RU2552240C2 - Method to build underground evaporation systems in high-temperature layers of terrestrial rocks for thermal power plants - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: construction.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to construction of hydrothermal power plants, using thermal energy in deep layers of earth interior. The method to build underground evaporation systems in high-temperature layers of terrestrial rock includes the following: development of a system of evaporation cavities in an end section of a deep well by method of rock melting with a melting plant, and also use of an evaporation plant installed in the area of evaporation cavities instead of the melting plant, supplying fresh or sea water into evaporation cavities, where water sprayed onto hot surfaces of cavities turns into superheated high pressure steam and temperature, arriving to a turbogenerator producing power, and after steam condensation used to heat building with desalinated hot water. Concentrated residue of sea water after its evaporation may serve as raw material for chemical industry in order to extract precious rare chemical elements from them.

EFFECT: provides for waste-free and harmless production of cheap power, production of fresh water from sea water with the possibility of full automation of technological processes.

24 dwg

Description

The method of building underground evaporation systems in high-temperature layers of the earth’s rock is based on the method of smelting the rock in these layers, creating large voids in them, connected by boreholes to the earth’s surface. The process of drilling a tunneling complex in hard layers of the earth described invention No. 2011111803/20.

The invention relates to the field of construction of hydrothermal power plants using thermal energy in the deep layers of the Earth's bowels.

The aim of the invention is the use of free thermal energy of these evaporative systems to produce high temperature and high pressure water vapor, which subsequently flows to generate electricity. The method of construction of underground evaporation systems is as follows.

At the first stage of construction, a deep well of the required diameter is drilled in hard rock layers with a high internal temperature of the Earth.

In the final section of the well, where the temperature of the rock is high enough, create a chain of cavities sequentially located in the depth of the well by smelting. To prevent destruction of the well as a result of collapse or shedding of rock in some places, lining is carried out by installing a lining pipe made of durable material inside it. The well lining is carried out sequentially from top to bottom over the entire depth of the well in separate sections. In addition, the lining of the well can serve as an important element for transporting goods in the well using a special transport device. Then, using an evaporation device lowered into the cavity zone and fixed in the well, fresh or sea water supplied from the surface of the earth is sprayed. Water falling on the hot surface of the rock quickly evaporates, and under internal pressure in the cavities, the steam rises through the steam pipe installed in the well to the surface of the earth, where it is sent to a steam turbine with an electric generator that generates electricity.

Figure 1 shows a General view of the well (section). Figure 2 shows a view A of figure 1. Support rings 1 are pre-installed inside the well within the well. The support rings are fixedly installed at a certain distance from each other, filling the gap between them and the surface of the well with a cementing composition.

Smelting cavities is carried out using a melting unit (figure 3). The melting unit consists of a drain cylinder 2, in the upper part of which there are branch channels with shutters 3 and sliding half rings 4, with which the melting unit is held inside the support rings of the well. A housing with double side walls is inserted inside the drain cylinder 2. In the inner cavity B of the housing, a movable outlet pipe 6. is moved. The housing and the outlet pipe have side holes B that are aligned with each other when the outlet pipe is moved to its highest position. In the lower part of the casing there are lateral openings G, through which compressed air is supplied into the cavity between the pipe and the casing. In the lower part of the drain cylinder, movable rod-tubes 7 are installed, which rotate in different directions, through which combustible gases flow to the gas burners 8, fixed at the ends of these pipes. A cover 10 is suspended from the melting unit on the cables of pos. 9.

