Pumpable Thermally Conductive Grout with Delayed Setting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional grout compositions used in geothermal wells fail to efficiently transfer high heat energy due to premature setting at extreme temperatures, rendering them unsuitable for power generation, and lack sufficient thermal conductivity to effectively harness geothermal energy.
Innovation Solution
A high-thermal conductivity grout composition comprising a cementitious material, a retarder, and a high-thermal k material, which allows for pumpable slurry deployment and delayed setting at extreme temperatures, enhancing thermal conductivity to at least 1 W/m° K upon hardening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional grout mixtures are used at extreme temperatures, then the grout sets prematurely, but this prevents proper placement at target location
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical parameters of the grout composition by incorporating specific retarders and admixtures that alter the setting characteristics. These chemical parameter changes enable the grout to maintain workability at extreme temperatures while controlling the setting time to allow proper placement at the target location.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite grout formulation by combining conventional grout materials with specially selected retarders, admixtures, and thermal conductive materials. This composite approach allows the grout to simultaneously achieve extended workability at high temperatures, proper setting control, and enhanced thermal conductivity for power generation applications.
2Power
If thermal conductive materials are added to increase thermal conductivity, then heat transfer efficiency improves, but the grout becomes less pumpable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the particle size distribution, shape, and concentration parameters of thermal conductive materials to maximize thermal conductivity while minimizing impact on rheology. By carefully controlling these parameters and combining them with appropriate admixtures, the grout maintains pumpability despite the inclusion of thermal conductive additives.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent distributes thermal conductive materials non-uniformly within the grout matrix, concentrating them in regions where thermal transfer is most critical while maintaining a more fluid matrix structure for pumpability. This local optimization allows different regions of the grout to have different functional properties.
3Power
If grout composition is designed for high thermal conductivity, then heat energy transfer improves, but the grout sets prematurely at extreme temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent develops a composite formulation that integrates thermal conductive materials with chemically modified grout components including retarders and admixtures. This composite structure allows the grout to achieve high thermal conductivity for effective heat energy transfer while the chemical modifications prevent premature setting at extreme temperatures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses retarders and admixtures as intermediary substances that mediate between the thermal conductive materials and the cementitious matrix. These intermediaries allow the thermal conductive materials to be incorporated without triggering premature setting, enabling both high heat energy transfer and controlled setting behavior.
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 composition enables efficient heat transfer and heat harvesting in geothermal wells, increasing thermal energy capture and revenue generation by maintaining workability and conductivity under extreme conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a retarder, the workability of the grout composition is improved from the use of a retarder that allows for the placement of the grout in the wells, even under extreme temperature conditions
Implementation Method 2
a high-thermal k material... the grout mixture has, upon setting at a target location, a thermal conductivity of at least 1 W/m° K
Data Source
AI summary
A high-thermal conductivity grout composition is provided. The composition includes a grout mixture including a cementitious material, a retarder, and a high-thermal k material that advantageously can form a pumpable slurry upon admixture with water. The retarder is present in an amount effective that delays setting of the grout mixture at a target location having a geostatic target temperature of at least 300° F. for at least two hours. The high-thermal k material is present in an amount effective such that the grout mixture has, upon setting at the target location, a thermal conductivity of at least 1 W/m° K.