ELECTRICITY GENERATION AND WATER DESALINIZATION IN CONSTRUCTED SHAFTS UTILIZING GEOTHERMAL HEAT

摘要

An apparatus for generating electricity and desalinating water is disclosed, which utilizes one or more subterranean shafts to convey seawater down to an operating depth of several miles at which electrical generators are driven from turbines to generate electricity conveyed to the surface. A desalinating stage then receives generator water output, and heats this water in response to ambient shaft temperature to distill the water. Desalinated water is coupled to a vertical shaft where it flashes to steam and travels up to steam turbine equipment and then to a condensation facility at the surface which condenses the desalinated steam back into pure liquid water for distribution. Power is also generated from the rising steam as well as converting potential water energy between elevation of condensation facility and the lower elevation of a water distribution facility receiving the desalinated water.

主权项

1. An apparatus for generating electricity and desalinating water, comprising:
at least one subterranean shaft excavated down from a surface of earth reaching a sufficient operating depth at which ambient shaft temperature at that depth approaches or exceeds a boiling point of water; an electrical generation stage having turbines coupled to generators retained within said at least one subterranean shaft at said operating depth, in which source water is received through pipes in said at least one subterranean shaft and its kinetic energy is increased in falling through to said operating depth; electrical transmission cables passing through said at least one shaft and configured for connecting between said generators and power transmission facilities on the surface of the earth; a desalinating stage downstream of said generators, such that output water from said generators is heated in response to ambient shaft temperature at said operating depth to convert said output water from said generator into desalinated water; a brine return system coupled to said desalinating stage, said brine return system configured for pumping high saline remnant water from said desalinating stage out of said at least one subterranean shaft; and at least one steam output conduit configured for conveying steam traveling at high speed from said operating depth to a condensation facility for condensing of said desalinated steam back into liquid water.