The operation of the melting unit is shown in figure 4 and figure 5. Figure 4 shows the process of smelting a cavity in a well by a smelter. Figure 5 shows the process of removing the melt from the cavity. The melting unit is lowered into the well passed to the most recent (lower) section of the well (Fig. 4). The outer diameter of the unit is fixed inside the support rings 1 by sliding half rings 4. At the same time, the intervals of the borehole, between which separate cavities are melted, are successively closed by a cover 10 (Figs. 4 and 5), blocking the borehole starting from the lowermost interval. An anchor 12 is lowered on the cables 11 from above into the drain cylinder. Next, gas burners 8 of the melting unit are turned on. Combustible gases coming through the boom tubes 7 are burned in gas burners 8,

The temperature in this area rises. Rod-tubes 7 with gas burners move apart and melt the surface of the well. By controlling the flow of combustible gases, the process of melting the rock is monitored. The molten rock flows into the lower part of the cavity, and the exhaust gases exit through the exhaust channels with open shutters 3 of the melting unit into the well of FIG. 4.

In Fig.5. shows the process of removing rock from the cavity. The melt is removed as follows.

After completion of the process of rock melting, the shutters 3 of the outlet channels are closed, and the gas burners 8 continue to work. To begin the rise of molten rock, it is necessary to lower the outlet pipe 6 until its lower end comes into contact with the melt. To do this, supplying compressed air through the internal channel of the housing 5 to the cavity B, while the exhaust ducts are closed by shutters 3, the exhaust duct 6 is lowered down to contact with the melt. The pressure of the combustion products in a closed volume when working with gas burners increases and pushes the melt into the exhaust pipe 6, through which it rises into the drain cylinder 2. With the raising of the exhaust pipe 6, the filling of its molten rock ceases, and the pressure of the combustible gases the rock fraction rises up the discharge pipe 6 into the drain cylinder 2 of FIG. 5, and a void is formed in the melting zone. This void increases in volume with each repetition of the rock melting process. The height of the molten column of rock and its weight can be adjusted by timely lifting of the branch pipe from the molten rock. That is, by raising the outlet pipe from the melt, rock can be pushed into the drain cylinder in separate parts. The mass of the raised column of rock is determined by the pressure of the burnt gases in the cavity. The alternation of raising and lowering the pipe leads to periodic expulsion by parts of the molten rock. Thus, its periodic rise is reduced to the periodicity of the descent and rise of the pipe until the lower end of the pipe is torn off the melt. In this case, the level of molten rock in the melting zone will decrease. Therefore, when raising the rock, the end of the pipe should be constantly immersed in the melt. The process of smelting the rock continues until a cavity of the required volume with a melted solid inner surface is obtained.

After filling the drain cylinder with the melt and solidifying it, the solidified melt is lifted from the drain cylinder 2 by cables 11 for the anchor 12 to the surface of the earth. As the rock melts, the volume of the cavity increases. At the end of the cavity smelting, the melting unit is lifted to the next section of the well. The cover 10 is lifted together with the melting unit on the cables 9 at the end of the melting of the cavity to the next section of the well. The melting process is repeated in the same sequence as in the previous cavity, from the lower cavity and the subsequent, to the upper. Thus, in the lower section of the well, a chain of molten cavities is formed, interconnected through the borehole channel. Such a combination of cavities leads to an increase in the total volume and area, and, accordingly, the heat transfer of the entire system.

Well cladding

To prevent the destruction of the well as a result of collapse or shedding of rock in certain places of the well requires strengthening the surface of the well by facing it with durable material. The lining of the well is carried out sequentially from top to bottom to the entire depth of the well. In addition, the lining of the well can serve as an important element for transporting goods in the well. The well is lined with separate sliding sections made of durable, heat-resistant material with a small gap between the surface of the well and the pipe sections filled with cementitious mortar.

Fig.6 ... 10 shows the design of such a section of the facing pipe, consisting of several segments 13 of Fig.6, 7, interconnected by sliding loops 14 with rack guides 15, along which conductive buses 16 of Fig.8 are installed. Each section has brackets 17 and hinged hooks 18 in the upper part, and in the lower part, windows with protrusions 19 are on the same axis with them (Figs. 9 and 10). The hooks hold the section by the protrusions in the windows located on the same axis with them in the lower part of each subsequent section. In the folded position of the loops, the pipe section has an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the pipe section in the extended position with the unfolded loops 9. Since the depth of the well is very large, it is preferable to transport goods using an autonomous mobile vehicle.

