System for exploiting the thermal energy at the bottom of the ocean

Abstract

An apparatus for exploiting the thermal energy at the bottom of the ocean. The apparatus comprises a thermal energy harnessing assembly and a drilling assembly mounted thereto. The thermal energy harnessing assembly includes in-feed tube and out-feed tubes. The drilling assembly has openings in fluid communication with the in-feed tube and a thermal energy capturing conduit in fluid communication with the out-feed tube. When the drilling assembly engages a bottom surface of the ocean and fluid is introduced into the in-feed tube, fluid flows towards the drilling assembly and out of the openings at such a pressure as to drill into the bottom surface of the ocean allowing thermal energy to escape therefrom and to flow into the out-feed tube via the thermal energy capturing conduit.

1 . An apparatus for exploiting the thermal energy at the bottom of the ocean, said apparatus comprising:
 a thermal energy harnessing assembly comprising an in-feed tube and an out-feed tube; and   a drilling assembly mounted to said thermal energy harnessing assembly, said drilling assembly comprising openings in fluid communication with said in-feed tube and a thermal energy capturing conduit in fluid communication with said out-feed tube,   wherein when said drilling assembly engages a bottom surface of the ocean and fluid is introduced into said in-feed tube the fluid is caused to flow towards said drilling assembly and out of said openings at such a pressure as to drill into the bottom surface of the ocean allowing thermal energy to escape therefrom so as to flow into said out-feed tube via said thermal energy capturing conduit.   
     
     
         2 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said drilling assembly comprises a drilling device, said drilling device comprising said openings. 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said openings are in fluid communication with said in-feed tube via longitudinal bores. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said drilling device comprises a tapered outer surface. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus according to  claim 4  wherein said openings are disposed in series along said tapered outer surface. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus according to  claim 5  wherein said series of openings is disposed within a groove formed in said tapered outer surface. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said drilling device comprises a conduit in fluid communication with said in-feed tube for receiving fluid therefrom, said conduit having an opening for providing the fluid therein to flow along said tapered outer surface. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising an actuator assembly for spinning said drilling device during the drilling procedure. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein said actuator comprises a turbine in fluid communication with auxiliary in-feed and out-feed tubes, said auxiliary in-feed tube bringing fluid to said turbine for actuation thereof and said auxiliary out-feed exhausting fluid from said turbine, said turbine actuating a gear for causing said drilling device to spin. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said drilling device comprises a bottom end comprising said thermal energy capturing conduit. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein said thermal energy capturing conduit comprises an opening at said drilling device bottom end leading to a tunnel in fluid communication with said out-feed tube. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein said drilling device comprises an opening formed within said tunnel and being in fluid communication with said in-feed tube for spraying high pressure fluid into said tunnel. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein at least portions of said thermal energy harnessing assembly are thermally insulated. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluid is water. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said thermal energy harnessing assembly comprises a top end and a bottom end for carrying said drilling assembly thereby providing for the fluid to from said top end to said bottom end and for the thermal energy to rise from the bottom end to the top end. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said out-feed tube is in fluid communication with a turbine and generator assembly. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a tunnel reinforcement assembly for being fitted into a tunnel drilled into the bottom surface of the ocean by said drilling assembly, said tunnel reinforcement assembly comprising a pair of associated resilient and compressible sheets. 
     
     
         18 . A drilling assembly for drilling into a surface comprising:
 a drilling device comprising an outer surface with openings leading to longitudinal bores for receiving high pressure fluid and spraying the high pressure fluid out of said openings so as to drill into the surface; and   an actuator mounted to said drilling device for spinning said drilling device about a vertical axis when drilling into the surface.   
     
     
         19 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A drilling assembly according to  claim 18 , wherein said actuator comprises a turbine in fluid communication with auxiliary in-feed and out-feed tubes, said auxiliary in-feed tube bringing fluid to said turbine for actuation thereof and said auxiliary out-feed exhausting fluid from said turbine, said turbine actuating a gear for causing said drilling device to spin. 
     
     
         24 . A drilling assembly according to  claim 18 , wherein said drilling device comprises a bottom end comprising a thermal energy capturing conduit. 
     
     
         25 - 30 . (canceled)