Geothermal Cooling System for an Energy-Producing Plant

Abstract

An improved electrical-utility steam-turbine power-plant cooling system including a condenser with heat-exchange surfaces and cooling means. The cooling means has a closed-loop system with an intake, a discharge and a cooling portion. Substantially all of the cooling portion is tunneling beneath the surface of the Earth. Water substantially fills the closed-loop system and a pump facilitates flow through the closed-loop system whereby water flows through the tunneling and is geothermally cooled.

1 . In an electrical-utility steam-turbine power-plant cooling system of the type having (a) a condenser with heat-exchange surfaces and (b) cooling means therefor, the improvement wherein the cooling means comprises:
 a closed-loop system having an intake, a discharge and a cooling portion, substantially all of the cooling portion being tunneling beneath the surface of the Earth:   water substantially filling the closed-loop system; and   a pump to facilitate flow through the closed-loop system;   
       whereby the water flowing through the tunneling is geothermally cooled. 
     
     
         2 . The cooling system of  claim 1  wherein the pump is more than one pump. 
     
     
         3 . The cooling system of  claim 1  whereby the at least one pump maintains adequate water flow through the closed-loop system. 
     
     
         4 . The cooling system of  claim 1  wherein the cooling system is a replacement for an industrial cooling-tower cooling system. 
     
     
         5 . The cooling system of  claim 1  wherein the tunneling is in a generally horizontal configuration. 
     
     
         6 . The cooling system of  claim 5  wherein the tunneling has multiple connecting portions therebetween whereby water flows between the tunneling in substantially one direction. 
     
     
         7 . The cooling system of  claim 1  wherein the tunneling includes a connecting portion located within the Earth in a vertical configuration. 
     
     
         8 . The cooling system of  claim 7  wherein the tunneling has multiple connecting portions therebetween whereby water flows between the tunneling in substantially one direction. 
     
     
         9 . The geothermal cooling system of  claim 1  wherein the tunneling includes a lining material. 
     
     
         10 . The geothermal cooling system of  claim 1  wherein the tunneling is comprised of piping. 
     
     
         11 . A method of cooling condensate water in an electrical-utility steam-turbine power-plant cooling system comprising the steps of:
 pumping water through subterranean tunneling having a connecting portion at the distal ends thereof;   
       whereby causing the water flowing through the tunneling to be geothermally cooled.