US 12,247,553 B1
Water desalination and electrical power generation utilizing gravitational flow and geothermal energy
Derric Juano, Stockton, CA (US)
Assigned to Stockton Geothermal Systems, Stockton, CA (US)
Filed by Stockton Geothermal Systems, Stockton, CA (US)
Filed on May 13, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/662,697.
Application 18/662,697 is a continuation of application No. 18/650,808, filed on Apr. 30, 2024.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/594,841, filed on Oct. 31, 2023.
Int. Cl. C02F 1/44 (2023.01); F03G 4/00 (2006.01); C02F 103/08 (2006.01)
CPC F03G 4/069 (2021.08) [C02F 1/441 (2013.01); F03G 4/029 (2021.08); C02F 2103/08 (2013.01); C02F 2201/009 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for generating electricity, the system comprising:
a subterranean shaft defined from a surface of earth to a shaft bottom, wherein the subterranean shaft defines a shaft interior and a shaft length between the surface of earth and the shaft bottom, wherein at least a portion of the shaft extends into a geothermal reservoir, wherein a top of the geothermal reservoir defines a geothermal reservoir level,
a volume of heat transfer fluid disposed in the shaft interior and defining a heat transfer fluid level, wherein at least a portion of the volume of heat transfer fluid is disposed below the geothermal reservoir level, wherein heat from the geothermal reservoir is transferred through a wall of the subterranean shaft and into the volume of heat transfer fluid,
at least a first water intake conduit extending from the surface of the earth into the shaft interior, wherein the first water intake conduit includes a proximal end, a downward portion, a return portion, an upward portion and a distal end, wherein the return portion, at least a portion of the downward portion and at least a portion of the upward portion are positioned in the volume of heat transfer fluid,
an electrical generation stage associated with the distal end of the water intake conduit, wherein a water path is defined from the proximal end of the water intake conduit, through the downward portion, through the return portion, through the upward portion and to the electrical generation stage,
a fluid duct disposed in the volume of heat transfer fluid, wherein the fluid duct defines a fluid duct interior and includes an entrance at a top of the fluid duct and an exit at a bottom of the fluid duct, wherein heat transfer fluid enters the entrance of the fluid duct and exits the exit of the fluid duct, wherein heat transfer fluid in the fluid duct interior is cooler than heat transfer fluid outside of the fluid duct, wherein the downward portion of the water intake conduit extends through the entrance of the fluid duct and into the fluid duct interior, wherein the return portion of the water intake conduit extends through a wall of the fluid duct at a location between the entrance and the exit, wherein the upward portion of the water intake conduit is positioned outside of the fluid duct interior,
wherein liquid water received through the proximal end of the first water intake conduit moves downwardly along the downward portion of the water intake conduit and below the heat transfer fluid level, wherein the liquid water is converted to steam via heat transfer from the volume of heat transfer fluid through a wall of the first water intake conduit, wherein the steam moves upwardly along the upward portion of the water intake conduit and into the electrical generation stage, whereby electricity is generated.