HEAT ENGINE APPARATUS AND METHOD

• US 20100223924A1
• Filed: 01/21/2010
• Published: 09/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Edward James Cargill
• Original Assignee: Edward James Cargill
• Inventors: CARGILL, Edward James
• Granted Patent: US 8,572,966 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 60/641.200
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 27/00 Plants for converting heat or fluid energy into mechanical energy, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 7/04 using pressure differences or thermal differences occurring in nature F03G7/06 takes precedence

Abstract

A heat engine apparatus for use in association with a borehole and a method of operating a heat engine in association with a borehole. The apparatus includes a first heat exchanger assembly in fluid communication with a proximal segment of the borehole, a second heat exchanger assembly in fluid communication with a distal segment of the borehole, a circulation barrier for providing a seal between the apparatus and the borehole in order to isolate the proximal segment of the borehole and the distal segment of the borehole from each other, and a heat engine associated with the first heat exchanger assembly and the second heat exchanger assembly, wherein the heat engine is a gas phase closed cycle thermodynamic heat engine. The first heat exchanger assembly, the second heat exchanger assembly, the circulation barrier and the heat engine are all adapted to be inserted in the borehole.

Claims

1. A heat engine apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a first heat exchanger assembly adapted to be inserted in a borehole such that the first heat exchanger assembly is in fluid communication with a proximal segment of the borehole;

(b) a second heat exchanger assembly adapted to be inserted in the borehole such that the second heat exchanger assembly is in fluid communication with a distal segment of the borehole;

(c) a circulation barrier adapted to provide a seal between the apparatus and the borehole in order to isolate the proximal segment of the borehole and the distal segment of the borehole from each other; and

(d) a heat engine adapted to be inserted in the borehole such that the heat engine is associated with the first heat exchanger assembly and the second heat exchanger assembly, wherein the heat engine is a gas phase closed cycle thermodynamic heat engine.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first heat exchanger assembly is comprised of a first fluid inlet and a first fluid outlet, for circulating a first heat exchange fluid through the first heat exchanger assembly.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a first heat exchanger pump, for pumping the first heat exchange fluid through the first heat exchanger assembly.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the first heat exchanger pump is adapted to be inserted in the borehole.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second heat exchanger assembly is comprised of a second fluid inlet and a second fluid outlet, for circulating a second heat exchange fluid through the second heat exchanger assembly.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a second heat exchanger pump, for pumping the second heat exchange fluid through the second heat exchanger assembly.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the second heat exchanger pump is adapted to be inserted in the borehole.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the second heat exchanger assembly is comprised of a second fluid inlet and a second fluid outlet, for circulating a second heat exchange fluid through the second heat exchanger assembly.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a regenerator adapted to be inserted in the borehole, for providing a secondary heat transfer to and from a working fluid contained within the heat engine.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the first heat exchanger assembly defines a first heat exchanger bore and wherein the first fluid inlet is comprised of the first heat exchanger bore.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the second heat exchanger assembly defines a second heat exchanger bore and wherein the second fluid inlet is comprised of the second heat exchanger bore.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein the second heat exchanger assembly defines a second heat exchanger bore and wherein the second fluid inlet is comprised of the second heat exchanger bore.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a first fluid circulation conduit connected with the first heat exchanger bore and adapted to be inserted in the borehole, for circulating the first heat exchange fluid between a first heat transfer location and the first heat exchanger assembly.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein the first heat transfer location is adapted to be located in the proximal segment of the borehole, further comprising a first heat transfer inlet in fluid communication with the first fluid circulation conduit at the first heat transfer location.

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein the first heat transfer inlet is comprised of a strainer.

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a second fluid circulation conduit connected with the second heat exchanger bore and adapted to be inserted in the borehole, for circulating the second heat exchange fluid between a second heat transfer location in the distal segment of the borehole and the second heat exchanger assembly.

17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 16, further comprising a second heat transfer inlet in fluid communication with the second fluid circulation conduit at the second heat transfer location.

18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 17 wherein the second heat transfer inlet is comprised of a strainer.

19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a second fluid circulation conduit connected with the second heat exchanger bore and adapted to be inserted in the borehole, for circulating the second heat exchange fluid between a second heat transfer location in the distal segment of the borehole and the second heat exchanger assembly.

20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the heat engine is comprised of a first end, wherein the first heat exchanger assembly is comprised of a first heat exchanger shroud, and wherein the first end of the heat engine is received within the first heat exchanger shroud.

21. The apparatus as claimed in claim 20 wherein the first fluid inlet and the first fluid outlet are in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger shroud.

22. The apparatus as claimed in claim 21 wherein the first heat exchanger shroud defines a plurality of apertures and wherein the first fluid outlet is comprised of the apertures defined by the first heat exchanger shroud.

23. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the heat engine is comprised of a second end, wherein the second heat exchanger assembly is comprised of a second heat exchanger shroud, and wherein the second end of the heat engine is received within the second heat exchanger shroud.

24. The apparatus as claimed in claim 23 wherein the second fluid inlet and the second fluid outlet are in fluid communication with the second heat exchanger shroud.

25. The apparatus as claimed in claim 24 wherein the second heat exchanger shroud defines a plurality of apertures and wherein the second fluid outlet is comprised of the apertures defined by the second heat exchanger shroud.

26. The apparatus as claimed in claim 20 wherein the heat engine is comprised of a second end, wherein the second heat exchanger assembly is comprised of a second heat exchanger shroud, and wherein the second end of the heat engine is received within the second heat exchanger shroud.

27. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8, further comprising an electrical generator associated with the heat engine and adapted to be inserted in the borehole, for generating electrical energy from operation of the heat engine.

28. The apparatus as claimed in claim 27 wherein the heat engine is a reciprocating heat engine and wherein the electrical generator is comprised of a linear alternator.

29. The apparatus as claimed in claim 28 wherein the borehole defines a longitudinal axis, wherein the heat engine is adapted to reciprocate parallel with the longitudinal axis of the borehole, and wherein the electrical generator is adapted to be aligned with the heat engine along the longitudinal axis of the borehole.

30. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the heat engine is a Stirling cycle heat engine.

31. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, further comprising a hanger associated with the first fluid circulation conduit, for suspending the apparatus in the borehole.

32. The apparatus as claimed in claim 31, further comprising a first heat exchanger pump, for pumping the first heat exchange fluid through the first heat exchanger assembly, and further comprising a second heat exchanger pump, for pumping the second heat exchange fluid through the second heat exchanger assembly.

33. The apparatus as claimed in claim 32 wherein the second heat exchanger pump is adapted to be inserted in the borehole.

34. The apparatus as claimed in claim 32 wherein the first heat transfer location is adapted to be located in the proximal segment of the borehole, further comprising a first heat transfer inlet in fluid communication with the first fluid circulation conduit at the first heat transfer location and further comprising a second heat transfer inlet in fluid communication with the second fluid circulation conduit at the second heat transfer location.

35. The apparatus as claimed in claim 34 wherein the first heat transfer inlet is comprised of a strainer and wherein the second heat transfer inlet is comprised of a strainer.

36. The apparatus as claimed in claim 34, further comprising an electrical generator associated with the heat engine and adapted to be inserted in the borehole, for generating electrical energy from operation of the heat engine.

37. The apparatus as claimed in claim 36 wherein the heat engine is a reciprocating heat engine and wherein the electrical generator is comprised of a linear alternator.

38. The apparatus as claimed in claim 37 wherein the borehole defines a longitudinal axis, wherein the heat engine is adapted to reciprocate parallel with the longitudinal axis of the borehole, and wherein the electrical generator is adapted to be aligned with the heat engine along the longitudinal axis of the borehole.

39. The apparatus as claimed in claim 37 wherein the heat engine is a Stirling cycle heat engine.

40. The apparatus as claimed in claim 36 wherein the heat engine is comprised of a first end, wherein the first heat exchanger assembly is comprised of a first heat exchanger shroud, and wherein the first end of the heat engine is received within the first heat exchanger shroud.

41. The apparatus as claimed in claim 40 wherein the heat engine is comprised of a second end, wherein the second heat exchanger assembly is comprised of a second heat exchanger shroud, and wherein the second end of the heat engine is received within the second heat exchanger shroud.

42. The apparatus as claimed in claim 41 wherein the first fluid inlet and the first fluid outlet are in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger shroud and wherein the second fluid inlet and the second fluid outlet are in fluid communication with the second heat exchanger shroud.

43. The apparatus as claimed in claim 42 wherein the first heat exchanger shroud defines a plurality of apertures and wherein the first fluid outlet is comprised of the apertures defined by the first heat exchanger shroud.

44. The apparatus as claimed in claim 43 wherein the second heat exchanger shroud defines a plurality of apertures and wherein the second fluid outlet is comprised of the apertures defined by the second heat exchanger shroud.

45. The apparatus as claimed in claim 42, further comprising an electrical conduit extending between the electrical generator and the hanger for conducting the electrical energy generated by the electrical generator to a surface location.

46. The apparatus as claimed in claim 45 wherein the first heat exchanger pump is interposed between the first heat exchanger assembly and the first fluid circulation conduit and wherein the second heat exchanger pump is interposed between the second heat exchanger assembly and the second fluid circulation conduit.

47. The apparatus as claimed in claim 46 wherein the first heat exchanger pump is an electric pump and wherein the second heat exchanger pump is an electric pump, further comprising an electrical conduit extending between the first heat exchanger pump and the hanger for conducting electrical energy from the surface location to the first heat exchanger pump, and further comprising an electrical conduit extending between the second heat exchanger pump and the hanger for conducting electrical energy from the surface location to the second heat exchanger pump.

48. The apparatus as claimed in claim 45 wherein the apparatus is adapted to provide a first annulus between the borehole and the apparatus in the proximal segment of the borehole and wherein the apparatus is adapted to provide a second annulus between the borehole and the apparatus in the distal segment of the borehole.

49. The apparatus as claimed in claim 48 wherein the apparatus is adapted to provide that the first heat exchange fluid circulates in the proximal segment of the borehole from the first heat transfer location to the first heat exchanger assembly through the first circulation conduit and to provide that the first heat exchange fluid circulates in the proximal segment of the borehole from the first heat exchanger assembly to the first heat transfer location through the first annulus.

50. The apparatus as claimed in claim 49 wherein the apparatus is adapted to provide that the second heat exchange fluid circulates in the distal segment of the borehole from the second heat transfer location to the second heat exchanger assembly through the second circulation conduit and to provide that the second heat exchange fluid circulates in the distal segment of the borehole from the second heat exchanger assembly to the second heat transfer location through the second annulus.

51. The apparatus as claimed in claim 50, further comprising a regenerator adapted to be inserted in the borehole, for providing a secondary heat transfer to and from a working fluid contained within the heat engine.

52. The apparatus as claimed in claim 51 wherein the heat engine is a Stirling cycle heat engine.