System and method for geothermal heat harvesting

摘要

A system and method for deploying a heat harvesting system and for harvesting heat from a geothermal well using one or more heat pipes. A heat exchanger may receive heat from one or more heat pipes for transfer to a heat receiving component. The heat pipes may be thermally coupled to the heat exchanger via a thermal gap material having a relatively low thermal conductivity. A mounting component may engage heat pipes and define a thermal gap between the heat pipes and heat exchanger. A heat spreader, having a relatively high thermal conductivity, may be used to transfer heat from the heat pipes to the thermal gap material and help define a working temperature for the heat pipes. A heat pipe deployment system may include anti-buckling supports and/or a guide to help keep the heat pipes from buckling and to guide the heat pipes into corresponding well bores during deployment.

主权项

1. A geothermal heat harvesting system, comprising:
a heat exchanger arranged to receive heat from a geothermal well for transfer to a heat receiving component; and one or more heat pipes arranged in the well to transfer heat from the well to the heat exchanger, the one or more heat pipes each having an evaporator section positioned within the geothermal well and distant from the heat exchanger and a condenser section positioned adjacent the heat exchanger.