Modular mobile heat generation unit for generation of geothermal power in organic Rankine cycle operations

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11933280-B2
Application number	US-202318161261-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 30, 2023
Priority date	Apr 2, 2021
Publication date	Mar 19, 2024
Grant date	Mar 19, 2024

Abstract

Systems and methods for generating electrical power in an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) operation include one or more heat exchangers incorporated into mobile heat generation units, and which will receive a heated fluid flow from one or more heat sources, and transfer heat therefrom to a working fluid that is circulated through an ORC unit for generation of power. In embodiments, the mobile heat generation units comprise pre-packaged modules with one or more heat exchangers connected to a pump of a recirculation system, including an array of piping, such that each mobile heat generation unit can be transported to the site and installed as a substantially stand-alone module or heat generation assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system to generate power in an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) operation, the system comprising:
at least one ORC unit configured to generate electrical power; and
at least one mobile heat generation unit in fluid communication with the at least one ORC unit and configured to operate with one or more heat sources, including at least a wellhead fluid source, supplying a high pressure or high temperature fluid to the at least one mobile heat generation unit, the at least one mobile heat generation unit configured as a transportable module and including:
a frame having a chamber therein,
at least one heat exchanger mounted within the chamber and configured to connect to at least one of the one or more heat sources,
one or more valves positioned between the at least one heat exchanger and the at least one of the one or more heat sources,
a fluid recirculation system at least partially located within the chamber and comprising:
a fluid intake conduit coupled to a return line in fluid communication with the at least one ORC unit to receive a working fluid,
a fluid outlet conduit configured to couple to a heated fluid supply line in fluid communication with the at least one ORC unit to supply the working fluid thereto,
a pump connected to the fluid intake conduit and configured to pump the working fluid received through the fluid intake conduit, and
a piping array including (a) a first section of piping extending between the pump and the at least one heat exchanger to supply the working fluid to the at least one heat exchanger, and (b) a second section of piping extending between the at least one heat exchanger and the fluid outlet conduit, so that as the working fluid passes along the piping array and through the at least one heat exchanger, heat from the high pressure or high temperature fluid supplied to the at least one heat exchanger from the one or more heat sources transfers to the working fluid so as to heat the working fluid, and

a controller connected to the frame and having programming configured to:
monitor a pressure of the high pressure or high temperature fluid upstream of the one or more valves and to actuate the one or more valves to enable flow therethrough in response to the pressure of the high pressure or high temperature fluid being below a threshold, and
monitor temperature, pressure, or a combination thereof of the working fluid passing along a fluid recirculation loop defined between the mobile heat generation unit and the at least one ORC unit and to regulate flow of the working fluid through the at least one heat exchanger for transfer of heat from the flow of the high pressure or high temperature fluid to the working fluid for supply to the at least one ORC unit.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one mobile heat generation unit includes at least two heat exchangers configured to extract heat from a compressed gas, a heated exhaust gas, a heated liquid, or combination thereof.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one mobile heat generation unit further comprises an air separator positioned along the second section of piping and configured to remove particulates from the working fluid.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one mobile heat generation unit further comprises a plurality of cover panels positioned along portions of the frame, so as to substantially enclose the chamber, wherein at least one or more of the plurality of cover panels is configured to be removable from the frame to enable access to the chamber, and wherein one or more of the cover panels along the an upper portion of the frame are removable to enable removal and replacement of the at least one heat exchanger.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one mobile heat generation unit further comprises an expansion tank located in fluid communication with the first section of piping, and wherein the controller includes programming configured to regulate flow of the working fluid into the expansion tank so as to reduce the pressure of the working fluid.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one mobile heat generation unit has a length of between approximately 15 feet to approximately 20 feet, and wherein the chamber of the frame comprises a plurality of quadrants including at least a first quadrant defining a control cabinet housing the controller and a second quadrant defining a working area in which the at least one heat exchanger and the fluid recirculation system are located.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a power and data connection extending between the at least one ORC unit and the at least one mobile heat generation unit for transmission of power and data between the at least one ORC unit and the at least one mobile heat generation unit, wherein the controller comprises a first controller, and wherein the at least one ORC unit includes a second controller, the first controller of the at least one mobile heat generation unit being in communication with the second controller of the at least one ORC unit.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one mobile heat generation unit further comprises a backup power system configured to supply power to the controller, and wherein the controller is configured to open one or more drainage valves for release of the working fluid from the fluid recirculation system upon detection of a loss of power from a direct power supply.

9. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a pipeline configured to receive the high pressure or high temperature fluid from a wellhead, wherein the at least one mobile heat generation unit includes:
a first heat exchanger in fluid communication with the pipeline at a first point such that the first heat exchanger is configured to transfer heat from the high pressure or high temperature fluid to the working fluid; and
a second heat exchanger in fluid communication with the pipeline at a second point that is downstream from the first point such that the second heat exchanger is configured to transfer heat from the working fluid to the high pressure or high temperature fluid.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one heat exchanger is mounted within the chamber at an elevated position adjacent an upper portion of the frame.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the threshold comprises about 15,000 pounds per square inch (PSI).

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one heat exchanger comprises a fluidic path therethrough for the high pressure or high temperature fluid, and wherein the fluidic path comprises an anti-corrosive material or an anti-corrosive coating.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the high pressure or high temperature fluid includes a hydrocarbon fluid received from the wellhead fluid source at a pressure of at least about 2,000 PSI.

14. A system to generate geothermal power, the system comprising:
at least one mobile heat generation unit; and
one or more conduits configured to divert a flow of heated fluid from one or more heat sources to the at least one mobile heat generation unit,
the at least one mobile heat generation unit including:
a pair of heat exchangers mounted at elevated positions adapted to facilitate access,
a pump configured to pump a flow of a working fluid through the heat exchangers,
a first fluid path extending through the heat exchangers and along which the flow of heated fluid is received from at least one of the one or more conduits and is directed through the heat exchangers,
a second fluid path extending through the heat exchangers and along which the flow of the working fluid directed through the heat exchangers

Assignees

• Ice Thermal Harvesting Llc

Inventors

• Bodishbaugh Adrian Benjamin
• Murtland Carrie Jeanne

Classifications

• F03G7/045 Primary

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