System for exploiting the thermal energy at the bottom of the ocean

a technology of thermal energy and ocean bottom, which is applied in the direction of fluid removal, heating fuel, other heat production devices, etc., can solve the problem that the conventional drilling techniques at the bottom of the ocean cannot provide for the creation of deep tunnels therein

US20100275596A1Inactive Publication Date: 2010-11-04LABELLE STEPHANE
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
US · United States
Patent Type
Applications(United States)
Current Assignee / Owner
Publication Date
2010-11-04
Estimated Expiration
Not applicable · inactive patent

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Abstract

An apparatus for exploiting the thermal energy at the bottom of the ocean. The apparatus comprises a thermal energy harnessing assembly and a drilling assembly mounted thereto. The thermal energy harnessing assembly includes in-feed tube and out-feed tubes. The drilling assembly has openings in fluid communication with the in-feed tube and a thermal energy capturing conduit in fluid communication with the out-feed tube. When the drilling assembly engages a bottom surface of the ocean and fluid is introduced into the in-feed tube, fluid flows towards the drilling assembly and out of the openings at such a pressure as to drill into the bottom surface of the ocean allowing thermal energy to escape therefrom and to flow into the out-feed tube via the thermal energy capturing conduit.
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Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to systems and methods for exploiting thermal energy. More particularly, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to systems for exploiting the thermal energy at the bottom of the ocean.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Energy alternatives are pressing worldwide concerns due to climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants.

[0003] An alternative of interest is harnessing the hydrothermal energy at the bottom of the ocean by using heat sources such as volcanoes or rifts. Still more interesting is drilling into the earth at the bottom of the ocean in order to access the vast amounts of thermal energy that can be used to produce electricity among other uses.

[0004] Conventional techniques of drilling into the earth crust at the bottom of the ocean cannot provide for creating deep tunnels therein that can truly take advantage of the extremely high temperatures available and as such meet global energy...

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Embodiment Construction

General Principle

[0050]Generally stated, the present invention provides systems for producing electrical energy, hydrogen by harnessing the thermal energy at the bottom of the ocean. The foregoing is accomplished while avoiding emitting pollutants as well as dispensing any additional energy since all energy produced is re-used within the system as will be further explained herein. Depending on regional temperatures, vapor or mixtures of vapor and hot water for producing electricity, oxygen and hydrogen are available at the bottom of the ocean in large quantities. Therefore the systems provided herein harness and exploit this thermal energy.

[0051]In an embodiment, there is provided a thermally insulated elongated tube that is to be lowered into the ocean by placing its bottom end at an advantageous distance from a heat source such as a volcano or a rift for example. Like volcanoes, rifts are interesting heat sources due to their depths and abundance of heat. The aforementioned advant...