Such an elevator vehicle is shown in Figs. 11, 12. The elevator consists of a cylindrical part, from the outside of which gears 20 are installed, and an electric motor (not shown) is placed inside, and a conical part with rollers 21 mounted on the outer surface. In the lower part of the lift there is a gripper 22, hooks 23 (11 and 12).

On the cylindrical part of the lift there are collector brushes 24 in contact with the tires 16 of the pipe section. Fig. 8. The electric current is supplied to the conductive bus 16, to which the current collection brushes 24 are touching, transmitting the electric current to an electric motor (not shown), rotating the gear wheels of the elevator. The elevator moves up and down along the rack guides, raising and lowering loads along the pipe. The hoist is used to lift the molten rods, as well as to raise and lower various mechanisms.

On Fig shows mounted on the hooks of the elevator section of the lining pipe in a compressed state. On Fig shows a section LL in Fig.13. On Fig shows a view. P in Fig.13. In Fig.16 shows a section MM in Fig.14. On Fig shows a section of a section of the facing pipe in a compressed state with hooks 18 included in the windows of the previous section of the pipe. On Fig shows a section of the cladding section of Fig.14 in the expanded state. The lining of the pipe is as follows. The section in a compressed position is fixed on the hooks pos.23 of the elevator for the brackets 17 of Fig.16. The hoist with the compressed section fixed on it is lowered from above into the facing pipe along the rack guides (Fig. 13, 16). When the compressed section moves down the pipe, the hooks slide in the grooves of the pipe until they are aligned with the windows of the lower part of the already installed pipe section until its hooks 18 enter the windows of the lower edge of the previous section (Fig. 17). In this position, the section stops. Its upper edge is aligned with the lower edge of the previous section. Next, the lift enters the section, spreading its segments with its rollers 21 in its conical part, rolling along the rack guides, the loops are deployed, increasing the diameter of the section. When the section of the pipe is opened, the hooks of the elevator exit from the holes of the section and the section is held by its hooks for the windows with the protrusions 19 of Fig. 18. The hooks unfold in a vertical position, and the section remains hanging on the hooks, pressed against the surface of the well. At the same time, its rack guides are combined with the rack guides of the previous section in one line, while maintaining a pitch between the teeth. The outer surface of the section is pressed against the surface of the well, and the cementing layer, solidifying, fixes it in this position. Next, the lift with its capture 22 clamps the cone 25 with a fixed anchor and lifts the melted rock core on the cable to the surface of the earth (Figs. 19 and 20). The lining of the well is carried out from top to bottom in subsequent sections, repeating all the operations in the same sequence throughout the depth of the well. Each subsequent section is lowered in the same order, forming a continuous lining of the well. To obtain high-temperature steam of high pressure, the vaporization unit of FIG. 21 is installed in the well. The evaporation unit consists of a housing 26 with sliding half rings 27, inside which is inserted, consisting of separate sections joined together, a multi-channel (in this case, two-channel) steam pipe 28 and a central water pipe 29 with openings, divided into separate channels “P” and “ With "a partition 30 and a soft support 31. The holes in the pipe 29 are divided into two zones" U "and" F ". The water pipe is inserted inside the steam pipe 28 and is rigidly fixed in it. On the water pipe there is a movable casing 32 with holes matching the holes of the pipe 29, but with offset zones "U" and "F".

Evaporative system operation

The production of electricity and the desalination of sea water consists in pumping sea water through the water pipe 26 of the evaporator assembly into the evaporator cavities of FIG. 22. Water is supplied through both channels “P” and “T” of the pipe deep into the well, where, under the pressure of the mass of a column of water, its jets from the holes enter the surface of the evaporation cavities and intensively evaporate. Superheated steam under high pressure through the channels of the steam pipe 28 rises to the surface of the earth and can be used to generate electricity in units of thermal power plants with subsequent cooling and condensation in water, and then hot fresh water can be used to heat buildings.

