column of brine and injecting a high pressure vapor such as nitrogen or steam into the bottom of the tubing in sufficient quantities to form a mixture of brine and vapor having a substantially lesser density than the surrounding column of brine whe...

Minerals are recovered from warm geothermal brines by installing a brine eductor device such as a venturi at the end of a thermally insulated drill casing. The geothermal brine is recovered by flowing a warm, low saline carrier solution at high flow rate through the device to pick up a selected flow of brine. On entering the device the geothermal brine is diluted in an amount sufficient to preclude precipitation and scaling as the mixture flows to the surface. The flow velocity is adequate to en...

Improved methods are disclosed for the efficient and cost-effective recovery of zinc metal from zinc-containing brines. Zinc is first bound to an anionic ion exchange resin (IX) which has been equilibrated with a solution containing a reducing agent, washed, and eluted with an elution solution. A reducing agent can be added to the brine prior to loading on the IX and can optionally be added to the IX after the washing step. The eluted zinc is extracted with a water-immiscible cationic organic so...

Disclosed is a method of returning geothermal gases discharged from geothermal plants to the underground together with waste water through a return well, characterized in that the apparent velocity of waste water V.sub.eo relative to the return well is equal to or more than 1 m/s and the range of the apparent velocity of waste water V.sub.eo and of an apparent velocity of the geothermal gases V.sub.go is regulated to satisfy the following equation:

A transportation system is based on battery powered vehicles operating in an isolated geographic area within which a base electrical load during the day exceeds the normal electrical load during the night. The system is operated by generating power for the load by using a geothermal power plant that operates day and night at a substantially constant power output. The vehicles are operated during the day; and power generated by the power plant supplies the base electrical load. Recharging of the ...

A system for geothermal hydrogen production comprising feed water, an input pipe extending into the earth to a sufficient depth to acquire geothermal heat, the geothermal heat capable of raising the temperature of the feed water to change the feed water from a mostly liquid state to a mostly gaseous state, an output pipe extending up through the earth to a surface of the earth, at least one filtering device coupled to and in flow communication with the output pipe to filter the heated feed water...

A seal system for a geothermal power plant of the type having a steam turbine operating on high pressure steam produced from geothermal fluid includes a high pressure seal housing associated with the high pressure stage of the turbine. The housing has a first internal chamber for receiving geothermal steam that leaks from the high pressure stage, and a further internal chamber for receiving geothermal steam leaking from the first internal chamber. A condenser/vaporizer is provided for condensing...