Geothermal Binary Cycle System with Series Power Assemblies
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional geothermal power plants are inefficient in utilizing the available geothermal heat, failing to maximize energy conversion and often deplete natural resources with significant environmental impact.
Innovation Solution
A closed-loop binary cycle geothermal energy generator system that utilizes geothermal heat to convert a working medium of CO2 and H2O into steam, employing a medium preparation subsystem for cooling and carbonation, and a power generating subsystem with multiple assemblies in series to optimize heat utilization and energy production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional geothermal plants use heated medium to drive turbines, then power generation is achieved, but energy conversion efficiency is insufficient and available heat is not fully utilized
Solution Approach 1:
The power generation process is divided into multiple sequential stages using three separate power generating assemblies (primary, secondary, tertiary) arranged in series. Each assembly extracts energy at different temperature levels, segmenting the heat utilization process to maximize overall efficiency and prevent energy waste.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous useful action by passing the heated working medium through multiple power generating assemblies in sequence. Each assembly continuously extracts energy from the medium as it flows through, ensuring that the heat energy is utilized throughout its entire temperature gradient rather than being wasted after a single use.
2Productivity
If geothermal plants extract heat from underground reservoirs, then energy production increases, but natural resources are depleted and environmental harm occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the physical parameters of the working medium by cooling it to predetermined temperatures in the medium preparation subsystem before carbonation. This parameter control allows the medium to be reused efficiently in the closed loop, maintaining high energy production while minimizing environmental impact through controlled, repeatable thermal cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discarding the heated medium after a single use, the system recovers it and reprocesses it through cooling and recarbonation. The working medium is recovered and prepared for another cycle, enabling continuous energy production from the same geothermal source without depleting natural resources or causing environmental harm.
3Productivity
If geothermal plants use simple single-stage power generation, then device complexity is low, but energy conversion is not maximized
Solution Approach 1:
The power generating system is segmented into three distinct assemblies (primary, secondary, tertiary) that process the working medium at different stages. This segmentation enables maximum energy conversion by capturing energy at multiple temperature levels, while each individual assembly remains relatively simple in design.
Solution Approach 2:
The same working medium serves multiple functions by passing through all three power generating assemblies in sequence. Each assembly performs a similar power generation function but at different temperature stages, making the system multi-functional without requiring fundamentally different technologies for each stage.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively maximizes energy conversion from geothermal heat, reducing environmental impact by recycling the working medium and minimizing resource consumption, achieving efficient power generation with a continuous supply of energy.
Implementation Method 1
a medium preparation subsystem that cools recycled working medium to a predetermined temperature
Implementation Method 2
The cooled working medium is selectively fed to a carbonation subsystem that permits gas to dissolve into the liquid at the predetermined temperature
Implementation Method 3
The carbonated working medium flows through a heat exchange pipe section in the geothermal heat well to produce high pressure steam and gas or hot medium
Implementation Method 4
flows through a heat exchange pipe section in the geothermal heat well to produce high pressure steam
Implementation Method 5
The hot medium passes through a power generating subsystem containing a primary power generating assembly, a secondary power generating assembly, and a tertiary power generating assembly arranged in series to maximize usage of heat from the working medium and produce energy
Data Source
AI summary
The geothermal energy generator system is a closed loop, binary cycle power generating plant that utilizes heat from a geothermal heat well to convert a working medium of gas, e.g., CO2, and liquid, e.g., H2O, into steam to produce energy. The geothermal energy generator system includes a medium preparation subsystem that cools recycled working medium to a predetermined temperature. The cooled working medium is selectively fed to a carbonation subsystem permitting the gas to dissolve into the liquid at the predetermined temperature. The carbonated working medium flows through a heat exchange pipe section in the geothermal heat well to produce high pressure steam and gas or hot medium. The hot medium passes through a power generating subsystem containing a primary power generating assembly, a secondary power generating assembly, and a tertiary power generating assembly arranged in series to maximize usage of heat from the working medium and produce energy.