Removal of sediment from evaporation cavities

During the evaporation of sea water, the lower evaporation cavity is gradually filled with sediment - a highly concentrated salt solution (brine). To remove the precipitate, the same evaporation unit of Fig. 21 is used.

To do this, you must:

1. To block the flow of water through the water supply channel "P" of the water pipe 29.

2. Lower the water pipe into the sediment.

3. Raise the casing 32 of the water pipe, which closes the steam pipe 28 at the inlet. Due to the displacement of the holes in the water pipe 29 in the zone "U" relative to the holes in the zone "F" of the casing 32 in the raised position of the casing, the holes in the pipe in the zone "F" are closed by the casing, and the holes in the pipe in the zone "U" are open Fig.23 . Water flowing from above through the channel "C" under high pressure into the zone "U" is sprayed in the evaporation cavity, evaporates, the vapor pressure in the cavity increases, and the sediment squeezed out of the cavity rises through the channel "P" of the water pipe to the ground surface of Fig.24 . The rise of sediment through the pipe occurs until the end of the pipe (its lower cut) is torn off from the upper level of the sediment. So, sequentially blocking the steam and water pipes, it is possible to clean the cavity from excessively accumulated sediment.

Total

The proposed method of producing energy using an unlimited thermal resource of internal energy of the bowels of the earth to produce cheap electricity and produce fresh water from sea water, is waste-free, technological and harmless, with the possibility of full automation of technological processes. In the present invention, the use of an inexhaustible source of internal thermal energy of the Earth, inexhaustible reserves of sea water and valuable chemical elements (mineral raw materials) dissolved in it converge in one closed technological process.

Electricity can be obtained without the use of organic raw materials, with the simultaneous desalination of sea water. This is especially important in places with a lack of fresh water. In addition, when burning organic materials, most of the heat is lost in the environment. Artificial cavities at great depths can be a source of thermal energy, i.e. heating boiler with high temperature. The size and shape of such cavities can be prepared by changing the combustion mode, the depth of descent of the gas burners in the well. In the present invention, only water vapor comes to the earth’s surface, giving heat and electricity, and the steam itself turns into fresh water. In addition, the precipitate can be used for processing, i.e. the allocation of valuable rare chemical elements dissolved in sea water from it. The process of generating electricity by the proposed method is absolutely safe, environmentally friendly, waste-free. All production is underground. All elements of production can be hidden underground.

Claims (1)

A method of constructing underground evaporation systems in high-temperature layers of the earth's rock consists of: creating a system of evaporation cavities in the final section of a deep well by smelting the rock with a melting unit, consisting of a drain cylinder for draining molten rock having exhaust channels for exhaust gases; shutters blocking these channels; half rings for fixing the unit itself in the well; housings with a movable outlet pipe inside the housing for the removal of molten rock and rod pipes around a drain cylinder with gas burners melting the rock installed in the well previously lined with sliding sections of the facing pipe that are joined to one another, having toothed guide rails and current-carrying tires for powering the lift, installing these sliding sections and moving along the guide rails inside the lining pipe, having in its power part an electric motor rotating cog wheels rolling along the gear racks of the facing pipe, and with its head conical part with rollers pushing apart the sliding sections of the facing pipe and used in the future to lift molten rock from the cavities; and also in the use of an evaporation unit installed in the area of the evaporation cavities instead of a melting unit supplying fresh or sea water to the evaporation cavities, where the water sprayed through the end pipe under the own weight of the water column of the inlet pipe onto the hot surfaces of the cavities turns into superheated steam of high pressure and temperature, coming through the steam outlet channels of the inlet pipe to a turbogenerator that generates electricity, and after condensation of steam used to heat buildings hot water.

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