Ladder-structural gravity-assisted-heat-pipe geothermal energy recovery system without liquid-accumulation effect
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gravity-assisted heat pipes used in geothermal energy recovery face reduced heat transfer efficiency when extracting deep geothermal resources due to the formation of a liquid column, which results in higher pressure and saturation temperature, preventing vaporization and leading to inefficient heat transfer.
Innovation Solution
A ladder-structural gravity-assisted-heat-pipe system without liquid-accumulation effect, featuring a heat pipe with a ladder structure, liquid-level control tubes, and wicks, where the liquid level is maintained below a certain level through liquid-level control tubes, ensuring complete wetting and preventing vaporization issues, and includes a throttling valve for flow rate regulation and level detectors to prevent liquid accumulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the liquid level in the heat pipe is increased to ensure complete wetting of the heated section, then the wetting effect is improved, but the saturation temperature of the liquid working medium increases due to higher pressure from the liquid column, preventing vaporization and reducing heat transfer efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The heat pipe is divided into multiple sections by division plates, with each section having an independent liquid level control tube. This segmentation allows each section to maintain its own liquid level independently, preventing the formation of a continuous liquid column that would increase saturation temperature, while still ensuring complete wetting of the heated section in each segment.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the heat pipe are equipped with liquid level control tubes at different heights, creating local variations in liquid level. This allows the heated sections to have sufficient liquid level for complete wetting, while non-heated or upper sections have lower liquid levels that prevent excessive pressure buildup and maintain vaporization capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the heat pipe is extended to deeper strata to exploit deep geothermal resources, then the geothermal energy recovery capability is improved, but the liquid column height increases, causing higher pressure and saturation temperature that prevent vaporization
Solution Approach 1:
The ultra-long heat pipe for deep geothermal exploitation is segmented into multiple sections by division plates, with liquid level control tubes in each section. This allows the heat pipe to extend to great depths while maintaining appropriate liquid levels in each segment, preventing the formation of a continuous liquid column that would make vaporization impossible at depth.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of controlling liquid level by a single vertical dimension, the invention introduces a multi-dimensional control system with division plates creating horizontal segmentation and vertical liquid level control tubes. This transforms the single-dimensional liquid column problem into a multi-dimensional segmented structure, enabling deep geothermal exploitation while maintaining vaporization capability.
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
This design enhances heat transfer efficiency by allowing complete wetting of the heated section, preventing vaporization failures, and maintaining efficient operation of ultra-long heat pipes, while avoiding liquid accumulation and dry burning, thus effectively exploiting deep geothermal resources.
Implementation Method 1
absorbs heat from the high-temperature rock 6 through a wall of the outer pipe 8
Implementation Method 2
vaporizes into a gaseous working medium
Implementation Method 3
the gaseous working medium gets into the inner pipe 9 and rises to the condenser 2
Implementation Method 4
the condenser 2 exchanges heat with environment to condense the gaseous working medium into the liquid working medium
Implementation Method 5
condense the gaseous working medium into the liquid working medium
Implementation Method 6
the liquid working medium in the liquid tank 3 flows through the return pipe 7 into the gravity-assisted heat pipe 1 again to circulate
Implementation Method 7
wicks 12 with a certain length are provided on an inner surface of the outer pipe 8 at an area below each division plate 10, bottoms of the wicks 12 being immersed in the liquid working medium in order to ensure the inner surface of the outer pipe 8 to be completely wetted
Data Source
AI summary
A ladder-structural gravity-assisted-heat-pipe geothermal energy recovery system without liquid-accumulation effect, comprises a ladder-structural gravity-assisted heat pipe, a condenser, and a liquid tank. The ladder-structural gravity-assisted heat pipe comprises a return pipe, an outer pipe and an inner pipe. The return pipe is provided in a space between the outer pipe and the inner pipe and communicated with the liquid tank, and the space between the outer pipe and the inner pipe is divided to form a ladder structure. A liquid working medium flows from the liquid tank through the return pipe into each section sequentially, absorbs heat from a high-temperature rock through a wall of the outer pipe, vaporizes into a gaseous working medium, gets into the inner pipe, and rises to the condenser to condense and flows to the liquid tank to circulate. Such design greatly improves the heat transfer efficiency in geothermal energy recovery using ultra-long heat pipes.