I claim:
1. A geothermal process for the production of energy including the steps of: providing a
subterranean station in communication with a vertical shaft of an underground mine and within
which a first container is located; providing a first conduit which extends vertically downward
within said shaft and which extends to said first container; causing fluid to flow downwardly
through said conduit and to flow to said first container, said fluid being at a temperature lower
than the ambient temperature at said subterranean station; causing said fluid to remain within said
first container for a period of time sufficient for said fluid to be heated by geothermal action;
providing a second conduit which extends from said first container to another station at which the
ambient temperature is at or lower than that at said subterranean station; causing said heated fluid
to flow from said first container to said other station; and extracting thermal energy from said
heated fluid at said other station.
2. The geothermal process of claim 1 further including the step of isolating said fluid within
said first and second conduits and said first container in order to prevent said fluid from
contacting any earth which surrounds said subterranean station and said first and second conduits.
3. The geothermal process of claim 1 further including the step of providing a number of
subterranean tunnels which extend outwardly from said subterranean station; providing a third conduit which extends from said container through said tunnels and in which said fluid flows such
that said fluid circulates through the tunnels in order to cause the fluid to be heated by the internal
heat of the earth surrounding the tunnels.
4. The geothermal process of claim 3 including the step of providing a plurality of loops in
said third conduit and locating each said loop in a separate said tunnel, each said loop being in
liquid flow relationship with each other and arranged such that said liquid flows through each said
loop in succession commencing at a first said loop and ending at a last said loop.
5. A geothermal process for the production of energy including the steps of: providing a
subterranean station in communication with a vertical shaft of an underground mine and within
which a first container is located; providing a first conduit which extends vertically downward
within said shaft and which extends to said first container; causing water to flow downwardly
through said conduit and to flow to said first container, said water being at a temperature lower
than the ambient temperature at said subterranean station; causing said water to remain within said
first container for a period of time sufficient for said water to be heated by geothermal action;
providing a second conduit which extends from said first container to another station at which the
ambient temperature is at or lower than that at said subterranean station; causing said heated water
to flow from said first container to said other station; and extracting thermal energy from said
heated water at said other station.
6. The geothermal process of claim 5 further including the step of providing a number of subterranean tunnels which extend outwardly from said subterranean station; providing a third conduit which extends from said container through said tunnels and in which said water flows
such that said water circulates through the tunnels in order to cause the water to be heated by the internal heat of the earth surrounding the tunnels.
7. A geothermal process for the production of energy including the steps of: providing a
subterranean station in communication with a vertical shaft of an underground mine and within
which a first container is located; providing a first conduit which extends vertically downward
within said shaft and which extends to said first container; causing air to flow downwardly
through said conduit and to flow to said first container, said air being at a temperature lower than
the ambient temperature at said subterranean station; causing said air to remain within said first
container for a period of time sufficient for said air to be heated by geothermal action; providing a
second conduit which extends from said first container to another station at which the ambient
temperature is at or lower than that at said subterranean station; causing said heated air to flow
from said first container to said other station; and extracting thermal energy from said heated air at
said other station.
8. The geothermal process of claim 7 further including the step of providing a number of
subterranean tunnels which extend outwardly from said subterranean station; providing a third
conduit which extends from said container through said tunnels and in which said air flows such
that said air circulates through the tunnels in order to cause the air to be heated by the internal heat
of the earth surrounding the tunnels. |
Title of the Invention
HEAT RECOVERY FROM GEOTHERMAL SOURCE
Field of the Invention
This invention relates to geothermal processes and more particularly to a process which
involves passing fluids such as water and other liquids as well as compressed air through a
number of subterranean openings in order to raise the temperature of such fluids by the internal
heat of the earth surrounding the openings after which the thermal energy from such fluids is
harnessed. The thermal energy is harnessed in a number of different ways. The heated fluid can,
for example, be used to heat structures such as factories, office buildings and houses. Where the
fluid is water, the water can be preheated geothermally in the first step of a multi-step heating
process for the production of steam. The steam can be used to drive a steam turbine for the
generation of electricity, for heating buildings and for other purposes.
Background of the Invention
It is well known that the temperature of fluids can be raised by means of geothermal
energy from the heat of the earth. The temperature of earth rises with increasing depth from the
surface and the temperature of liquids likewise rises as the depth of their surroundings under¬
ground increases. When the liquid is extracted from the earth, its thermal energy can be harnessed in ways that depend upon the depth at which the liquid is situated. For example, water at a depth of about 2.5 km, is generally in the form of steam. In areas of volcanic activity and thermal
springs, steam occurs at considerably lesser depths. The steam when extracted from the earth can be injected directly onto the blades of a turbine in order to drive a generator.
Liquid is conventionally heated geothermally by causing it to flow downward from the
surface of the earth through a bore hole to a predetermined depth. The heated liquid is then
returned to the earth's surface through another bore hole. The cost of drilling two such bore holes
is considerable. Moreover, while the liquid is at that depth, it frequently combines with sub¬
stances such as silica and soluble minerals. Such minerals contaminate the liquid and must be
removed before the thermal energy from the liquid can be harnessed. The cost of decontaminat¬
ing the heated liquid is considerable and that cost as well as the cost of drilling the bore holes are
major deterrents to the widespread substitution of geothermal energy for energy produced by
conventional means such as the combustion of oil and natural gas.
I have found that fluids can be heated geothermally without the necessity of drill holes and
decontaminants. Fluids can flow between the earth's surface and sites beneath the surface through
conduits located in the vertical shafts of underground mines. Such shafts are conventionally
provided for hoisting ore to the surface for transport to a smelter or chemical extractor and for
cages for transporting miners to and from the excavations underground.
