Underground reactor system

Abstract

An underground reactor for creating hydrocarbons and chemicals from organic material preferably includes a heat recovery device. Some embodiments of the present invention include at least one tube that injects biomass underground and at least one second tube that collects reacted biomass on the surface. Further tubes are also disclosed for the ability to control temperature and pressure and collect minerals and carbon dioxide. Methods for utilizing the reactor are additionally provided. Further embodiments include methods of using the reactor such as, for example, methods of creating fuel from algae and methods of using the minerals and carbon dioxide as food for an algae farm that will be used as biomass for the reactor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An underground reactor for use in a fuel creation process for creating fuel from organic material, comprising:
 a first conduit that injects an organic material underground;   a second conduit that collects reacted organic material produced by the underground reactor;   a heat exchanger for extracting heat to be used in powering equipment used in the fuel creation process.   
     
     
         2 - 3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The reactor of  claim 1 , wherein the equipment includes a pump. 
     
     
         5 . The reactor of  claim 4 , wherein the pump circulates heat exchange fluid to keep a reaction zone at a desired temperature. 
     
     
         6 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The underground reactor of  claim 1 , wherein the organic material is biomass. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The underground reactor of  claim 1 , wherein the organic material is a polymer. 
     
     
         14 . The underground reactor of  claim 1 , wherein the organic material is solid waste. 
     
     
         15 . The underground reactor of  claim 1 , wherein the organic material is reacted through liquefaction. 
     
     
         16 . The underground reactor of  claim 1 , wherein the organic material is reacted through a thermochemical reaction. 
     
     
         17 . The underground reactor of  claim 1 , wherein the organic material is reacted through hydrothermal processes. 
     
     
         18 . The underground reactor of  claim 1 , wherein the second conduit is within the first conduit. 
     
     
         19 - 38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . A method of performing a high-pressure, high-temperature reaction comprising:
 (a) sending organic material underground through a first conduit, wherein sufficient pressure and temperature is applied to the organic material in a reaction zone to convert to the organic material to fuel, hydrocarbon, or chemicals;   (b) bringing the fuel, hydrocarbon, or chemicals up through a second conduit; and   circulating heat exchange fluid in a closed loop to keep the reaction zone at a desired temperature.   
     
     
         40 - 43 . (canceled) 
     
     
         44 . A method of performing a high-pressure, high-temperature reaction comprising:
 sending organic material underground through a first conduit, wherein sufficient pressure and temperature is applied to the organic material in a reaction zone to convert to the organic material to fuel, hydrocarbon, or chemicals;   bringing the fuel, hydrocarbon, or chemicals up through a second conduit; and   using a heat exchanger for extracting heat to be used in powering equipment used in the conversion process.   
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising circulating heat exchange fluid in a closed loop to keep the reaction zone at a desired temperature. 
     
     
         46 - 47 . (canceled) 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the equipment used in the fuel creation process is directly driven by a device which extracts energy from the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         49 . (canceled) 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising sending a heat transfer material underground. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50 , further comprising controlling the temperature of the heat transfer material by adjusting circulation rate. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 50 , further comprising controlling the temperature of the heat transfer material by increasing or decreasing the temperature of the organic material. 
     
     
         53 . (canceled) 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 50 , further comprising sending the heat transfer material from underground into a heat exchanger. 
     
     
         55 . (canceled) 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 48 , further comprising separating the products into oil, gas and water-based solution. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 56 , further comprising sending the water-based solution to a biomass growth. 
     
     
         58 - 67 . (canceled)