There is no necessity to drill bore holes for the fluid which is to be heated geothermally.
Containers for the fluid while it is being heated geothermally can be installed in openings at the
bottom of the shafts. The fluid is accordingly isolated from the earth during the period of time that
it flows through conduits such as pipes downward from the earth's surface, while it is being
heated geothermally and while it returns to the surface. The fluid is never in contact with the
surrounding earth. There is therefore no necessity to decontaminate the heated fluid
Summary of the Invention
The process of my invention can conveniently be carried out in existing underground
mines, preferably in abandoned ones. Such mines generally have vertical shafts that extend
sufficiently far underground that there is a significant increase in the temperature at the bottom of
the shafts over that at the top of the shafts. Conduits through which liquids can travel to and from
the surface of the earth and the bottom of the mine can conveniently be located in the shafts.
Furthermore mines generally have caverns, stopes and other openings at the bottom of their shafts
which can contain numerous banks of conduits. Such conduits have sufficient capacity to
accommodate liquids for the period of time required for their temperature to increase to ambient
temperature.
Since the process of my invention is carried out in an underground mine, no holes need be
bored to accommodate conduits nor large underground openings need be excavated. The cost of
carrying out the process is accordingly significantly lower than conventional processes where such
bore holes and underground openings need be constructed.
Briefly, one of the ways in which the geothermal processes of my invention is carried out involves the steps of: providing a subterranean station in communication with a vertical shaft of
an underground mine and within which a first container is located; providing a first conduit which
extends vertically downward within the shaft and which extends to the first container; causing
fluid to flow downwardly through the conduit and to flow to the first container, the fluid being at
a temperature lower than the ambient temperature at the subterranean station; causing the fluid to
remain within the first container for a period of time sufficient for the fluid to be heated by
geothermal action; providing a second conduit which extends from the first container to another
station at which the ambient temperature is at or lower than that at the subterranean station;
causing the heated fluid to flow from the first container to the other station; and extracting thermal
energy from the heated fluid at the other station.
The above-described geothermal process can be modified by providing a number of sub¬
terranean openings which extend outwardly from the subterranean station. The fluid is caused to
circulate through the openings in order to cause the fluid to be heated by the internal heat of the
earth surrounding the openings. The openings may be drill holes of relatively small diameter or
they may be existing stopes, openings or caverns.
Description of the Drawing
The geothermal processes of my invention are described with reference to the drawing in
which:
Figure 1 shows schematically, the components used to carry out one of the processes of
my invention; and
Figure 2 shows schematically a subterranean station where the fluid is heated by
geothermal means.
Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the description of the drawing.
Description of the Preferred Steps of the Process
With reference to Figure 1, water at ambient temperature is collected at an upper station 12
which may be on the surface of the earth or near the surface. The water flows downward through a
conduit 13, located within a vertical mine shaft of an underground mine. The water flows to a first
container 14 located within a subterranean station 15. The ambient temperature at the subterran¬
ean station is higher than the ambient temperature at the upper station.
The water remains within the first container for a period of time sufficient for the water to
be heated by geothermal action. A second conduit 16 extends from the first container upwardly
through the mine shaft to a second container 17 at a second station 18. That station is on the
surface of the earth. The heated water in the first container is pumped to the second station
through the second conduit 16.
With reference to Figure 2, the subterranean station 15 is a stope or other hollow chamber
from which a number of openings or tunnels 20a,b .. extend. Third conduits 22 extend outwardly
from the container. The third conduits are in the form of loops and extend from the container,
continue to the outer end 24 of each tunnel and return to the same or a second container. As the
water flows first outwardly and into the tunnels and then inwardly, it is heated by the internal heat
of the earth surrounding the tunnels. Water within the returning portions of the conduits is recombined in the container.
The foregoing process serves to preheat the water for use at the second station.
As previously indicated, the stream of preheated water is pumped upward through conduit
16 to second container 17 located within upper station 18 which may or may not be the same as
station 12. The preheated water flows through a conduit 34 from the second container to a third
container 38 where it is further heated by conventional means such as by gas or electricity to a
temperature at which it converts to steam. The steam drives a conventional turbine 40 for the
production of electrical power.
The preheated water, whether further heated in tank 38 or not, can also be used as a source
of heat for heating structures such as factories, office buildings and houses on the surface of the
earth.
It should be noted that the water throughout the foregoing process is isolated in conduits
13, 16 and in container 14 and does not contact the walls of the stope, hollow chamber or tunnels
underground. The water therefore is not contaminated by the minerals, salts and other substances
in the subterranean walls
Air instead of water can be heated by the same geothermal process described above. To
this end and with reference again to Figure 1 , air is compressed by means of a conventional air compressor located at upper station 12 and the compressed air flows downward through conduit
13 to a manifold 14. The manifold separates the compressed air into separate streams and directs
each stream into a separate conduit 22a,b,c... in which the air is heated geothermally. The heated
compressed air within the returning segments of the conduits is recombined in the manifold.
The compressed air can be returned to the upper station 18 and further heated to increase its
pressure sufficiently to drive turbine 40. The turbine may of course be located elsewhere on the
earth's surface or it can be located underground in a subterranean station
The water, rather than being separated into separate streams, can be in one stream which
passes through each loop 22 in turn. In such case, the loops are connected in series so that the
water which exits from one loop enters the next loop in succession.
The fluids mentioned in the foregoing description are water and air. Other liquids and
gases can be used. The suitability of one fluid over another under differing conditions is well
known to persons skilled in the art.
It will be understood, of course, that modifications can be made in the processes of the
subject invention without departing from the scope and purview of the invention as defined in the
appended claims.